Preview: S14 - Round 10, Part Two
Thu, 17 Apr 2008 17:23
Storming combination: Grant and Naqelevuki
Week 10 of the Super 14 is here folks and with six teams within three points of eachother, the play-off race is really hotting up.
It's an intriguing situation we find ourselves in this weekend. One more loss for the likes of the Brumbies could spell the end of their semifinal hopes. They face the second-placed Sharks on Saturday, in what is one of many vital clashes.
They say time is a healer - well for the Stormers it certainly has been. Winless and bottom of the log after three weeks, they were dead and buried.
Four bonus point wins later, and they are back in the thick of the play-off sprint. In fact they are perfectly placed as they have three home games on the trot.
Their epic clash with the third-placed Hurricanes at Newlands on Saturday is possibly the clash of the weekend, along with the Chiefs versus Crusaders showdown on Friday.
A win for the Stormers could see them in the top four. A loss, and they could find themselves as low as ninth on the standings - that's how very close things are at the moment!
With all the permutations in mind, lets take a look at the final three clashes of the weekend!
Saturday, 19 April
Brumbies v Sharks
Canberra Stadium, Canberra, 19.40 (09.40 GMT)
It was the Brumbies that ended the Sharks' unbeaten run last year after six straight wins. They will be looking to do the same in Canberra, and looking at past results at the Canberra Stadium, one would have to back the home team.
The Sharks haven't won there since 1998, but Dick Muir will not be too worried about that that fact.
This Sharks team has an aura about it. They haven't been playing attractive rugby, but they've been winning. That's a sign of good team, a happy team.
The Brumbies are not the Brumbies of old, lets not fool ourselves. The withdrawal of Stirling Mortlock is a big blow to an inexperienced line-up, and there is no doubt the Sharks will target the midfield.
Frans Steyn is at No.13 for the second week running, and I expect him to cause Adam Ashley-Cooper and Tyrone Smith some major headaches on Saturday.
Steyn made two telling breaks last week against the Highlanders and the Sharks will be looking to involve Steyn as much as possible.
Steyn's influence last week clearly impressed coach Dick Muir.
"The backs showed signs of what they are capable of this past weekend," Muir.
This game could be won or lost up front. The Sharks have a lethal pack, arguably the best in the Super 14.
They have dominated all before them so far and I expect they will do the same on Saturday.
Sharks hooker Bismarck du Plessis has been the catalyst for them - his fearless attitude has seen him terrorise the opposition. The Brumbies will need to keep him quiet if they want to have a sniff.
Then there is the small matter of containing the rampant No.8 Ryan Kankowski. He has received glowing remarks from those in the know - rightly so considering the impact he's had this year.
His pace is unrivaled off the back of the scrum, but if there is one man who can deal with Kankowski, it's George Smith.
Smith has lead his young team with aplomb this season, and will need to do the same if the home team are to compete with the powerful Sharks pack.
The decision to start Rory Kockott at scrumhalf for the visitors is a good one. There is no questioning the talent of Ruan Pienaar, but he just hasn't been able to find his form so far.
Kockott's abrasive style of play with be the perfect tonic to get the talent-laden Sharks backline firing.
The halfback pairing of the Brumbies are raw - a far cry from the Gregan-Larkham combination - and I think this is an area where the Sharks can gain the ascendancy.
Kockott will get on the nerves Patrick Phibbs and will hassle him for the full 80 minutes. Helping Kockott will be the tearaway flank duo of Jacques Botes and Keegan Daniel.
These two have been a revelation this season, their speed being their main asset. In fact, the Sharks loose trio is probably the quickest in the Super 14.
If conditions are favourable in the Aussie capital, these three could play a major role in enduring that the Sharks remain unbeaten.
I'm not writing off the Brumbies, not by any means. In fact I think they could cause an upset.
But they will need to show the character that they possessed last week against the Blues if they want to deny the Sharks their first win in Canberra in 10 years.
Another factor that could play into the hands of the Brumbies is the sacking of their coach, Laurie Fisher!
Fisher was told earlier in the week that his time with the Canberra franchise will come to an end after the Super 14. This could fire up the Brumbies and give the clash extra meaning.
But Fisher is well aware of how tough the Sharks will be.
"Remaining undefeated through 10 rounds of the competition is no easy feat and we know we'll have our work cut out for us on Saturday," he said.
"The Sharks are very well-drilled side, they are strong defensively and we know they'll turn up to play.
"We need to ensure our set piece is solid, we continue to work in defence and that we're playing mistake-free football," added Fisher.
Prediction: The Sharks are the team to beat, but they will need to overcome their Canberra hoodoo if they want to continue on their dream run. The Brumbies will push them all the way but it won't be enough. The loss of Mortlock will be hard-felt. Sharks by eight points!
Recent results:
2007: Brumbies won 21-10, Durban
2006: Brumbies won 35-30, Canberra
Teams:
Brumbies: 15 Mark Gerrard, 14 Peter Playford, 13 Adam
Ashley-Cooper, 12 Tyrone Smith, 11 Francis Fainifo, 10 Christian Lealiifano, 9 Patrick Phibbs, 8 Julian Salvi, 7 George Smith (captain), 6 Mitchell Chapman, 5 Mark Chisholm, 4 Alister Campbell, 3 Guy Shepherdson, 2 Saia Faingaa, 1 Nic Henderson.
