# 2018 Lions (Super Rugby) season

In 2018, the Lions participated in the 2018 Super Rugby competition, the 23rd 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.

## Personnel
### Coaches and management

The Lions coaching and management staff for the 2018 Super Rugby season were:
| 2018 Lions coaches and management |
| Name | Title |
| Swys de Bruin | Head coach |
| Philip Lemmer | Assistant coach (forwards) |
| Joey Mongalo | Assistant coach (breakdown and backline) |
| Ivan van Rooyen | Head of Strength & Conditioning |
| Mustapha Boomgaard | Manager |
| Johane Singwane | Assistant manager |
| Dr Rob Collins | Head physician |
| Preven Appalsamy | Physiotherapist |
| Ram Mpila | Massage therapist |
| Neil de Bruin | Kicking & skills coach |
| Wynand Ellis | Video analyst |

### Squad

The following players were named in the Lions squad for the 2018 Super Rugby season:
| 2018 Lions squad |
| Player | Position/s | Date of birth (age) | Super Rugby | Super Rugby | Lions | Lions |
| Player | Position/s | Date of birth (age) | Apps | Pts | Apps | Pts |
| Jacobie Adriaanse | Prop | (1985-07-19)19 July 1985 (aged 32) | 33 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cyle Brink | Loose forward | (1994-01-16)16 January 1994 (aged 24) | 22 | 5 | 22 | 5 |
| Andries Coetzee | Fullback | (1990-03-01)1 March 1990 (aged 27) | 61 | 47 | 60 | 47 |
| Robbie Coetzee | Hooker | (1989-05-02)2 May 1989 (aged 28) | 35 | 10 | 35 | 10 |
| Ruan Combrinck | Wing | (1990-05-10)10 May 1990 (aged 27) | 52 | 123 | 52 | 123 |
| Ross Cronjé | Scrum-half | (1989-07-26)26 July 1989 (aged 28) | 63 | 30 | 63 | 30 |
| Ashlon Davids | Fly-half | (1993-06-24)24 June 1993 (aged 24) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Hacjivah Dayimani | Loose forward | (1997-09-23)23 September 1997 (aged 20) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ruan Dreyer | Prop | (1990-09-16)16 September 1990 (aged 27) | 60 | 10 | 60 | 10 |
| Aphiwe Dyantyi | Wing | (1994-08-26)26 August 1994 (aged 23) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Willie Engelbrecht | Loose forward | (1992-07-27)27 July 1992 (aged 25) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Lourens Erasmus | Lock | (1993-06-14)14 June 1993 (aged 24) | 26 | 10 | 26 | 10 |
| Andries Ferreira | Lock | (1990-03-29)29 March 1990 (aged 27) | 39 | 10 | 39 | 10 |
| Corné Fourie | Prop | (1988-09-02)2 September 1988 (aged 29) | 55 | 20 | 55 | 20 |
| Nic Groom | Scrum-half | (1990-02-21)21 February 1990 (aged 27) | 57 | 25 | 0 | 0 |
| Rhyno Herbst | Lock | (1996-07-05)5 July 1996 (aged 21) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rohan Janse van Rensburg | Centre | (1994-09-11)11 September 1994 (aged 23) | 27 | 75 | 27 | 75 |
| Marco Jansen van Vuren | Scrum-half | (1996-06-14)14 June 1996 (aged 21) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Elton Jantjies | Fly-half | (1990-08-01)1 August 1990 (aged 27) | 100 | 806 | 87 | 795 |
| Johannes Jonker | Prop | (1994-08-22)22 August 1994 (aged 23) | 16 | 0 | 16 | 0 |
| Jaco Kriel | Loose forward | (1989-08-21)21 August 1989 (aged 28) | 69 | 105 | 69 | 105 |
| Robert Kruger | Lock | (1988-04-28)28 April 1988 (aged 29) | 30 | 0 | 30 | 0 |
| Sylvian Mahuza | Fullback | (1993-07-29)29 July 1993 (aged 24) | 20 | 30 | 20 | 30 |
| Lionel Mapoe | Centre | (1988-07-13)13 July 1988 (aged 29) | 94 | 135 | 77 | 120 |
| Malcolm Marx | Hooker | (1994-07-13)13 July 1994 (aged 23) | 38 | 75 | 38 | 75 |
| Len Massyn | Loose forward | (1997-05-21)21 May 1997 (aged 20) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Christiaan Meyer | Scrum-half | (1994-05-16)16 May 1994 (aged 23) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Howard Mnisi | Centre | (1989-07-13)13 July 1989 (aged 28) | 36 | 10 | 33 | 10 |
| Franco Mostert | Lock | (1990-11-27)27 November 1990 (aged 27) | 64 | 15 | 64 | 15 |
| Marvin Orie | Lock | (1993-02-15)15 February 1993 (aged 25) | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Shaun Reynolds | Fly-half | (1995-06-15)15 June 1995 (aged 22) | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Marnus Schoeman | Loose forward | (1989-02-09)9 February 1989 (aged 29) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sti Sithole | Prop | (1993-03-31)31 March 1993 (aged 24) | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Courtnall Skosan | Wing | (1991-07-24)24 July 1991 (aged 26) | 54 | 125 | 54 | 125 |
| Dillon Smit | Scrum-half | (1992-12-11)11 December 1992 (aged 25) | 12 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| Dylan Smith | Prop | (1994-02-26)26 February 1994 (aged 23) | 18 | 0 | 18 | 0 |
| Kwagga Smith | Loose forward | (1993-06-11)11 June 1993 (aged 24) | 21 | 40 | 21 | 40 |
| Madosh Tambwe | Wing | (1997-05-12)12 May 1997 (aged 20) | 5 | 10 | 5 | 10 |
| Jacques van Rooyen | Prop | (1986-10-24)24 October 1986 (aged 31) | 49 | 20 | 49 | 20 |
| Harold Vorster | Centre | (1993-10-11)11 October 1993 (aged 24) | 34 | 40 | 34 | 40 |
| Warren Whiteley | Loose forward | (1987-09-18)18 September 1987 (aged 30) | 79 | 65 | 79 | 65 |
| Note: Players' ages and statistics are correct as of 17 February 2018, the date of the opening round of the competition. |

