Super Rugby preview – Round 18
13 Jul 2012
JON CARDINELLI and RYAN VREDE analyse the key match-ups and pick the winners at the weekend.
JC and Vrede called all of last week’s results correctly, and there’s a strong feeling at keo.co.za HQ that another full house is on the cards.
Both writers are expecting the Bulls, Sharks and Stormers to pick up wins and qualify for the play-offs. JC reckons the Chiefs should win the league by hammering the Hurricanes on Friday, a result that won’t please the Stormers, but won’t stop the Cape side from advancing. Vrede thinks the Chiefs will win in Wellington, but without a bonus point, and that will allow the Stormers to seize an opportunity against the Rebels and top the league.
The Sharks and Bulls will be under pressure to bank bonus-point wins in their respective matches after the Reds whip the Waratahs in Brisbane. The play-offs will only start next week, but this round could almost be likened to the Fifa World Cup’s Round of 16. It’s do or die, and we’re expecting the Bulls and Sharks to do the necessary and join the Stormers in the play-offs.
KEO.CO.ZA SUCCESS RATE
VREDE: 80/112 (71%)
JC: 82/112 (73%)
HURRICANES vs CHIEFS, WELLINGTON, FRIDAY 09:35
VREDE’S CALL: The Hurricanes need to win to keep hope of participation in the play-offs alive. The Chiefs need to hold the Stormers at bay and book an easier route to a final. The match clearly doesn’t lack for incentive for either side, but the Chiefs’ all-round superiority will reflect in the result. Their success has been built on their pack’s potency. The heavies were outplayed against the Crusaders again last week, but the Canes don’t have the calibre of forwards to test the Chiefs (in general play or at scrum time) in the manner they were tested in Hamilton. This will lend the Chiefs attacking impetus, with their back division allowed space and time to plot the Canes’ demise. Defensively I suspect the Chiefs’ dominance of the gainline will ultimately force the Canes into expansive, cavalier attacks that will be terminal to their cause and season. Chiefs by 10
JC’S CALL: The Hurricanes are a competitive side, but for every steal and game breaking play there is an instance of indiscipline or sloppy defence. The Hurricanes’ desperation to score a bonus-point win should play into the Chiefs’ hands. The Chiefs boast the second-best defensive record in the competition and are especially dangerous from turnover ball. Expect them to play a more structured, territorial game and feed off the Hurricanes’ mistakes. Unfortunately for the Stormers, I feel the Chiefs will secure the five points from this fixture and win the league. The Hurricanes may score some tries, but they won’t do enough to win or get a consolation bonus point. Chiefs by 9
Hurricanes – 15 Andre Taylor, 15 Cory Jane/Alapati Leiua, 13 Conrad Smith (c), 12 Tim Bateman, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Chris Eaton/Frae Wilson, 8 Victor Vito, 7 Jack Lam, 6 Faifili Levave, 5 Jason Eaton, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 Ben May, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Reggie Goodes.
Subs: 16 Motu Matu’u, 17 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 18 James Broadhurst, 19 Brad Shields, 20 Wilson/Jamie Nutbrown, 21 Tusi Pisi, 22 Jayden Hayward
Chiefs – 15 Andrew Horrel, 14 Lelia Masaga, 13 Jackson Willison, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Robbie Robinson, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 8 Kane Thompson, 7 Tanerau Latimer, 6 Liam Messam, 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Craig Clarke (c), 3 Ben Tameifuna, 2 Hika Elliot, 1 Toby Smith.
Subs: 16 Mahonri Schwalger, 17 Sona Taumalolo, 18 Michael Fitzgerald, 19 Sam Cane, 20 Brendon Leonard, 21 Asaeli Tikoirotuma, 22 Tim Nanai-Williams.
