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November 24 - In the strange new rugby world which is the Vodacom Super Rugby competition structure, the MTN Lions will play both their fixtures against the Cheetahs within five weeks – and they also have the fixtures of last year’s two top two sides in the competition balanced out by facing the two bottom sides in their eight fixtures against Australasian competition.
While the Lions’ first two matches of 16 will be played at Coca-Cola Park, they have to travel to Durban for what will undoubtedly be regarded as a ‘revenge’ match against the Sharks in their third outing. Although it was a different competition, not many personnel changes except a new face here or there for both sides are expected from the clash in the Absa Currie Cup final, where the Sharks were outplayed 42-16 by the Lions.
Such is the strength of the Super competition that the Lions will play daunting sides Cheetahs, Hurricanes, Sharks, Stormers and Crusaders in their first five matches. With the exception of the match in Durban, all these matches are at Coca-Cola Park.
Starting at home could be a blessing – or a drawback. At the start of the season when sides are still feeling their way, the danger of an unnecessary home loss is arguably greater than later in the season.
The fact that the Lions have only three of their last eight matches at home would be an undoubted disappointment for fans in the run-in to the end of the competition.
The Lions leave home on their antipodean tour for their ninth match which is against the Chiefs. They thereafter face the Blues, defending champions Reds and the Western Force.
On returning, the have a solitary match against the Sharks in Johannesburg. Then comes the incoming tour with three tests against England which will occupy the time slot between the Lions’ penultimate home match against the Sharks on June 2 and their next match, which is against the Stormers in Cape Town on June 30. Only one home match, against the Melbourne Rebels, remains in the last three games.
It will be a difficult season – not only because if the opposition, but also because of the structure of the fixtures and the break because of the England tests, the second of the three being at Coca-Cola Park on June 16.
The MTN Lions Super Rugby fixtures for 2012 are as follows:
February:
25: Cheetahs, Coca-Cola Park
March:
2: Hurricanes, Coca-Cola Park
10: Sharks, Durban
16/17: Bye
24: Stormers, Coca-Cola Park
31: Crusaders, Coca-Cola Park
April:
7: Cheetahs, Welkom
14: Bulls, Coca-Cola Park
20/21: Bye
27: Brumbies, Coca-Cola Park
May:
5: Chiefs, Hamilton
11: Blues, Auckland
19: Reds, Brisbane
26: Western Force, Perth
June:
2: Sharks, Coca-Cola Park
30: Stormers, Cape Town
July:
7: Rebels, Coca-Cola Park
14: Bulls, Pretoria
In-Coming tour Tests:
June:
9: Springboks vs England – Kings Park, Durban
16: Springboks vs England – Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg
23: Springboks vs England – Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
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