2019 Lions (Super Rugby) season

Lions
	2019 season
Head coach	Swys de Bruin
Captain	Warren Whiteley
Stadium	Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg
Overall	8th
South African; Conference	4th
Record	Won 8, Lost 8
Top try scorer	All: Kwagga Smith (7)
Top points scorer	All: Elton Jantjies (124)
← 2018	2020 →

In 2019, the Lions participated in the 2019 Super Rugby competition, the 24th edition of the competition since its inception in 1996. They were included in the South African Conference of the competition, along with the Bulls, Jaguares, Sharks and Stormers.

The Lions won eight and lost eight of their matches during the regular season of the competition to finish fourth in the South African Conference, and in 8th place overall, failing to qualify for the finals.

Personnel

Coaches and management

The Lions coaches and management staff for the 2019 Super Rugby season is yet to be announced.

Squad

The Lions squad for the 2019 Super Rugby season is yet to be announced.

Standings

The final standings for the 2019 Super Rugby season are:

2019 Super Rugby: Overall standings
Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TF	TA	TB	LB	Pts	Qualification
1	Crusaders	16	11	3	2	497	257	+240	73	31	8	0	58	Conference leaders Qualified to the finals
2	Jaguares	16	11	0	5	461	352	+109	60	38	5	2	51
3	Brumbies	16	10	0	6	430	366	+64	65	49	5	3	48
4	Hurricanes	16	12	1	3	449	362	+87	60	46	3	0	53	Wildcard teams Qualified to finals
5	Bulls	16	8	2	6	410	369	+41	42	50	3	2	41
6	Sharks	16	7	1	8	343	335	+8	40	39	3	4	37
7	Chiefs	16	7	2	7	451	465	−14	63	59	2	2	36
8	Highlanders	16	6	3	7	441	392	+49	60	53	2	4	36
9	Lions	16	8	0	8	401	478	−77	53	64	2	1	35
10	Stormers	16	7	1	8	344	366	−22	34	46	1	4	35
11	Rebels	16	7	0	9	393	465	−72	56	61	3	3	34
12	Waratahs	16	6	0	10	367	415	−48	46	54	0	6	30
13	Blues	16	5	1	10	347	369	−22	45	47	2	6	30
14	Reds	16	6	0	10	385	438	−53	50	59	1	3	28
15	Sunwolves	16	2	0	14	294	584	−290	34	85	0	4	12

Source: super.rugby

South African Conference
Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TF	TA	TB	LB	Pts
1	Jaguares	16	11	0	5	461	352	+109	60	38	5	2	51
2	Bulls	16	8	2	6	410	369	+41	42	50	3	2	41
3	Sharks	16	7	1	8	343	335	+8	40	39	3	4	37
4	Lions	16	8	0	8	401	478	−77	53	64	2	1	35
5	Stormers	16	7	1	8	344	366	−22	34	46	1	4	35

Competition rules^[1]
Qualification: Eight teams will qualify to the finals, with their final positions in the overall log determining their seedings in the quarter-finals. The conference winners will be seeded #1 to #3 for the quarter-finals, in order of log points gained during the group stages, while the wildcards will be seeded as #4 to #8 in order of log points gained during the group stages. In the quarter-finals, the three conference winners and the highest-ranked wildcard team will host the first round of the finals, with the highest-seeded conference winner (Team #1) hosting the fifth-seeded wildcard entry (Team #8) in quarter-final 1, the second-seeded conference winner (Team #2) hosting the fourth-seeded wildcard entry (Team #7) in quarter-final 3, the third-seeded conference winner (Team #3) hosting the third-seeded wildcard entry (Team #6) in quarter-final 4 and the top-seeded wildcard entry (Team #4) hosting the second-seed wildcard entry (Team #5) in quarter-final 2. The quarter-final winners will progress to the semi-finals, where the winners of quarter-finals 1 and 2 will play each other, as well as the winners of quarter-finals 3 and 4, each tie hosted by the higher-seeded team. The winner of the semi-finals will progress to the Final, again to be held at the venue of the highest-seeded team.
Tournament points breakdown: * 4 tournament points for a win * 2 tournament points for a draw * 1 tournament bonus point for a loss by seven points or less * 1 tournament bonus point for scoring at least three tries more than the opponent in a match
Classification: Teams standings are calculated as follows: * Conference leaders * Tournament points * Number of games won * Overall points difference * Number of tries scored * Overall try difference * Coin toss

