# 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.
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 | Teamvte | 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 | Conference leaders Qualified to the finals |
| 3 | Brumbies | 16 | 10 | 0 | 6 | 430 | 366 | +64 | 65 | 49 | 5 | 3 | 48 | Conference leaders Qualified to the finals |
| 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 | Wildcard teams Qualified to finals |
| 6 | Sharks | 16 | 7 | 1 | 8 | 343 | 335 | +8 | 40 | 39 | 3 | 4 | 37 | Wildcard teams Qualified to finals |
| 7 | Chiefs | 16 | 7 | 2 | 7 | 451 | 465 | −14 | 63 | 59 | 2 | 2 | 36 | Wildcard teams Qualified to finals |
| 8 | Highlanders | 16 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 441 | 392 | +49 | 60 | 53 | 2 | 4 | 36 | Wildcard teams Qualified to finals |
| 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 | |
South African Conference :
| Pos | Teamvte | 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
* 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:

## Player statistics

The Super Rugby appearance record for players that represented the Lions in 2019 is as follows:
| 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 | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | 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.