## Standings

The final standings for the 2018 Super Rugby season were:
2018 Super Rugby: Overall standings :
| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Crusaders | 16 | 14 | 0 | 2 | 542 | 295 | +247 | 77 | 39 | 7 | 0 | 63 | Conference leaders Qualified to the finals. |
| 2 | Lions | 16 | 9 | 0 | 7 | 519 | 435 | +84 | 77 | 55 | 6 | 4 | 46 | Conference leaders Qualified to the finals. |
| 3 | Waratahs | 16 | 9 | 1 | 6 | 557 | 445 | +112 | 74 | 59 | 4 | 2 | 44 | Conference leaders Qualified to the finals. |
| 4 | Hurricanes | 16 | 11 | 0 | 5 | 474 | 343 | +131 | 66 | 43 | 5 | 2 | 51 | Wildcard teams Qualified to finals. |
| 5 | Chiefs | 16 | 11 | 0 | 5 | 463 | 368 | +95 | 60 | 48 | 3 | 2 | 49 | Wildcard teams Qualified to finals. |
| 6 | Highlanders | 16 | 10 | 0 | 6 | 437 | 445 | −8 | 59 | 57 | 3 | 1 | 44 | Wildcard teams Qualified to finals. |
| 7 | Jaguares | 16 | 9 | 0 | 7 | 409 | 418 | −9 | 51 | 55 | 2 | 0 | 38 | Wildcard teams Qualified to finals. |
| 8 | Sharks | 16 | 7 | 1 | 8 | 437 | 442 | −5 | 49 | 57 | 2 | 4 | 36 | Wildcard teams Qualified to finals. |
| 9 | Rebels | 16 | 7 | 0 | 9 | 440 | 461 | −21 | 57 | 60 | 5 | 3 | 36 | |
| 10 | Brumbies | 16 | 7 | 0 | 9 | 393 | 422 | −29 | 56 | 52 | 2 | 4 | 34 | |
| 11 | Stormers | 16 | 6 | 0 | 10 | 390 | 423 | −33 | 46 | 56 | 0 | 5 | 29 | |
| 12 | Bulls | 16 | 6 | 0 | 10 | 441 | 502 | −61 | 59 | 66 | 2 | 3 | 29 | |
| 13 | Reds | 16 | 6 | 0 | 10 | 389 | 501 | −112 | 49 | 66 | 1 | 3 | 28 | |
| 14 | Blues | 16 | 4 | 0 | 12 | 378 | 509 | −131 | 50 | 66 | 2 | 4 | 22 | |
| 15 | Sunwolves | 16 | 3 | 0 | 13 | 404 | 664 | −260 | 48 | 99 | 0 | 2 | 14 | |
South African Conference :
| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts |
| 1 | Lions | 16 | 9 | 0 | 7 | 519 | 435 | +84 | 77 | 55 | 6 | 4 | 46 |
| 2 | Jaguares | 16 | 9 | 0 | 7 | 409 | 418 | −9 | 51 | 55 | 2 | 0 | 38 |
| 3 | Sharks | 16 | 7 | 1 | 8 | 437 | 442 | −5 | 49 | 57 | 2 | 4 | 36 |
| 4 | Stormers | 16 | 6 | 0 | 10 | 390 | 423 | −33 | 46 | 56 | 0 | 5 | 29 |
| 5 | Bulls | 16 | 6 | 0 | 10 | 441 | 502 | −61 | 59 | 66 | 2 | 3 | 29 |
* Competition rules
* 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 | R19 | QF | SF | Final |
| Opposition | SHA | JAG | BUL | BLU | SUN | JAG | CRU | STO | Bye | WAR | RED | HUR | HIG | BRU | STO | Bye | SHA | Bye | BUL | JAG | WAR | Lost |
| Cumulative Points | 4 | 9 | 14 | 15 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 25 | 25 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 36 | 40 | 40 | 41 | 41 | 46 | Won | Won | Lost |
| Position (overall) | 4th | 1st | 1st | 2nd | 1st | 2nd | 2nd | 1st | 2nd | 1st | 2nd | 2nd | 2nd | 2nd | 2nd | 2nd | 2nd | 3rd | 2nd | | | |
| Position (SA Conf.) | 2nd | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | | | |
| Key: | win | draw | loss | bye | |