Round-by-round

The table below shows the Lions' progression throughout the season. For each round, their cumulative points total is shown with the overall log position:

Team	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	R7	R8	R9	R10	R11	R12	R13	R14	R15	R16	R17	R18
Opposition	JAG	STO	BUL	JAG	REB	SUN	Bye	SHA	BRU	CHI	CRU	Bye	WAR	HIG	SHA	STO	HUR	BUL
Cumulative Points
Position (overall)
Position (SA Conf.)

Key:	win	draw	loss	bye

Matches

The Lions played the following matches during the 2019 Super Rugby season:^[2]^[3]

	16 February 2019	Jaguares	16–25	Lions	José Amalfitani Stadium, Buenos Aires
	23:40	Try: Santiago Medrano 15' Con: Joaquín Díaz Bonilla 16' Pen: Joaquín Díaz Bonilla 12', 25', 59'	Scoreboard^[4]	Try: Marnus Schoeman 2', 31', 49' Con: Elton Jantjies 32', 50' Pen: Elton Jantjies 28', 69'	Referee: Mike Fraser

	23 February 2019	Stormers	19–17	Lions	DHL Newlands, Cape Town
	17:15	Try: Herschel Jantjies 84' Con: SP Marais 86' Pen: SP Marais 11', 28', 50', 60'	Scoreboard^[5]	Try: Kwagga Smith 5' Warren Whiteley 19' Con: Elton Jantjies 6', 21' Pen: Elton Jantjies 63'	Referee: Egon Seconds

	2 March 2019	Lions	12–30	Bulls	Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg
	15:05	Try: Carlü Sadie 47' Dylan Smith 65' Con: Elton Jantjies 65'	Scoreboard^[6]	Try: Duane Vermeulen 28' Warrick Gelant 74' Con: Handré Pollard 75' Pen: Handré Pollard 13', 26', 37', 43', 57', 62'	Referee: Paul Williams

	9 March 2019	Lions	47–39	Jaguares	Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg
	15:05	Try: Rhyno Herbst 14' Elton Jantjies 23' Kwagga Smith 26' Wandisile Simelane 34' Marnus Schoeman 44' Courtnall Skosan 46', 49' Con: Elton Jantjies 16', 24', 35', 45', 47', 52'	Scoreboard^[7]	Try: Ramiro Moyano 31' Julián Montoya 38', 53' Gaspar Baldunciel 71' Matías Moroni 79' Joaquín Tuculet 80' Con: Joaquín Díaz Bonilla 54' Juan Cruz Mallia 72', 81' Pen: Joaquín Díaz Bonilla 18'	Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge

	16 March 2019	Lions	36–33	Rebels	Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg
	15:05	Try: Malcolm Marx 4' Marnus Schoeman 49' Andries Coetzee 52' Lionel Mapoe 55' Courtnall Skosan 63' Con: Elton Jantjies 50', 54', 56', 64' Pen: Gianni Lombard 81'	Scoreboard^[8]	Try: Reece Hodge 7' Quade Cooper 11' Bill Meakes 19' Isi Naisarani 22' Tom English 41' Con: Quade Cooper 13', 20', 23', 42'	Referee: Egon Seconds

