Lions bid for maiden final

England forward Easter retires

JOHANNESBURG, July 29, (RTRS): Flanker Jaco Kriel has been landed with the task of steering the Lions through a pressure Super Rugby semi-final against the Otago Highlanders after inspirational captain and number eight Warren Whiteley was ruled out of Saturday’s clash.

The 26-year-old Kriel will take the captain’s armband into a a cauldron-like Ellis Park after Whiteley was withdrawn due to a calf problem.

Whiteley’s calming influence may be missed as the hosts bid to reach their first Super Rugby final, having failed in the semi-finals twice in 2000-01 in their previous life as the Cats.

The game could well be decided by fine margins as it pits the competition’s best attack against its most dominant defence, according to Opta statistics.

The Lions average more points, tries, defenders beaten and metres per game of any team in Super Rugby this season, while their New Zealand opponents have conceded the fewest points and tries on average, while making the most tackles.

Highlanders scrumhalf Aaron Smith believes part of the Lions’ success is due to their playing like New Zealanders.

“They play a real positive game of footy,” he told reporters.

“One thing you have to respect about the Lions is they play their footy for the full 80 (minutes). I’ve seen a lot of footage of them just quick-tapping in the 76th minute, they don’t stop until the whistle goes.”

The Highlanders must do without In this Oct 24, 2015 file photo, New Zealand’s Sonny Bill Williams runs with the ball during the Rugby World Cup semifinal match between New Zealand and

South Africa at Twickenham Stadium in London. (AP)