BRUMBIES vs BLUES, CANBERRA, SATURDAY 07:35
VREDE’S CALL: The Brumbies only need a point to capture the Australian conference but will be eyeing the bonus point and the Stormers in second, hoping the Cape franchise somehow blow it against the Rebels. Their structured, accurate and powerful forward play will be the root of their success against a Blues side that’s already mentally on holiday. Their multi-phase approach has depleted much better defensive units than the Blues, and they will again lay the platform for their talented backs to exploit the Blues’ numerous defensive vulnerabilities. Brumbies by 10
JC’S CALL: There isn’t much incentive for the Brumbies to alter their approach and push for a four-try bonus point. The Stormers are likely to beat a weakened and rudderless Rebels side in Cape Town, and so what the Brumbies rather need to focus on is a win that will keep the Reds at arm’s length. They have the forwards and the general at No 9 to ensure their game plan is successfully implemented, and will want to keep the game tight to prevent some of the dangerous Blues individuals from getting into the contest. Expect another ugly but effective performance by Jake White’s men. Brumbies by 11
Brumbies – 15 Jesse Mogg, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Andrew Smith, 12 Pat McCabe, 11 Joe Tomane, 10 Zack Holmes, 9 Nic White, 8 Ben Mowen (c), 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Peter Kimlin, 5 Sam Carter, 4 Scott Fardy, 3 Dan Palmer, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Ben Alexander.
Subs: 16 Anthony Hegarty, 17 Ruaidhri Murphy, 18 Leon Power, 19 Fotu Auelua, 20 Ian Prior, 21 Tevita Kuridrani, 22 Robbie Coleman.
Blues – 15 Charles Piutau, 14 Lachie Munro, 13 Francis Saili, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 11 Hadleigh Parkes, 10 Michael Hobbs, 9 Piri Weepu, 8 Luke Braid, 7 Daniel Braid, 6 Chris Lowrey, 5 Steven Luatua, 4 Liaki Moli, 3 Charlie Faumuina, 2 Keven Mealamu (c), 1 Tony Woodcock.
Subs: 16 Tom McCartney, 17 Tevita Mailau, 18 Andrew Van der Heijden, 19 Peter Saili, 20 Alby Mathewson, 21 Orene Ai’i, 22 Sherwin Stowers.
CRUSADERS vs WESTERN FORCE, CHRISTCHURCH, SATURDAY 09:35
VREDE’S CALL: The Crusaders showed their class in defeating the Chiefs last week in a match they had to win to control their own play-off destiny. They cannot win the New Zealand conference but can still finish fourth, which would secure them a home tie, probably against the Bulls – a match they would be favourites to win. They are one of the few teams in the tournament you would back to win a semi-final on the road. In light of this, the benefits of finishing fourth are self-evident. They’ll beat the Force comfortably, building that result on an intelligent kicking game in their half and a blend of grunt and industry through their forwards and panache in the backline. Crusaders by 15
JC’S CALL: The Force are without David Pocock and this will limit their success at the breakdown. An injury to Kieran Read has forced the Crusaders to pick Richie McCaw and Matt Todd in the back row, and while this could impact on their gainline ambitions it will ensure that they are well equipped to win the game on the ground. It isn’t the most intimidating starting pack, with the unimpressive Tom Donnelly named in the second row, but the Crusaders do have some class on the bench to ensure they finish strongly. The performances of their halfbacks as well as that of Israel Dagg will be important as far as their kicking game is concerned, and in this regard the Force will struggle to compete. Crusaders by 10
Crusaders – 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Sean Maitland, 13 Adam Whitelock, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 Zac Guildford, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Andy Ellis, 8 Richie McCaw (c), 7 Matt Todd, 6 George Whitelock, 5 Tom Donnelly, 4 Luke Romano, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Corey Flynn, 1 Ben Franks.
Subs: 16 Quentin MacDonald, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Samuel Whitelock, 19 Luke Whitelock, 20 Willi Heinz, 21 Tom Taylor, 22 Robbie Fruean.
Force – 15 Alfie Mafi, 14 Nick Cummins, 13 Patrick Dellit, 12 Rory Sidey, 11 Napolioni Nalaga, 10 Ben Seymour, 9 Brett Sheehan, 8 Lachlan McCaffrey, 7 Angus Cottrell, 6 Richard Brown, 5 Nathan Sharpe (c), 4 Toby Lynn, 3 Salesi Manu, 2 Nathan Charles, 1 Tetera Faulkner.
Subs: 16 Ben Whittaker, 17 Ruan Smith, 18 Pek Cowan, 19 Ollie Atkins, 20 Josh Holmes, 21 Kyle Godwin, 22 Will Tupou.
