South African teams in good nick

Lions coach Eugene Eloff was pleased with their opening game of the new season after watching his side overcome the Bulls in a pre-season warm-up.

The Johannesburg-based franchise topped their traditionally superior opponents 44-21 on the weekend, but Eloff feels his players 'need a few more matches' if they are to be fully prepared for their opening Super 14 fixture against the Cheetahs on February 13.

The Lions have a woeful record in the competition finishing in the bottom four ever since 2002, including last place in 2008.

And Eloff is feeling positive after the weekend, adding that his side needed a few more training games in order to be fully prepared against their fellow South African rivals.

He told South African newspaper The Star: "I'm pretty happy with what I saw on Saturday."

"We need a few more matches. I haven't decided on any dates, but the team will play against the first team of the University of Johannesburg in a couple of warm-up games in the weeks ahead of us."

"They'll be structured, and largely controlled runs where we can stop and start. I don't think we'll need more than two or three sessions against the students."

Meanwhile the Sharks may have struggled through their first pre-season game at the weekend, but team doctor Craig Roberts believes they are in the best shape in a decade.

The Durban franchise was not its usual flowing self on the weekend, but still managed to beat the Pumas 19-7 in Witbank.

But Roberts says he has never seen the Currie Cup champions fitter.

"In the 10 years I have been involved with the Sharks, this is the best shape I have seen them in," he told South African newspaper The Mercury.

"They are exceptionally fit. At the week-long training camp at Michaelhouse the guys were pushed to limits I have not seen before, and they did not wilt."

"They kept going. They are doing a lot of highly physical stuff, such as wrestling, which is very demanding. We are generally looking very good."

And coach John Plumtree agreed, adding: "We are much better conditioned, especially the Springboks."

"It took them a long time to catch up to the rest of the squad last year. I am very pleased with where we are fitness-wise, but I hope we don't end up with insufficient match practice."

Plumtree's men next face the Bulls on February 4, before their opening Super 14 match against the Stormers on February 14.