All four South African teams — the Lions, Sharks, Bulls and Stormers — will be feeling the pressure when they take the field on Saturday in the second URC Origin Round as the competition for places in the quarter-final heats up with eight pool rounds remaining.
SETTING THE SCENE: LIONS V SHARKS
The players will again run onto the park in their school or club socks in the second Origin Round in celebration of their rugby roots.
The Lions will host the Sharks in Johannesburg – where scholars in their school uniforms will be granted free entry – in what is expected to be another thrilling round of local action.
TALE OF THE TAPE: WHAT THE NUMBERS SAY
The Lions will be hunting their first victory in three outings when they line up against the Sharks at Ellis Park – well aware of the significance of a victory to stay within range of the top eight teams after dropping to five points behind the eighth-placed Ulster following their defeat against the Bulls two weekends ago.
The Sharks, meanwhile, will give everything to change their fortunes after slumping to their ninth defeat in 10 matches in the last round despite a brave display against the Stormers. This result saw the KwaZulu-Natalians remain at the foot of the log.
The Lions have been more effective on attack this season scoring 74 more points than the Durbanites, but only one point separates them on defence, while the Sharks will draw some encouragement from the fact that they have earned six bonus points in the tournament so far.
They will also draw some comfort from the fact that the Lions have a 50% win-record at home this season, setting the scene for a stirring encounter.
Lions backs bump their fists. Photo: Howard Cleland /Sharks Rugby / Lions Rugby Twitter.
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