	23 March 2019	Sunwolves	24–37	Lions	National Stadium, Singapore
	12:55	Try: penalty try 5' Rahboni Warren-Vosayaco 64', 78' Con: Hayden Parker 65', 79' Pen: Hayden Parker 41'	Scoreboard^[9]	Try: Malcolm Marx 12', 35' Nic Groom 51' Elton Jantjies 56' Lionel Mapoe 60' Hacjivah Dayimani 74' Con: Elton Jantjies 13', 61' Pen: Elton Jantjies 68'	Referee: Damon Murphy

	5 April 2019	Lions	5–42	Sharks	Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg
	19:10	Try: Sylvian Mahuza 78'	Scoreboard^[10]	Try: Jacques Vermeulen 18' Makazole Mapimpi 21', 37' Lukhanyo Am 26' Thomas du Toit 71' Aphelele Fassi 81' Con: Robert du Preez 27' Curwin Bosch 72', 82' Pen: Robert du Preez 30' Curwin Bosch 47'	Referee: Mike Fraser

	13 April 2019	Brumbies	31–20	Lions	GIO Stadium, Canberra
	11:45	Try: Lachlan McCaffrey 20' Toni Pulu 26' Tevita Kuridrani 38' Tom Banks 54' Tom Wright 57' Con: Christian Lealiifano 21', 27', 59'	Scoreboard^[11]	Try: Aphiwe Dyantyi 6' Elton Jantjies 49' Sylvian Mahuza 69' Con: Elton Jantjies 49' Pen: Elton Jantjies 24'	Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge

	19 April 2019	Chiefs	17–23	Lions	FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton
	9:35	Try: Sean Wainui 60' Nepo Laulala 63' Tumua Manu 75' Con: Marty McKenzie 77'	Scoreboard^[12]	Try: Carlü Sadie 35' Aphiwe Dyantyi 39' Con: Elton Jantjies 36', 40' Pen: Elton Jantjies 9', 29' Drop: Elton Jantjies 79'	Referee: Brendon Pickerill

	26 April 2019	Crusaders	36–10	Lions	AMI Stadium, Christchurch
	9:35	Try: Braydon Ennor 4' Sevu Reece 34', 57' George Bridge 48', 50' Con: Richie Mo'unga 5', 35', 48', 51' Pen: Richie Mo'unga 9'	Scoreboard^[13]	Try: Ruan Combrinck 52' Con: Elton Jantjies 53' Pen: Elton Jantjies 18'	Referee: Paul Williams

	11 May 2019	Lions	29–28	Waratahs	Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg
	15:05	Try: Aphiwe Dyantyi 10' Stephan Lewies 17' Kwagga Smith 32' Courtnall Skosan 42' Con: Elton Jantjies 10', 19', 44' Pen: Shaun Reynolds 67'	Scoreboard^[14]	Try: Nick Phipps 3' Michael Hooper 12' Rob Simmons 26' Tom Staniforth 55' Con: Bernard Foley 5', 13', 27', 57'	Referee: Egon Seconds

	18 May 2019	Lions	38–29	Highlanders	Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg
	15:05	Try: Andries Coetzee 13' Kwagga Smith 38', 51' Shaun Reynolds 70' Courtnall Skosan 78' Con: Elton Jantjies 13', 38', 52', 71', 80' Pen: Elton Jantjies 63'	Scoreboard^[15]	Try: Sio Tomkinson 4' Tom Franklin 34' Jordan Hyland 56' Matt Faddes 59' Josh Ioane 73' Con: Josh Ioane 35' Dan Hollinshead 74'	Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge

	25 May 2019	Sharks	27–17	Lions	Jonsson Kings Park, Durban
	17:15	Try: Curwin Bosch 16' Dan du Preez 22' Makazole Mapimpi 59' Con: Curwin Bosch 17', 24', 60' Pen: Curwin Bosch 53', 76'	Scoreboard^[16]	Try: Lionel Mapoe 30' Cyle Brink 48' Con: Elton Jantjies 32', 49' Pen: Elton Jantjies 73'	Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen

