Johannesburg - Forget style, number of tries, whether it’s pretty and attractive, or not … all that matters is that the Lions pick up a victory against the Jaguares in Buenos Aires.
That is to finish top of the combined Super Rugby log and guarantee a place at Ellis Park for as long as they remain in the knockout rounds of the competition.
Already, because of winning Africa Conference 2, they are assured of playing at home in next Saturday’s quarter-final, as well as the following week’s semi-final, if they progress that far.
All tonight’s result will determine is whether the Lions finish the regular season with the most log points of all 18 teams and book a home final as well.
A win will get them that; defeat could mean they may have to travel to New Zealand to contest a final – their first in the history of this competition.
Who Johan Ackermann’s men play at Ellis Park next week also depends on what they do against the Jaguares. Win and they’ll play the eighth-ranked team, possibly the Sharks; lose and they may be up against the Hurricanes – a team they took 50 points from not too long ago, at Ellis Park, too.
But then, much will also depend on what happens in the two big New Zealand derbies this morning, when the Crusaders host the Hurricanes and the Highlanders welcome the Chiefs.Only three points separate the four New Zealand qualifiers, and all will play in the quarter-finals next week, but today’s results will determine the seeding going into those play-offs.
Only the most ardent of Lions fans, and Sharks supporters, too, will be awake around midnight tonight to watch Ackermann’s team in action in Buenos Aires.
A defeat may result in the Sharks having to pack up and go abroad tomorrow night for their play-off, while Lions fans will be hoping the Ross Cronjé-led side get the business done to finish first.It’s a big task for the so-called “second-stringers” as the Jaguares have hit some good form since the international break and they’re always a difficult side to play against on home soil.
But Ackermann believes his team can get a positive result after picking a side that consists mainly of Currie Cup qualification competition players who helped the Lions to four 50-plus points wins in the last month.
Most fans will wake up tomorrow wanting to know one thing – did the Lions win? It’s not the be-all and end-all of their season, but victory will boost their chances of winning Super Rugby for the first time.
Saturday Star