Replacements (from): John Ulugia, Salesi Ma'afu, Peter Kimlin, Stephen Hoiles, Joshua Holmes, Matt Toomua, Sanualio Afeaki, Ben Alexander.
Sharks: 15 Stefan Terblanche, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Francois Steyn, 12 Bradley Barritt, 11 JP Pietersen, 10 Frederic Michalak, 9 Rory Kockott, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Jacques Botes, 6 Keegan Daniel, 5 Johann Muller (Captain), 4 Steven Sykes, 3 BJ Botha, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Craig Burden, 17 Deon Carstens, 18 Albert van den Berg, 19 AJ Venter, 20 Ruan Pienaar, 21 Waylon Murray, 22 Adrian Jacobs.
Referee: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand)
Touch judges: Lyndon Bray
(New Zealand), Grant MacNeill (Australia)
Television match official: George Ayoub (Australia)
Assessor: Brendan McCormick (Australia)
Bulls v Highlanders
Loftus Versfeld, 15.00 (13.00 GMT)
What more can one say about the Bulls that hasn't already been said?
Their title defence has been more of a tame surrender. All that's left to play for is pride. And boy, have the Bulls plenty to play for then!
Saturday will come down to who wants it most. It's as simple as that.
The Highlanders have shown, despite being just one place above the Bulls, that they have pride in their performance, and will fight to the bitter end.
On the other end of the scale we have the Bulls. They have rolled over and played dead for most of the season, and it's time that they stood up and be counted.
The Highlanders have no big name players, the Bulls have plenty. But rugby is not won on paper.
I think the Bulls will improve on Saturday, they have too. There would be chaos in Pretoria if the Highlanders ran all over the Bulls on Saturday.
The home team will need to improve on their defence. The dangerman in the Highlanders backline is No.11, Fetu'u Vainikolo. He has pace and power - a lethal combination. Akona Ndungane will need to keep a beady eye on Vainikolo and close him down as quickly as possible.
Bulls speedster Bryan Habana has been given the vice-captain tag. It's a ploy of Frans Ludeke to get him more involved. He has shown a tendency to drift through games, but if he is in the mood, he is the best in the world.
Habana will be influential on Saturday. And he could be the difference between the two teams.
The visitors have a strong front row, and could expose the likes of Derick Kuün. But Kuün has enough big men around him to help him out so I doubt whether the Highlanders will try the big Bulls on up front.
Bulls coach Frans Ludeke was aware of the potential threat that their pack poses.
"They are very physical with a great set of forwards," he said.
"We know we are in for another tough game this weekend.
"We must just make sure we continue to create the opportunities and then step it up on defence.
"Our first time tackles will have to be spot on," added Ludeke.
Morné Steyn has replaced Hougaard at flyhalf which had to happen. He will bring a more rounded game to the party and allow the likes of Habana to get more involved in the game.
Highlanders No.9 Jimmy Cowan is a fighter. He epitomises the dogged spirit of the South Islanders and will be a thorn in the flesh of the Bulls.
This is where the visitors will have the edge. Heini Adams is starting his first game of the season for the Bulls and will be rusty.
Cowan will be aware of this and will do everything in his power to disrupt Adams.
The Bulls loose trio will need to support their No.9 and make sure that Cowan doesn't run the show.
Rugby is about attitude and the will to win. The Bulls need to display these characteristics on Saturday. They owe it not only to themselves, but to their faithful supporters, who are growing angrier by the week!
They must stick to their structures and concentrate for the full 80 minutes.
Prediction: If this match was played last week, I wouldn't have given it a second thought. The Bulls should be far too strong for the Dunedin-based franchise. But they were horrific against the 'Canes and I sense a committed Highlanders team will be up for this one. Highlanders by five!
Recent results:
2007: Bulls won 22-13, Dunedin
2006: Bulls won 23-16, Pretoria
Teams:
Bulls: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 JP Nel, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Bryan Habana
(vice-captain), 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Heini Adams, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Wikus van Heerden (captain), 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Willem Steenkamp, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Derick Kuün, 1 Gürthro Steenkamp.
Replacements: 16 Bandise Maku, 17 Ryno Gerber, 18 Jaco Engels, 19 Danie Rossouw, 20 Francois Hougaard, 21 Derick Hougaard, 22 Pedrie Wannenburg.
Highlanders: 15 Paul Williams, 14 Matt Saunders, 13 Niva Ta'auso, 12 Johnny Leota, 11 Fetu'u Vainikolo, 10 James Wilson, 9 Jimmy Cowan (vice-captain), 8 Steven Setephano, 7 Craig Newby (captain), 6 Adam Thomson, 5 Tom Donnelly, 4 Hoani MacDonald, 3 Clint Newland, 2 Jason Macdonald, 1 Jamie Mackintosh.
