HAVING LOST to Northern Transvaal last Saturday, the Lions face a stern examination of their skill and stamina when they take on Gauteng Lions (Transvaal) under lights at Ellis Park, Johannesburg, tonight (Sky Sports 3, 6.0 p.m.).
Quite apart from the result, the team performances and the opportunity to get back on the winning track, it is a match that gives the Lions players an opportunity to stake claims for places in the team for the first Test in Newlands on Saturday week. Lions coach Ian McGeechan, less than pleased with several aspects of the performance given against Northern Transvaal was frank on this issue last Saturday.
Tom Rodber, who led the team so well to an excellent win over Mpumalanga a week ago, will captain the side again and he is one of the Lions players whose performance could determine whether he is in the Test line-up.
In the team context obviously we want to win and get the psychological benefit that it will bring, but the match represents a fine chance for players to make an impression," said Rodber. He will certainly be contemplating his own chances in that regard.
So too will Mike Catt, who joined the party last week as replacement for Paul Grayson. Catt plays his first match of the tour and has been named at out-half The mixed bag that Gregor Townsend produced against Northern Transvaal presents Call with an opportunity to forward his chances.
Six of the pack that played so well against Mpumalanga are in action again, including Ireland prop Paul Wallace and second row Jeremy Davidson. Davidson is having treatment for a knee injury, but is expected to play.
There is not equal confidence about the prospects of centre Allan Bateman. He is troubled by a hamstring. A decision on his fitness will be taken today. If he is ruled out Jeremy Guscott will play in the centre.
Cotton admitted yesterday that if Bateman does not play, his future in the tour is in doubt. There is some anxiety in that regard.
The Lions knew from the outset that this match, sandwiched between the encounters against Northern Transvaal and Currie Cup holders and Super 12 semi-finalists Natal (whom the Lions meet on Saturday), would be a huge challenge.
This has not been a vintage season for Transvaal. but they have named a very strong team that includes four South African Test players. Indeed three Springboks fail to get into the side and are named on the bench. They will also be without centre Japie Mulder and Hannes Strydom, who played for South Africa last night in their 74-10 demolition of Tonga.
The Springboks ran in a record 12 tries last night, seven in the second half, to surpass the 10 they managed against Ireland in 1912. Andre Snyder scored a hat-trick while James Small, Ruben Kruger and Adrian Garvey each managed two against a Tongan side that was hopelessly outclassed.
Transvaal have named hooker James Dalton among their replacements for tonight's encounter although he sat on the bench for the Springboks last night. The release of players from the Springboks Test squad of 27 has been a contentious issue here with the provinces.
The Test players in the Transvaal line-up tonight are centre Hennie Le Roux, left wing Louis van Rensberg, hooker Chris Rossouw and second row Kobus Wiese, who will lead the side.
Le Roux and Wiese were surprisingly omitted from the Springboks squad, and they have made it clear they believe they got a rough deal from Springboks coach Carel du Plessis. So they will be out to make a point. Wiese is under treatment for a calf muscle strain but is expected to play.
The side also includes Argentinian prop Roberto Grau, who has just returned from Argentina where he played in both Tests against England. Number eight in the Transvaal side is Warren Brosnihan, a young man with Irish qualifications through his parents. However, he is obviously on the way up the Springboks' ladder as he is in the Emerging Springboks team to meet the Lions next week.
Lions assistant coach Jim Telfer yesterday expressed dissatisfaction at some of the refereeing interpretations here. South African players are not staying on their feet and are blocking quick ruck ball and are not being penalised. That is leading to pile-ups and a kind of wall to prevent the ball emerging. We want quick ball in this match and not possession that has to be kicked away, said Telfer.
Last weekend Transvaal struggled to beat Boland in the Currie Cup winning with a penalty try. But the sight of the Lions jersey will be sufficient motivation. And while Transvaal had less than an auspicious Super 12 series, losing all their away matches to the Australian and New Zealand opposition. they will be extremely formidable.
We should all be wiser tonight on several fronts, but the Lions certainly do not want to travel to Natal to face a Super 12 team having lost to two other Super 12 representatives.
