The Lions will be desperate to end a three-match losing streak when they face Connacht at The Galway Sportsgrounds in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship on Saturday.
Overall Vodacom URC record: Played 1, Connacht won.
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When they last met:
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Did you know?
– Connacht defeated the Lions last season, winning 30-14 in Johannesburg.
– Connacht have won three of their last four matches in Galway.
– The Lions have won more matches away from home (three) than in Johannesburg (two).
– Josh Murphy made three lineout steals in Round 12 – more than any other player. All of these steals were made at the front of the lineout.
– John Porch has conceded the most turnovers in the league this season (20). Four of these have been passing errors; eight have been unforced dropped balls.
– Conor Oliver has made more chase tackles than any other player (21). He has also had the joint-most ineffective carry contacts, where he has been physically dominated by the tackler.
– Connacht have produced the fewest try assists (11), defenders beaten (154), and clean breaks (42) in the competition.
– Scrumhalf Morne van den Berg made as many offloads as any other player in Round 12 (four = Stuart McCloskey and John Hodnett).
– Emile van Heerden made a round-high 31 tackles against Munster, missing none. Only Sean Reffell has made more in a match this season (42).
– PJ Botha and Jaco Visagie top the charts for lineout throws which have travelled over the line – further than 15 metres – having thrown nine and seven respectively. No other player has thrown more than four.
– The Lions have scored the fewest tries in the URC (27). They are yet to score in the first 10 minutes of a match.
Picks: @mark_keohane believes the Lions can down Connacht while Zels predicts an upset for the visitors when they travel to Galway in the @Vodacom #URC. pic.twitter.com/NtUrsB2PmM
— SA Rugby magazine (@SARugbymag) January 26, 2023
Photo: Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix