The Lions travel to Wellington this weekend to face the Hurricanes in the Super Rugby final. Can they win it?
Probably not. The decision to rest their first-choice side for the journey to Argentina has been cited as crucial – they lost that game to Los Jaguares, which ceded top spot on the overall table to the Canes, and thus gave up home advantage in the final.
The travel factor is huge in Super Rugby, and the Home side is certainly the favourite to lift the trophy. The Hurricanes will be confident of victory, having put 50 points past the Lions in Johannesburg, they haven’t had a long flight since early May, they haven’t lost to the Lions since 2007, and they are desperate to make up for last year’s agonising defeat in the final.
On the other hand, the Lions are in sublime form, playing a brand of rugby so unfamiliar in South Africa. They’ll have a go from anywhere, much like a Kiwi team, and will relish the underdog tag in the final. With less pressure on their shoulders, they might just do it, but it seems like a longshot.
I’ll likely pick the Lions on SuperBru because I do think they have a chance and it would help me jump a few spots in my pools, but the head says Hurricanes by 6. What do you think?
Follow Hutch on Twitter: @Hutch_James
Very surprised is Canes lose.Lions big mistake going to argintina with reserve team.
‘B ‘team came back sick and completely exhausted. ‘A’ team would have suffered same fate and
and would have battled to put Sharks away.
lions have put 40 points on 3 nz teams. There workrate of their forward park is unbelievable and i believe that, that will win them the game.
Lions normally win at home at altitude but away in NZ you have to fancy the canes
We Mighty Lions don’t want it easy “LoL” we only need to win by one point that’s it. Forget the game at Ellispark early this year a lot has changed. Never sey never we can win it.
Great to see the Canes finally coming into their potential. Confident they’ll take the final!
As a Bulls supporter going back to 1962. I’ll stick my neck out for the Lions. Ackerman his fellow coaches and managers and the team they have built and developed over the last few years is nothing short of a wonder. The smack the Lions took at Ellis Park early in the season was “a bad day at the office”. I tip the Lions to win by 7(SEVEN) points.
Perhaps the weather conditions will have the final say.
canes by at least 20. If not, miracle.
The Lions are really playing fantastic rugby and if they play like they’ve played their last 2 games I’m sure they’ll win this final with more then 10 point, GO BOYS
Well, maybe home advantage did tell, but they held the Lions tryless anyway!
Lions reverted to type & kicked it away when the hair dryer was turned up by the Hurricanes aggressive & prompt ‘D’… who also kicked too often.
But… winners are grinners.