Replacements: 16 David Hall, 17 Chris King, 18 Hayden Triggs, 19 Alando Soakai, 20 Toby Morland, 21 Daniel Bowden, 22 Brett Mather.
Referee: Paul Marks (Australia)
Touch judges: Geoff Acton (Australia), Willie Roos
(South Africa)
Television match official: Michael Cupido (South Africa)
Assessor: Stuart Beissel (Performance Auditor) (New Zealand), Arrie Schoonwinkel (South Africa)
Stormers v Hurricanes
Newlands, Cape Town, 17.00 (15.00 GMT)
Last, but certainly not least! It's perhaps fitting that these two teams will draw the curtain on the weekend's action.
The Stormers and 'Canes have been in terrific form of late, showing the ability to score tries from anywhere. This clash has the potential to be a real spectacle - if the weather plays ball!
Latest reports reveal a 60 percent chance of showers, abating by evening! Lets hope they abate by 17.00!
Rugby purists say that a rugby match is won up front. That is true 99 percent of the time, but both teams have so many gamebreakers in their respective backlines, that this clash could be decided by a moment of brilliance by someone.
Chavhanga, De Villiers, Naqelevuki, Nonu, Smith, Gear. I could go on, but you get my point!
It was a masterstroke of coach Cooper to move Ma'a Nonu to inside centre. His performance against the Bulls was devastating.
His opposite number, Stormers skipper Jean de Villiers has been equally sublime of late, displaying the skills that make him on of the best in the business. Where Nonu relies on brute strength, De Villiers' silky skills set him apart from the rest.
It's a mouth-watering match-up between the two No.12's, worth the admission fee in itself.
Then we look at the back three, and boy, are there some athletes there!
Stormers No.14 Tonderai Chavhanga has been a revelation this season with his blistering pace and solid defence, while left wing Sireli Naqelevuki had his best game of the season last week. Add into the mix the dependable, booming boot of Conrad Jantjes, and you have a back three most teams would dream of.
The 'Canes trio of Jane, Gear and Paku might have easier surnames to pronounce, but on attack they are just as slippery as their Stormers counterparts.
Peter Grant and Jimmy Gopperth have been running the show for their teams at flyhalf. Both have been in wonderful touch of late, especially Grant, who's straight running is a big plus for the Stormers.
If Grant can get good ball, the home team's backline will be hard to stop - the same goes for Gopperth - give the likes of Nonu and Smith clean ball, and you will be doing plenty of defending.
It's going to be a humdinger at Newlands!
Right, enough about the glory boys out wide, lets take a look at the bruisers up front.
The loose forward battle, like so many times this season, is going to be crucial!
Looking at the two sets of loose forwards, it's going to be a battle royal.
Schalk Burger is one of the best flanks in the world, and he won't take a step backwards for anyone - not even Jerry Collins. The two internationals are mates off the field, but come Saturday, there will be no pleasantries exchanged between the four lines. Look out for some monster hits by these two!
The two No.8's are two of the most dynamic in the Super 14, with So'oialo being quite brilliant this season. Luke Watson's pace around the fringes will be an advantage, but he will have his hands full containing the 'Canes' skipper.
50,000 people are expected to make their way down to Newlands on Saturday, which is an indication of the anticipation ahead of this crucial clash.
Another factor worth taking into account is the inconsistency that both teams are renowned for. Both can be sublime, but they can also be dreadful. Hopefully for the 50,000 fans they will be the former!
Prediction: Both teams are hitting their straps at the right time. It's going to be an enterprising game with the home team coming out on top...just! Stormers by five points!
Recent results:
2007: Stormers won 30-17, Palmerston North
2006: Hurricanes won 23-19, Newlands
Teams:
Stormers: 15 Conrad Jantjes, 14 Tonderai Chavhanga, 13 Gcobani Bobo, 12 Jean De Villiers (captain), 11 Sireli Naqelevuki, 10 Peter Grant, 9 Ricky Januarie, 8 Luke Watson, 7 Francois Louw, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Adriaan Fondse, 3 Brian Mujati, 2 Schalk Brits, 1 JD Moller.
Replacements: 16 Tiaan Liebenberg, 17 Brok Harris, 18 Ross Skeate, 19 Robbie Diack, 20 Bolla Conradie, 22 Tony Brown 22 Gio Aplon.
Hurricanes: 15 Cory Jane, 14 Hosea Gear, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Shannon Paku, 10 Jimmy Gopperth, 9 Piri Weepu, 8 Rodney So'oialo (captain), 7 Chris Masoe, 6 Jerry Collins, 5 Jason Eaton, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 Neemia Tialata, 2 Andrew Hore, 1 John Schwalger.
Replacements: 16
Hikawera Elliot, 17 Tim Fairbrother, 18 Bernie Upton, 19 Scott Waldrom, 20 Willie Ripia, 21 Tane Tu'ipulotu, 22 Zac Guildford.
Referee: James Leckie (Australia)
Touch judges: Ian Smith (Australia), JC Fortuin (South Africa)
Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
Assessor: Banks Yantolo (South Africa)
Performance auditor: Stuart Beissel (New Zealand)
By Steve Farrell
