Sharks vs Lions: Key matchups – Super Rugby Unlocked

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Hyron Andrews of the Cell C Sharks during the Super Rugby match between Cell C Sharks and DHL Stormers at Jonsson Kings Park on April 21, 2018 in Durban, South Africa. (Photo by Steve Haag/Gallo Images/Getty Images)

 

The Sharks vs Lions match kicks off Super Rugby Unlocked in Durban on Friday night in a match that will be heavily influenced by certain key matchups.

Here we look at the positional battles that might define the first match of the restarted season that actually counts for something.

SHARKS VS LIONS: KEY MATCHUPS

NUMBER EIGHT – SIKHUMBUZO NOTSHE VS LEN MASSYN

Sikhumbuzo Notshe

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Try time for Sikhumbuzo Notshe of the Cell C Sharks during the Super Rugby match between Cell C Sharks and Jaguares at Jonsson Kings Park Stadium in Durban, South Africa. (Photo by Steve Haag/Gallo Images)

Born: 28 May 1993 (age 27 years), King William’s Town

Height: 1,86 m

Weight: 101 kg

Len Massyn

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Len Massyn of the Lions wins a line out during the round six Super Rugby match between the Rebels and the Lions at on March 07, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

Born: 21 May 1997 (age 23 years), Pretoria

Height: 1,95 m

Weight: 106 kg

A battle of two mobile and dynamic number eights promises to be among the key matchups when the Sharks meet the Lions.

Notshe has the edge in experience, but in terms of skills and what they offer their side’s it is tough to seperate the two loose forwards.

Massyn is the larger of the two men and offers the Lions an additional lineout option against the shorter Sharks loose forwards. It would be surprising if the Lions didn’t opt for the long throw given the edge that the Sharks have in the lock department.

The two number eights are both able and skillfull ball carriers, with Massyn surprisingly nimble for a man of his size. The Lions’ eighthman is possessed of a step and the power to scythe through a defensive line.

Notshe beat 22 defenders in the seven Super Rugby matches before the pandemic forced the tournament to be called off and Sharks coach Sean Everitt will be hoping he can rediscover that form and give the home side some momentum.

LOCK – HYRON ANDREWS VS MARVIN ORIE

Hyron Andrews

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Sharks vs Lions: Celebrations as Hyron Andrews of the Sharks scores during a 2020 Super Rugby match at Kings Park,Durban. ©Gerhard Duraan/BackpagePix

Born: 6 July 1995 (age 25 years), Paarl

Height: 2,01 m

Weight: 108 kg

Marvin Orie

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Marvin Orie of the Lions speaks to his team during a break in play the round five Super Rugby match between the Waratahs and the Lions at Bankwest Stadium on February 28, 2020 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Born: 15 February 1993 (age 27 years), Cape Town

Height: 1,98 m

Weight: 110 kg

The battle between the Sharks senior lock Hyron Andrews and one of the leaders of the Lions pack Marvin Orie will go a long way towards determining how the lineouts and the breakdown proceed.

Orie gives up a few inches to Andrews but makes up for that by generally being a nasty piece of work in the best way possible.

This key matchup is also effectively another Springbok trial for these two men.

Orie has the advantage of being partnered by experienced former Springbok Willem Alberts while Andrews is paired with 22-year-old man-mountain Ruben van Heerden.

Orie and Alberts will keep the Sharks big boys busy in the loose hoping to tire them out while the home side will relish the physical contest, which they need to win to unleash their backs.

FLYHALF – CURWIN BOSCH VS ELTON JANTJIES

Curwin Bosch

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Curwin Bosch of the Sharks runs with the ball during the Super Rugby match between the Sharks and Lions at Kings Park Stadium in Durban, South Africa. (Photo by Steve Haag/Gallo Images/Getty Images)

Born: 25 June 1997 (age 23 years), Port Elizabeth

Height: 1,81 m

Weight: 83 kg

Elton Jantjies

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Elton Jantjies of the Lions during the 2020 Super Rugby match between Lions and Stormers at Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg on 15 February 2020 ©Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix

Born: 1 August 1990 (age 30 years), Graaff-Reinet

Height: 1,76 m

Weight: 88 kg

A big part of being a great flyhalf is being able to handle pressure whether it is from onrushing loose forwards, the media, or expectant fans and both players will be feeling that even before the kick-off.

Jantjies came out on top in the flyhalf battle in the Springbok showdown, but it was a points decision rather than a knockout. The Lions flyhalf is under pressure to take his game to the next level.

Bosch has spoken openly of his desire to get a fair crack at the Sharks’ and Springboks’ number ten jerseys, but he has plenty of critics. The jury is out on whether fullback is actually Bosch’s best position, but at just 23-years-old he might deserve the benefit of the doubt.

Jantjies has to find a way to control the tempo of the game to ensure that the Lions are not overpowered by the Sharks.

Bosch can rely on the assistance of livewire scrumhalf Sanele Nohamba to get the Sharks backline moving forward but the pivot needs to find his creative spark.