REDS vs WARATAHS, BRISBANE, SATURDAY 11:40
VREDE’S CALL: The defending champions have no alternative but to bank a bonus point win and hope that one of the minnows does them a favour at some stage in the day. They should achieve the former, with Will Genia and Quade Cooper controlling territory with their boots, and forcing the Tahs into risky 22m exits. From there they’ll back their defence to pressure the Tahs into errors and launch strikes from broken field or keep the board ticking over via Mike Harris’ boot. The Tahs have gifted backs, but their forwards’ inability to impose themselves will mean they won’t have the platform to exhibit their skills fully. Reds by 10
JC’S CALL: Not that Wycliff Palu has been particularly good this season, but his injury has forced a few telling changes to the Waratahs pack. There’s not much balance or continuity in that side, not much confidence and quite frankly not enough of a reason to win. The Reds have hit form late in the season and will have Digby Ioane and Liam Gill available for this match. Traditionally, this is tight fixture but I expect the Reds forwards will be too powerful and clinical at the tackle point and the backs will use that platform to win territory and score tries. This result will certainly spice up the later fixtures as the Sharks and perhaps the Bulls will need a bonus-point win to deny the Reds a play-off place. Reds by 13
Reds – 15 Luke Morahan, 14 Dom Shipperley, 13 Anthony Faingaa, 12 Mike Harris, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia (c), 8 Scott Higginbotham, 7 Liam Gill, 6 Jake Schatz, 5 Adam Wallace-Harrison, 4 Rob Simmons, 3 James Slipper, 2 Saia Faingaa, 1 Greg Holmes.
Subs: 16 James Hanson, 17 Ben Daley, 18 Radike Samo, 19 Beau Robinson, 20 Jarrad Butler, 21 Ben Lucas, 22 Ben Tapuai.
Waratahs – 15 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14 Lachie Turner, 13 Rob Horne, 12 Berrick Barnes, 11 Drew Mitchell, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Grayson Hart, 8 Dave Dennis, 7 Chris Alcock, 6 Dean Mumm, 5 Kane Douglas, 4 Sitaleki Timani, 3 Paddy Ryan, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Benn Robinson (c).
Subs: 16 John Ulugia, 17 Jeremy Tilse, 18 Lopeti Timani, 19 Jono Jenkins, 20 Brendan McKibbin, 21 Tom Carter, 22 Tom Kingston.
STORMERS vs REBELS, CAPE TOWN, SATURDAY 15:00
VREDE’S CALL: By kick-off the Stormers will know exactly what they require to top the log. They will be cheering for the Canes earlier in the day, hoping they beat the Chiefs or restrict them to four points in defeat. The latter scenario is more likely and if ever the Stormers had a better motivator to escape their attacking mediocrity this will be it. The Rebels don’t have the game breakers of tactical intelligence to trouble them on attack. They’ll be blunted at the gainline and systematically forced deeper and deeper into their territory. The Stormers have built their victories on penalty-inducing pressure and Peter Grant’s goal kicking but they will have to find an attacking dimension that has been sorely lacking if they hope to take the full haul of points they so desperately need. The players are certainly there, but they have to deliver in this the most crucial of matches. It is the responsibility of the forwards to give them the best possible launchpad, and you have to think that against the powder-puff Rebels pack they will do so. Stormers by 15
JC’S CALL: The Rebels are not to be underestimated. Ask the Crusaders, who suffered an embarrassing defeat to the Melbourne franchise earlier in the season. I don’t think there’s any point talking about a bonus point, as the Chiefs should secure top spot following their match against the Hurricanes. The Stormers will stick to script, building the pressure and taking any points on offer in the first half. There is a chance that it will rain on Saturday, so it is probably not the best time to play expansively when the game is still in the balance. Once they have built a decent lead, they may cut loose in the second half when that notorious Rebels defence begins to tire. Stormers by 12
Stormers – 15 Joe Pietersen, 14 Gio Aplon, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Jean de Villiers (c), 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Peter Grant, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Deon Fourie, 7 Rynhardt Elstadt, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 De Kock Steenkamp, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Subs: 16 Deon Carstens, 17 Brok Harris, 18 Quinn Roux, 19 Jebb Sinclair, 20 Louis Schrueder, 21 Burton Francis, 22 Gerhard van den Heever.
Rebels – 15 Julian Huxley, 14 Mark Gerrard, 13 Mitch Inman, 12 Stirling Mortlock (c), 11 Cooper Vuna/Lachlan Mitchell, 10 James Hilgendorf, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Gareth Delve, 7 Hugh Perret, 6 Tim Davidson, 5 Hugh Pyle, 4 Cadeyrn Neville, 3 Jono Owen, 2 Ged Robinson, 1 Rodney Blake.