	1 June 2019	Lions	41–22	Stormers	Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg
	17:15	Try: Kwagga Smith 9', 43' Andries Coetzee 34' Courtnall Skosan 47' Aphiwe Dyantyi 56' Hacjivah Dayimani 77' Con: Shaun Reynolds 44', 48', 57', 79' Pen: Shaun Reynolds 27'	Scoreboard^[17]	Try: Johan du Toit 38' Herschel Jantjies 52' Joshua Stander 65' Con: Joshua Stander 39', 53' Pen: Joshua Stander 32'	Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen

	8 June 2019	Lions	17–37	Hurricanes	Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg
	15:05	Try: Aphiwe Dyantyi 9', 58' Con: Shaun Reynolds 10', 59' Pen: Shaun Reynolds 20'	Scoreboard^[18]	Try: Ngani Laumape 6' Ben Lam 40', 47' Dane Coles 64', 75' Con: Jordie Barrett 7', 41', 65' Pen: Jordie Barrett 38', 46'	Referee: Jaco Peyper

	15 June 2019	Bulls	48–27	Lions	Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
	17:15	Try: Hanro Liebenberg 3' Marco van Staden 10' Lizo Gqoboka 15' Burger Odendaal 19' Cornal Hendricks 59' Handré Pollard 64' Manie Libbok 70' Con: Handré Pollard 4', 11', 16', 19', 65' Pen: Handré Pollard 24'	Scoreboard^[19]	Try: Hacjivah Dayimani 0' Cyle Brink 55' Con: Elton Jantjies 1' Pen: Elton Jantjies 9', 29', 36', 42' Drop: Andries Coetzee 14'	Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen

Player statistics

The Super Rugby appearance record for players that represented the Lions in 2019 is as follows:^[20]

