Super Rugby finals a whole new ball game for South Africa’s Lions after Kiwi-free run to the top
Competition leaders are yet to face a New Zealand side this season and are on track to lock horns with the Hurricanes in the semi-finals
South Africa’s Lions may have earned the right to home advantage throughout the Super Rugby play-offs after finishing top of the standings on Saturday, but their title credentials will be truly tested over the next three weeks.
The Lions led the table on 65 points following a 27-10 win over the Sharks, who they meet in Johannesburg next Saturday, after the Wellington Hurricanes had ended the Canterbury Crusaders’ quest for an unbeaten season earlier in the day.
Johan Ackermann’s side have proved to be the best in South Africa over the last two years, but they accumulated their 14-1 record this season without needing to face any of the five New Zealand franchises.
They are favourites to beat the Sharks again at Ellis Park to advance to the semi-finals, where they are likely to face the Hurricanes in a rematch of last year’s final, should Chris Boyd’s side beat the Brumbies in Canberra on Friday.
The 2016 champions have no fear of Ellis Park, having notched up a 50-17 victory there last year and after their morale-boosting 31-22 win over the Crusaders, the Hurricanes loom as dangerous opponents in one-off games once more.