## Matches

The Lions played the following matches during the 2018 Super Rugby season:

## Player statistics

The Super Rugby appearance record for players that represented the Lions in 2018 is as follows:
| 2018 Lions player statistics |
| Player name | SHA | JAG | BUL | BLU | SUN | JAG | CRU | STO | WAR | RED | HUR | HIG | BRU | STO | SHA | BUL | JAG | WAR | CRU | | App | Try | Con | Pen | DG | Pts |
| Jacques van Rooyen | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | | 1 | 17 | 17 | 1 | 1 | | 16 | 17 | 1 | 17 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | | 17 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Malcolm Marx | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 16 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | | | | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | | 16 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 60 |
| Ruan Dreyer | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 17 | 17 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | | 18 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Marvin Orie | 4 | | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 20 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 19 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | | 18 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| Franco Mostert | 5 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | | 19 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Kwagga Smith | 6 | 6 | | 20 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | 18 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 |
| Cyle Brink | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | | 6 | 7 | 7 | | 20 | 7 | 6 | | | 7 | 7 | 7 | | 7 | | 14 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Warren Whiteley | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Ross Cronjé | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | | | | | | | | 21 | 21 | 9 | 21 | 9 | 9 | 9 | | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Elton Jantjies | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | | 19 | 1 | 66 | 11 | 1 | 173 |
| Aphiwe Dyantyi | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | | | | | 11 | 11 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 22 | 11 | 11 | 22 | | 15 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 35 |
| Harold Vorster | 12 | 12 | 22 | 22 | 12 | | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 12 | | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | | 17 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| Lionel Mapoe | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | | 13 | 13 | | | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | | 16 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| Sylvian Mahuza | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | | 14 | 14 | 23 | 23 | | 23 | 23 | 14 | | | | | | | | 11 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 |
| Andries Coetzee | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | | 19 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
| Robbie Coetzee | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 2 | | | 16 | 16 | 16 | 2 | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| Dylan Smith | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 1 | 17 | 1 | 1 | 17 | 17 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 17 | 1 | | 17 | 17 | 17 | | 18 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Jacobie Adriaanse | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 3 | | 18 | | 18 | | 3 | 18 | | 18 | | | | | | | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Lourens Erasmus | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 4 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 4 | 19 | 4 | 4 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 7 | 19 | | 19 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Marnus Schoeman | 20 | | 20 | | 20 | | 21 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 6 | 20 | 20 | 6 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | | 16 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 |
| Hacjivah Dayimani | 21 | 20 | | 23 | | | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 20 | | 8 | 20 | 20 | | | 19 | | | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Howard Mnisi | 22 | 22 | | | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | | | | | | | | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rohan Janse van Rensburg | 23 | 23 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 12 | | | 22 | 12 | 22 | 22 | 12 | 13 | | | | | | | 12 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| Andries Ferreira | | 4 | 4 | 4 | | | 4 | | 4 | 4 | | 4 | | | | | | | | | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Marco Jansen van Vuren | | 21 | 21 | | 21 | 9 | | 21 | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Madosh Tambwe | | | 23 | | | | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | | | 11 | 22 | | | | | | | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 35 |
| Ashlon Davids | | | | 21 | | | | | | 23 | 21 | | | | | | | | | | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Len Massyn | | | | | 8 | 20 | | | | | | | 19 | | | | | | | | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sti Sithole | | | | | 17 | | | | | | | | | | | 17 | | | | | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Johannes Jonker | | | | | 18 | 18 | | 18 | | 18 | 18 | 3 | 18 | | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Robert Kruger | | | | | 19 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Shaun Reynolds | | | | | 23 | 23 | 23 | | | | | | 22 | 23 | | | | | | | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Dillon Smit | | | | | | 21 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | | 21 | | | | | 21 | 21 | 21 | | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Corné Fourie | | | | | | | 16 | 16 | | | | | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Ruan Combrinck | | | | | | | | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 23 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | | 12 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 |
| Nic Groom | | | | | | | | | 21 | 22 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 22 | 9 | | | | | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Rhyno Herbst | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 19 | | | | | | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Courtnall Skosan | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 23 | 11 | 22 | 22 | 11 | | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| penalty try | penalty try | penalty try | penalty try | penalty try | penalty try | penalty try | penalty try | penalty try | penalty try | penalty try | penalty try | penalty try | penalty try | penalty try | penalty try | penalty try | penalty try | penalty try | penalty try | | – | 3 | – | – | – | 21 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | 19 | 89 | 67 | 11 | 1 | 621 |
(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 22. 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, "Kck" to the number of points scored via kicks (conversions, penalties or drop goals) and "Pts" refer to the total number of points scored by the player.
* Willie Engelbrecht, Jaco Kriel and Christiaan Meyer did not make any appearances.