Subs: 16 Luke Holmes, 17 Paul Alo-Emile, 18 Al Campbell, 19 Ryan Hodson, 20 Nic Stirzaker, 21 Cooper Vuna/Lachlan Mitchell, 22 Richard Kingi.
SHARKS vs CHEETAHS, DURBAN, SATURDAY 17:05
VREDE’S CALL: The Sharks’ victory over the Bulls last weekend was their best performance of the season, but the Sharks’ campaign has been marred by inconsistency. However, you sense they are peaking at the right time and they should be too strong for the Cheetahs. Expect Bismarck du Plessis, Ryan Kankowski, Beast Mtawarira, Keegan Daniel and later Willem Alberts, to be prominent with ball-in-hand, gradually wearing down the Cheetahs’ resistance. The backline, bolstered by Pat Lambie’s return and displaying an added dimension with Frans Steyn at inside centre, will be too good for one of the weakest defences in the tournament. Provided they don’t get too loose in their approach (thereby granting Heinrich Brussow and co chances at stealing or stifling the ball) the Sharks will get the bonus-point that will probably see them through to the play-offs. Sharks by 12
JC’S CALL: The Sharks need to replicate their performance of last week, simple as that. They will, in all likelihood, go into this match needing five log points, but they mustn’t let this lead to a more frantic approach. The back row was outstanding last week, and will need to win the battle at the gainline once again. It will be a big game for Craig Burden as he fills in for the irrepressible Bismarck du Plessis, but he also has the potential to be dominant in contact and boasts a unique turn of speed. The Sharks need a strong first half, and they need to be clinical in taking points on offer and building a big lead. In the second stanza when the Cheetahs are less direct and more expansive, there will be more opportunities to score from turnover ball. Sharks by 14
Sharks - 15. Patrick Lambie, 14. JP Pietersen, 13. Tim Whitehead, 12. Francois Steyn, 11. Lwazi Mvovo, 10. Frederic Michalak, 9. Charl McLeod, 8. Ryan Kankowski, 7. Marcell Coetzee, 6. Keegan Daniel (c), 5. Anton Bresler, 4. Jandre Marais, 3. Jannie du Plessis, 2. Craig Burden, 1. Tendai Mtawarira.
Subs: 16. Bismarck du Plessis, 17. Wiehahn Herbst, 18. Pieter-Steph du Toit / Jean Deysel, 19. Willem Alberts, 20. Jacques Botes, 21. Meyer Bosman / Paul Jordaan, 22. Louis Ludik
Cheetahs - 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Nico Scheepers, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Barry Geel, 11 Philip Snyman, 10 Riaan Smit, 9 Piet van Zyl, 8 Boom Prinsloo, 7 Lappies Labuschagne, 6 Heinrich Brussow, 5 Izak van der Westhuizen, 4 Andries Ferreira, 3 WP Nel, 2 Adriaan Strauss (c), 1 Trevor Nyakane.
Subs: 16 Hercu Liebenberg, 17 Marcel van der Merwe, 18 Waltie Vermeulen, 19 Ashley Johnson, 20 Jacques Coetzee, 21 Sias Ebersohn, 22 Andries Strauss.
BULLS vs LIONS, PRETORIA, SATURDAY 19:10
VREDE’S CALL: There has been so much talk of this Gauteng derby being close. On what basis? The Lions are by some distance the weakest team in the South African conference and one of the weakest in the tournament. If the Bulls lose this one it must be considered their worst result in recent years. They won’t. The Lions don’t have the personnel or appetite for a forward brawl and will look to attack in the wide channels at most opportunities. This will play into the Bulls’ hands. The Pretoria franchise have been as adept at crafting their own scoring chances as they have been at capitalising on their opponents’ errors and their victory in this fixture will hopefully see the third South African franchise enter the top six. Bulls by 15
JC’S CALL: Like the Sharks, the Bulls will need to produce a special performance to advance to the play-offs. And like the Sharks, they will be fortunate enough to play at home against one of the weaker defensive sides in the competition. The Lions so nearly blew it last week, and their inability to play for 80 minutes will cost them in this their final game (of the season? for the next couple of years?). The Bulls will need to lift their efforts at the breakdowns and collisions, as these were areas where they were clearly outplayed in last week’s battle with the Sharks. The Lions aren’t a good side, but the Bulls would be foolish to expect an easy ride. The Lions will try to spoil and force the Bulls to play as loose as possible. The Bulls must ensure they stick to their game plan and execute efficiently. It’s time for the forwards and the halfbacks to step up in this regard. Bulls by 12
Bulls - 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 JJ Engelbrecht, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Pierre Spies (c), 7 Jacques Potgieter, 6 Dewald Potgieter, 5 Juandre Kruger, 4 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 12 Dean Greyling.