Lions
Name	JAG	STO	BUL	JAG	REB	SUN	SHA	BRU	CHI	CRU	WAR	HIG	SHA	STO	HUR	BUL	QF	SF	F	App	Try	Con	Pen	DG	Pts
Dylan Smith	1	1	1	1	1						17	1	1	1	1	1	—	—	—	11	1	0	0	0	5
Malcolm Marx	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2		2	2		2	2	2	—	—	—	14	3	0	0	0	15
Carlü Sadie	3	3	3	3	3	3	3	18	3	3	3	3	18	3	3	3	—	—	—	16	2	0	0	0	10
Rhyno Herbst	4	19	4	5	19	4	4	4								4	—	—	—	9	1	0	0	0	5
Marvin Orie	5	4			4	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	—	—	—	14	0	0	0	0	0
Marnus Schoeman	6	6	6	6	6	6	6	20	20	6	20	6	6	20	20	20	—	—	—	16	5	0	0	0	25
Hacjivah Dayimani	7	20	8			19	22	8		20		20	21	21	19	8	—	—	—	12	3	0	0	0	15
Warren Whiteley	8	8							8		8						—	—	—	4	1	0	0	0	5
Nic Groom	9	9	9			9	21	9	21	9	21	21	9	22	21		—	—	—	13	1	0	0	0	5
Elton Jantjies	10	10	10	10	10	10	10	10	12	12	10	10	10		22	12	—	—	—	15	3	32	14	1	124
Aphiwe Dyantyi	11	22	11			23	13	11	11	11	11	11	11	11	11	11	—	—	—	14	6	0	0	0	30
Harold Vorster	12	12	12	22							12	12	12	12	12		—	—	—	9	0	0	0	0	0
Lionel Mapoe	13	13	13		22	12	12	13	13	13	13	13	13	13	13	13	—	—	—	15	3	0	0	0	15
Courtnall Skosan	14	11	23	11	11	11	11				14	14	14	14	14	23	—	—	—	13	6	0	0	0	30
Andries Coetzee	15	15	15	15	23		15	15	15		15	15	15	15	15	15	—	—	—	14	3	0	0	1	18
Pieter Jansen	16	16	16	16									16				—	—	—	4	0	0	0	0	0
Frans van Wyk	17		18	18	18	18			17								—	—	—	6	0	0	0	0	0
Jacobie Adriaanse	18	18					18										—	—	—	3	0	0	0	0	0
Ruan Vermaak	19			4	20	8	8										—	—	—	5	0	0	0	0	0
Robert Kruger	20		19														—	—	—	2	0	0	0	0	0
Dillon Smit	21			21												21	—	—	—	3	0	0	0	0	0
Wandisile Simelane	22			13	13	13										22	—	—	—	5	1	0	0	0	5
Ruan Combrinck	23	14	14		14			14	23	15							—	—	—	6	1	0	0	0	5
Stephan Lewies		5	5	19	5	7	20	7	4	4	4	4	4	4			—	—	—	13	1	0	0	0	5
Kwagga Smith		7	7	8	8				6	8	6	8	8	8	8		—	—	—	11	7	0	0	0	35
Sti Sithole		17	17		17	1	1	17	1	1	1	17	17	17			—	—	—	12	0	0	0	0	0
Gianni Lombard		21		23	21	22		22	10								—	—	—	6	0	0	1	0	3
Sylvian Mahuza		23		14		14	23	23	14	14							—	—	—	6	2	0	0	0	10
Vincent Tshituka			20	7	7						7	19	20	7	7	7	—	—	—	9	0	0	0	0	0
Ross Cronjé			21	9	9	21	9	21	9	21	9	9		9	9	9	—	—	—	13	0	0	0	0	0
Franco Naudé			22	12	12			12	22	22							—	—	—	6	0	0	0	0	0
Nathan McBeth				17		17	17	1		17					17	17	—	—	—	7	0	0	0	0	0
James Venter				20		20											—	—	—	2	0	0	0	0	0
Tyrone Green					15	15	14			23	23	23	23	23	23	14	—	—	—	10	0	0	0	0	0
Jan-Henning Campher					16		16			16	16	16	2	16	16	16	—	—	—	8	0	0	0	0	0
Robbie Coetzee						16		16	16	2							—	—	—	3	0	0	0	0	0
Cyle Brink							7	6	7	7		7	7	6	6	6	—	—	—	9	2	0	0	0	10
Wilhelm van der Sluys							19	19	19	19	19						—	—	—	5	0	0	0	0	0
Johannes Jonker								3	18	18	18	18	3	18	18	18	—	—	—	9	0	0	0	0	0
Shaun Reynolds										10	22	22	22	10	10	10	—	—	—	7	1	6	3	0	26
Reinhard Nothnagel													19	19	4	19	—	—	—	4	0	0	0	0	0
Total																				16	53	38	18	2	401

(c) denotes the team captain. For each match, the player's squad number is shown. Starting players are numbered 1 to 15, while the replacements are numbered 16 to 23. If a replacement made an appearance in the match, it is indicated by . "App" refers to the number of appearances made by the player, "Try" to the number of tries scored by the player, "Con" to the number of conversions kicked, "Pen" to the number of penalties kicked, "DG" to the number of drop goals kicked and "Pts" refer to the total number of points scored by the player.

Jo-Hanko de Villiers, Lourens Erasmus, Chergin Fillies, Eddie Fouché, Jan-Louis la Grange, Len Massyn, Danie Mienie, Manuel Rass, Madosh Tambwe, PJ Steenkamp, Bradley Thain, Morné van den Berg, Wayne van der Bank and Louritz van der Schyff did not make any appearances.

