Queensland Reds set to face Lions for the last time in Super Rugby at Suncorp Stadium

SATURDAY night looms as the final time the Queensland Reds will clash with the Lions, as the lowly South African team is set to be axed at season's end.

The Lions culling will put their coach John Mitchell out of a job, six years after he pillaged the Reds' playing list to prop up a fledgling Western Force team.

Mitchell faces an enormous task to steer the Lions to a boilover at Suncorp Stadium this weekend, with his young team last placed after losing to the lowly Auckland Blues last Friday night.

If the Lions finish the year with a wooden spoon, the SA Rugby Union (SARU) will drop the Johannesburg team from Super Rugby in favour of the Southern Kings who will be based in the Eastern Cape. The Southern Kings are aimed at developing rugby in the football-mad Cape region.

The Lions' demotion comes as a result of the SARU prematurely guaranteeing the Kings a Super Rugby place before they had secured an extension to the number of teams.

SANZAR has denied the SARU's proposal to increase the competition to 16 teams because Super Rugby was sold to sponsors and broadcasters as a conference format with five teams in each.
The move has caused the South African Government to fret.

"It is important that SA Rugby urgently finds an amicable solution as the cloud of uncertainty and anxiety is weighing very heavily on the players and franchises which will be affected and impacted upon by their decision," South African Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula said.

When Mitchell becomes jobless he could be touted as a replacement for sacked Force coach Richard Graham, who begins work with the Reds in September.

Another former All Black John Kirwan, who resigned as Japan's head coach following the Rugby World Cup, publicly revealed his interest in the vacant Force position yesterday.

However, the Force's main target Michael Cheika was confirmed as leaving his coaching post at Stade Francais yesterday, prompting reports he had already agreed to terms with the Force.

The Waratahs approached Craig Wing to play in a NSW Barbarians side against Scotland before pulling the pin on the fixture to avoid losing money.

Waratahs CEO Jason Allen yesterday confirmed a mooted game against the touring Scots on Sunday, June 10, at Allianz Stadium, had been cancelled due to a lack of financial viability, and the likelihood a non-Super Rugby strength side would have to be fielded

"The Lions culling will put their coach John Mitchell out of a job, six years after he pillaged the Reds' playing list to prop up a fledgling Western Force team"

Let it go will ya... QRU will be loving this

It was in fact seven years ago in 2005 that the pillaging took place.

In May 2006 (six years ago) we had a full squad of Western Force players taking the field each week.

But why let facts get the way :D

Apparently the big news out Qld is that QC will start the match against the Lions at 10 rather than come off the bench.

http://www.redsrugby.com.au/NewsEven...1/Default.aspx

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Originally Posted by todd4

Apparently the big news out Qld is that QC will start the match against the Lions at 10 rather than come off the bench.

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I know! All that media flurry on twitter this morning and all it was for was to announce he was going to be doing what's he paid to do this weekend! Far out!!

Feel really sorry for the Lions players and for their fans :-(( Hope the ARU don't go getting any similar ideas........:(

On the upside, who can we poach from there?? ;)

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Originally Posted by PerthChicka

Feel really sorry for the Lions players and for their fans :-(( Hope the ARU don't go getting any similar ideas........:(

On the upside, who can we poach from there?? ;)

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Coach John Mitchell?!
Posted via Mobile Device

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Originally Posted by PerthChicka

and for their fans

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They don't have any fans. Have you seen some of their Super Rugby crowds.

That or they constantly have a go dressed as an empty seat competition

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Originally Posted by JediKnight

Coach John Mitchell?!
Posted via Mobile Device

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Nah, let the Blues have him!!

How's about Jantjies?

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Originally Posted by jargan83

They don't have any fans. Have you seen some of their Super Rugby crowds.

That or they constantly have a go dressed as an empty seat competition

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Poor buggers :-( I do know a few Lions supporters but they are very quiet!

Is it that the club is being axed altogether, or are they just leaving the S15 comp? Would be a shame if they disappear altogether as they won't be able to defend their Currie Cup title :-(

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When Mitchell becomes jobless he could be touted as a replacement for sacked Force coach Richard Graham, who begins work with the Reds in September.

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wtf ?

Elton Jantjies - looks good on a bad team - has been in a Bokke touring squad but didn't play
Andries Coetzee - only 22 and hasn't played much
Jaco Taute - only 21 and can play as centre or full-back
James Kamana - A Kiwi who plays as full-back or wing, but hasn't been outstanding.

The trouble is, any Lions player who would believe they can make it as a Bokke would stay in SA and look to move clubs, so we'd only be able to pick up lesser players who have Australian connections.

Why doesn't the SH do what the NH does and allow their international players to play their club rugby in any country they like?

I don't understand why to be able to play for their country at international level, SH players have to stay in that country?? Can someone explain it to me?