Lions v Reds, Saturday 18th March, Johannesburg, KO 17:15 (South African time)
Referee: Mike Fraser
Assistant Referees: Jamie Nutbrown, Stuart Berry
TMO: Willie Vos
Weather Forecast - Johannesburg
Lions:
Round 3 saw the Lions beaten for the first time this season, losing 36-24 to Los Jaguares in Buenos Aires. They were under strength last week and now return to Johannesburg where their only game so far delivered a 55-36 victory over the Waratahs with the Lions scoring eight tries to five. The Lions had started with a narrow win over the Cheetahs in Bloem and right now they have nine points, the same total as Jaguares and the Sharks in Africa Conference 2.
Reds:
The Reds contrived to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory at home to the Crusaders last week. They led 20-7 at half time against the Saders and were still eight points to the good deep inside the final ten minutes before the Crusaders scored a try which was converted and then a penalty to take the spoils 22-20. The Reds only away fixture so far ended in a 26-19 defeat at the Force, a game they were favourites to win. They have already beaten South African opposition this season, edging out the Sharks 28-26 in Brisbane in Round 1. The Reds have won just one and lost nine of their last ten visits to South Africa, the victory coming 18-17 at the Cheetahs in 2015.
Team News
Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Madosh Tambwe/Sylvian Mahuza, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Warren Whiteley (captain), 7 Ruan Ackermann, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Andries Ferreira, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Jacques van Rooyen
Substitutes: 16 Robbie Coetzee, 17 Dylan Smith/Corne Fourie, 18 Johannes Jonker, 19 Lourens Erasmus, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Ross Cronje, 22 Jaco van der Walt, 23 Harold Vorster
Reds: tba
Recent Head to Head (any venue)
2015 Brisbane Reds 17–18 Lions (Tries 2-2 )
2014 Johannesburg Lions 23-20 Reds (Tries 2-2)
2012 Brisbane Reds 34–20 Lions (Tries 4-2 )
2011 Johannesburg Lions 25-30 Reds (Tries 2-3)
2010 Johannesburg Lions 26-41 Reds (Tries 4-6)
Betting Angle
The Lions were under strength for last weeks visit to Buenos Aires but they were excellent against the Waratahs in their only home fixture to date and I can see the Reds fading in the second half. The line on some books is 13.5 points so the best current minus of 10.5 looks the value to me. Watch Live stream free Click Here | Link 2#
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