2019 Lions (Super Rugby) season

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.

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 →

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 standings

Overall standings
Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TF	TA	TB	LB	Pts
1	Crusaders	16	11	3	2	497	257	+240	73	31	8	0	58
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
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

Australian Conference
Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TF	TA	TB	LB	Pts
1	Brumbies	16	10	0	6	430	366	+64	65	49	5	3	48
2	Rebels	16	7	0	9	393	465	−72	56	61	3	3	34
3	Waratahs	16	6	0	10	367	415	−48	46	54	0	6	30
4	Reds	16	6	0	10	385	438	−53	50	59	1	3	28
5	Sunwolves	16	2	0	14	294	584	−290	34	85	0	4	12

New Zealand Conference
Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TF	TA	TB	LB	Pts
1	Crusaders	16	11	3	2	497	257	+240	73	31	8	0	58
2	Hurricanes	16	12	1	3	449	362	+87	60	46	3	0	53
3	Chiefs	16	7	2	7	451	465	−14	63	59	2	2	36
4	Highlanders	16	6	3	7	441	392	+49	60	53	2	4	36
5	Blues	16	5	1	10	347	369	−22	45	47	2	6	30

South African Conference
Pos	Team	P	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

Legend and Competition rules
Legend:
	Conference leaders, qualified to the finals.		P = Games Played, W = Games Won, D = Games Drawn, L = Games Lost, PF = Points For, PA = Points Against, PD = Points Difference, TF = Tries For, TA = Tries Against, TB = Try Bonus Points, LB = Losing Bonus Points, Pts = Tournament Points
	Wildcard teams, qualified to finals.
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	QF	SF	Final
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	N/A	N/A	N/A		11	1	0	0	0	5
Malcolm Marx	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2		2	2		2	2	2	N/A	N/A	N/A		14	3	0	0	0	15
Carlü Sadie	3	3	3	3	3	3	3	18	3	3	3	3	18	3	3	3	N/A	N/A	N/A		16	2	0	0	0	10
Rhyno Herbst	4	19	4	5	19	4	4	4								4	N/A	N/A	N/A		9	1	0	0	0	5
Marvin Orie	5	4			4	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	N/A	N/A	N/A		14	0	0	0	0	0
Marnus Schoeman	6	6	6	6	6	6	6	20	20	6	20	6	6	20	20	20	N/A	N/A	N/A		16	5	0	0	0	25
Hacjivah Dayimani	7	20	8			19	22	8		20		20	21	21	19	8	N/A	N/A	N/A		12	3	0	0	0	15
Warren Whiteley	8	8							8		8						N/A	N/A	N/A		4	1	0	0	0	5
Nic Groom	9	9	9			9	21	9	21	9	21	21	9	22	21		N/A	N/A	N/A		13	1	0	0	0	5
Elton Jantjies	10	10	10	10	10	10	10	10	12	12	10	10	10		22	12	N/A	N/A	N/A		15	3	32	14	1	124
Aphiwe Dyantyi	11	22	11			23	13	11	11	11	11	11	11	11	11	11	N/A	N/A	N/A		14	6	0	0	0	30
Harold Vorster	12	12	12	22							12	12	12	12	12		N/A	N/A	N/A		9	0	0	0	0	0
Lionel Mapoe	13	13	13		22	12	12	13	13	13	13	13	13	13	13	13	N/A	N/A	N/A		15	3	0	0	0	15
Courtnall Skosan	14	11	23	11	11	11	11				14	14	14	14	14	23	N/A	N/A	N/A		13	6	0	0	0	30
Andries Coetzee	15	15	15	15	23		15	15	15		15	15	15	15	15	15	N/A	N/A	N/A		14	3	0	0	1	18
Pieter Jansen	16	16	16	16									16				N/A	N/A	N/A		4	0	0	0	0	0
Frans van Wyk	17		18	18	18	18			17								N/A	N/A	N/A		6	0	0	0	0	0
Jacobie Adriaanse	18	18					18										N/A	N/A	N/A		3	0	0	0	0	0
Ruan Vermaak	19			4	20	8	8										N/A	N/A	N/A		5	0	0	0	0	0
Robert Kruger	20		19														N/A	N/A	N/A		2	0	0	0	0	0
Dillon Smit	21			21												21	N/A	N/A	N/A		3	0	0	0	0	0
Wandisile Simelane	22			13	13	13										22	N/A	N/A	N/A		5	1	0	0	0	5
Ruan Combrinck	23	14	14		14			14	23	15							N/A	N/A	N/A		6	1	0	0	0	5
Stephan Lewies		5	5	19	5	7	20	7	4	4	4	4	4	4			N/A	N/A	N/A		13	1	0	0	0	5
Kwagga Smith		7	7	8	8				6	8	6	8	8	8	8		N/A	N/A	N/A		11	7	0	0	0	35
Sti Sithole		17	17		17	1	1	17	1	1	1	17	17	17			N/A	N/A	N/A		12	0	0	0	0	0
Gianni Lombard		21		23	21	22		22	10								N/A	N/A	N/A		6	0	0	1	0	3
Sylvian Mahuza		23		14		14	23	23	14	14							N/A	N/A	N/A		6	2	0	0	0	10
Vincent Tshituka			20	7	7						7	19	20	7	7	7	N/A	N/A	N/A		9	0	0	0	0	0
Ross Cronjé			21	9	9	21	9	21	9	21	9	9		9	9	9	N/A	N/A	N/A		13	0	0	0	0	0
Franco Naudé			22	12	12			12	22	22							N/A	N/A	N/A		6	0	0	0	0	0
Nathan McBeth				17		17	17	1		17					17	17	N/A	N/A	N/A		7	0	0	0	0	0
James Venter				20		20											N/A	N/A	N/A		2	0	0	0	0	0
Tyrone Green					15	15	14			23	23	23	23	23	23	14	N/A	N/A	N/A		10	0	0	0	0	0
Jan-Henning Campher					16		16			16	16	16	2	16	16	16	N/A	N/A	N/A		8	0	0	0	0	0
Robbie Coetzee						16		16	16	2							N/A	N/A	N/A		3	0	0	0	0	0
Cyle Brink							7	6	7	7		7	7	6	6	6	N/A	N/A	N/A		9	2	0	0	0	10
Wilhelm van der Sluys							19	19	19	19	19						N/A	N/A	N/A		5	0	0	0	0	0
Johannes Jonker								3	18	18	18	18	3	18	18	18	N/A	N/A	N/A		9	0	0	0	0	0
Shaun Reynolds										10	22	22	22	10	10	10	N/A	N/A	N/A		7	1	6	3	0	26
Reinhard Nothnagel													19	19	4	19	N/A	N/A	N/A		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.

See also

• Lions
• 2019 Super Rugby season

References

1. "About Super Rugby". SANZAAR. Archived from the original on 20 February 2018. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
2. "2019 Super Rugby Draw Released" (Press release). SANZAAR. 12 June 2018. Retrieved 12 June 2018.
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.
20. "Squad: Emirates Lions". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 12 September 2019.