Subs: 16 Willie Wepener, 17 Frik Kirsten, 18 Deon Stegmann, 19 CJ Stander, 20 Jano Vermaak, 21 Louis Fouché, 22 Francois Venter.
Lions – 15 James Kamana, 14 Lionel Mapoe, 13 Waylon Murray, 12 Butch James, 11 Anthonie Volminck, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Michael Bondesio, 8 Joshua Strauss (c), 7 Grant Hattingh, 6 Derick Minnie, 5 Ruan Botha, 4 Hendrik Roodt, 3 Jacobie Adriaanse, 2 Callie Visagie, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Subs: 16 Martin Bezuidenhout, 17 Ruan Dreyer, 18 Etienne Oosthuizen, 19 Jaco Kriel, 20 Ross Cronje, 21 JR Esterhuizen, 22 Ruan Combrinck.
471 Comments
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12 Jul 2012, 13:59 pm
@stew(stew)-50: My wife and kids. Why don’t you try doing the same?
12 Jul 2012, 14:02 pm
Everyone seems confident about the Sharks beating the Cheetahs… I’m a little worried about that game…
12 Jul 2012, 14:03 pm
@willievz(willievz)-49: true true , starting to feel the Chiefs will have the edge in the battle upfront.
12 Jul 2012, 14:05 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-51: LOL no seriously have you taken serious thought about this
12 Jul 2012, 14:06 pm
Semi finals Will be:
Chiefs v Crusaders in Hamilton
Stormers v Sharks in Cape Town
12 Jul 2012, 14:07 pm
@line break(line break)-55: Could well be
12 Jul 2012, 14:08 pm
According to Keo Bismarck is out, so is Plum still worried about Patrick or Alberts fitness? Why no Sharks team yet?
12 Jul 2012, 14:08 pm
Think the Crusaders and Sharks are the best two sides in the tournament tho…
12 Jul 2012, 14:19 pm
The dynamics of this extended S15 season are quite interesting.
No team can really maintain its form over the entire tournament. The team that came closest to this was the Chiefs, I guess.
But in general what we see is a combination of teams that stacked up the points early on, and are now barely hanging in there (like the Stormers) and teams that were poor in the early season but are now hitting awesome form (the Crusaders and Sharks).
On current form the Sharks and Crusaders are on a different planet compated to the Stormers, but the Stormers early wins have allowed them the advantage of an extra week off and a home play-off.
The question is: Will this be enough to ward off the assaults of clearly superior teams in the form of the Sharks and Crusaders?
Personally, I don’t think it will.
12 Jul 2012, 14:20 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-59:
compared to
12 Jul 2012, 14:22 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-59: It will come down to travel fatigue – unfortunately this will be a bridge to far for the Sharks
12 Jul 2012, 14:24 pm
@RainbowBanana(RainbowBanana)-57:
Sharks team was just announced on sharksrugby.co.za
12 Jul 2012, 14:26 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-42:
12 Jul 2012, 14:27 pm
On present form I can see the Stormers being well beaten by any one of the Bulls, Sharks, Crusaders, Chiefs, Brumbies….and even Rebels.
The Stormers are hanging on by a very thin rope that’s fast shredding.
12 Jul 2012, 14:28 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-59:
you rate the sharks too highly
12 Jul 2012, 14:29 pm
@stew(stew)-61:
Well I tend to agree with you about the unairness of this system then. If it ultimately proves impossible for a 5th or 6th placed team to ever win the competition, due to having to travel backwards and forwards between continents in three consecutive weeks, then they should rather scrap the 6 team play-offs and limit it to 4 semifinalists only.
12 Jul 2012, 14:29 pm
@pokkel(pokkel)-62: Thanks! The same Bulldozing teams as last week.
12 Jul 2012, 14:30 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-66:
unairness = unfairness.