References

^ "About Super Rugby". SANZAAR. Archived from the original on 20 February 2018. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
^ "2019 Super Rugby Draw Released" (Press release). SANZAAR. 12 June 2018. Retrieved 12 June 2018.
^ "180611 GT 2019 Super Rugby Draw - Match Days and Times - Final Master" (PDF). SANZAAR. 12 June 2018. Retrieved 12 June 2018.
^ "Match 7, Pool Stage". South African Rugby Union. 16 February 2019. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
^ "Match 13, Pool Stage". South African Rugby Union. 23 February 2019. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
^ "Match 19, Pool Stage". South African Rugby Union. 2 March 2019. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
^ "Match 27, Pool Stage". South African Rugby Union. 9 March 2019. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
^ "Match 34, Pool Stage". South African Rugby Union. 16 March 2019. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
^ "Match 38, Pool Stage". South African Rugby Union. 23 March 2019. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
^ "Match 50, Pool Stage". South African Rugby Union. 5 April 2019. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
^ "Match 58, Pool Stage". South African Rugby Union. 13 April 2019. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
^ "Match 61, Pool Stage". South African Rugby Union. 19 April 2019. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
^ "Match 67, Pool Stage". South African Rugby Union. 26 April 2019. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
^ "Match 85, Pool Stage". South African Rugby Union. 11 May 2019. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
^ "Match 91, Pool Stage". South African Rugby Union. 18 May 2019. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
^ "Match 99, Pool Stage". South African Rugby Union. 25 May 2019. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
^ "Match 106, Pool Stage". South African Rugby Union. 1 June 2019. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
^ "Match 111, Pool Stage". South African Rugby Union. 8 June 2019. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
^ "Match 120, Pool Stage". South African Rugby Union. 15 June 2019. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
^ "Squad: Emirates Lions". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 12 September 2019.

[About_Super_Rugby-1] "About Super Rugby". SANZAAR. Archived from the original on 20 February 2018. Retrieved 20 February 2018.

[2019_Super_Rugby_Draw_Released-2] "2019 Super Rugby Draw Released" (Press release). SANZAAR. 12 June 2018. Retrieved 12 June 2018.

[180611_GT_2019_Super_Rugby_Draw_-_Match_Days_and_Times_-_Final_Master-3] "180611 GT 2019 Super Rugby Draw - Match Days and Times - Final Master" (PDF). SANZAAR. 12 June 2018. Retrieved 12 June 2018.

[4] "Match 7, Pool Stage". South African Rugby Union. 16 February 2019. Retrieved 12 September 2019.

[5] "Match 13, Pool Stage". South African Rugby Union. 23 February 2019. Retrieved 12 September 2019.

[6] "Match 19, Pool Stage". South African Rugby Union. 2 March 2019. Retrieved 12 September 2019.

[7] "Match 27, Pool Stage". South African Rugby Union. 9 March 2019. Retrieved 12 September 2019.

[8] "Match 34, Pool Stage". South African Rugby Union. 16 March 2019. Retrieved 12 September 2019.

[9] "Match 38, Pool Stage". South African Rugby Union. 23 March 2019. Retrieved 12 September 2019.

[10] "Match 50, Pool Stage". South African Rugby Union. 5 April 2019. Retrieved 12 September 2019.

[11] "Match 58, Pool Stage". South African Rugby Union. 13 April 2019. Retrieved 12 September 2019.

[12] "Match 61, Pool Stage". South African Rugby Union. 19 April 2019. Retrieved 12 September 2019.

[13] "Match 67, Pool Stage". South African Rugby Union. 26 April 2019. Retrieved 12 September 2019.

[14] "Match 85, Pool Stage". South African Rugby Union. 11 May 2019. Retrieved 12 September 2019.

[15] "Match 91, Pool Stage". South African Rugby Union. 18 May 2019. Retrieved 12 September 2019.

[16] "Match 99, Pool Stage". South African Rugby Union. 25 May 2019. Retrieved 12 September 2019.

[17] "Match 106, Pool Stage". South African Rugby Union. 1 June 2019. Retrieved 12 September 2019.

[18] "Match 111, Pool Stage". South African Rugby Union. 8 June 2019. Retrieved 12 September 2019.

[19] "Match 120, Pool Stage". South African Rugby Union. 15 June 2019. Retrieved 12 September 2019.

[Squad:_Emirates_Lions-20] "Squad: Emirates Lions". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 12 September 2019.

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