The Kings and the Lions contest the breakdown during a Super Rugby promotion/relegation match. Photo: Gallo Images
There will be no place to hide and no margin for error when the Lions and Southern Kings go head-to-head in the decisive second match of their promotion-relegation series.
With so much at stake at Ellis Park today – Super Rugby status in 2014 is the reward for the winner – a packed Ellis Park will indeed provide a Test match atmosphere.
It has been said repeatedly the past fortnight, but the losers will forfeit more than just their status – there will be a pillaging of their frontline players, sponsors will reduce their ‘disbursements’ or even disappear altogether and most of all spectators will be ‘scarce’.
As they say in the classics: ‘To the victors the spoils go.’
It is thus not surprising the two teams have not spoken much about ‘entertaining’, but constantly made reference to ‘conquer, prevail and triumph’.
As Kings Director of Rugby Alan Solomons pointed out this week, these games so often turn on little things – just one little error or failing to take your opportunities.
The Kings, who start with a seven-point deficit and must win by at least eight points to retain their Super Rugby status, will hope to avoid the lapses that saw the Lions take control of match one in Port Elizabeth last week.
Date: Saturday, August 3
Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 17.00 (15.00 GMT)
Expected weather: Bright sunshine, with virtually no chance of precipitation.
Referee: Stuart Berry – Rugby365
Related articles