12 Jul 2012, 14:30 pm
As a Sharks supporter I’d far prefer to play the Brumbies than the Crusaders in a play-off match.
First things first though… let’s qualify then start talking about play-offs. Anything can happen still with the Bulls and Sharks being replaced by the Hurricanes and Reds. Unlikely but nothing is certain yet. Except for Chiefs and Stormers.
The Sharks or Bulls could still finish in 4th and host a play-off. If the Crusaders lose. There are so many different outcomes that could occur really.
12 Jul 2012, 14:31 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-59: You think? I think that the Stormers have been more consistant than anyone.
We’ve won more, and by a similar margin each time.
12 Jul 2012, 14:32 pm
12 July 2012 (14:16) – The Sharks team named to play the Cheetahs at Mr Price KINGS PARK on Saturday was delayed to allow for late fitness tests on Pat Lambie, Willem Alberts and Jacques Botes, with all selected in the Match 22.
The team to take on the Cheetahs in this final pool match of the Vodacom Super Rugby tournament – before the Final Series – includes Lambie at fullback in place of Louis Ludik who plays off the bench, alongside the returning Alberts and Botes who have all been passed fit.
Pieter-Steph du Toit who left the field in the first half of last week’s match with an ankle injury has been bracketed in with Jean Deysel amongst the reserves, as have the backline duo of Meyer Bosman and Paul Jordaan. Jandre Marais will start at lock with Steven Sykes not declared fit yet and du Toit still not cleared. There are no other changes to the team that beat the Bulls last week.
The Cheetahs gave the South African Conference leading Stormers a proper run for their money last weekend and no doubt will prove competitive in this final match for them. With no way of finishing in the top six, this will be their last hurrah before the Absa Currie Cup and with a couple of players leaving for a taste of European rugby, they will want to finish on a high.
For The Sharks, come kick-off time, they will have a good idea of what is needed to secure a place in the qualifiers with the Reds and Hurricanes both within touch and with a last gasp chance to secure a valuable top six finish.
There is no doubt that this match will have an important bearing on the way the pool stages finish, with a nail-biting wait to see the outcome of the Bulls-Lions match in the final game of the weekend.
The Sharks:
1. Tendai Mtawarira
2. Craig Burden
3. Jannie du Plessis
4. Jandre Marais
5. Anton Bresler
6. Keegan Daniel ( C )
7. Marcell Coetzee
8. Ryan Kankowski
9. Charl McLeod
10. Frederic Michalak
11. Lwazi Mvovo
12. Francois Steyn
13. Tim Whitehead
14. JP Pietersen
15. Patrick Lambie
Replacements:
16. Bismarck du Plessis
17. Wiehahn Herbst
18. Pieter-Steph du Toit / Jean Deysel
19. Willem Alberts
20. Jacques Botes
21. Meyer Bosman / Paul Jordaan
22. Louis Ludik
12 Jul 2012, 14:32 pm
I’ve tried to list the 6 teams who I think will end up in the knockouts, and their competitive advantages:
Chiefs and Brumbies – best coaching staff
Stormers – best defense
Sharks – most depth
Crusaders & Bulls – most experience of knockout games
Gents, we are in for a treat of a finish
12 Jul 2012, 14:33 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-70:
Consistently unimpressive, yes. Scraping through each game, whether against strong teams or against the Lions or Cheetahs.
At no stage have the Stormers looked as good as the Crusaders or Sharks look now. And they seem to be regressing each game, rather than improving.
12 Jul 2012, 14:34 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-73:
Scraping through each game led them to the Conference title…
12 Jul 2012, 14:37 pm
Bring vir die, Harlekuin nog wyn,
Rooiwyn, vir sy lag en traan en puin,
Hy wys ons, die nuwe wind wat waai,
Van die Vaal tot, onder in Saldanhabaai.
Bring vir die, Harlekuin nog wuin.
Doe, doewha, doe, doewha.
Rooiwyn, vir sy lag en traan en puinn.
Doe, doewha, doe, doewha.
Hy wys ons, die nuwe wind wat waai.
Doe, doewha, doe, doewha.
Van die Vaal tot, onder in Saldanhabaai.
Doe, doewha, doe, doewha.
12 Jul 2012, 14:38 pm
Stormers will fall out. They look fragile and running out of players. No depth whatsoever.
Prepare for Cape Town to go into mourning in a few weeks.
12 Jul 2012, 14:39 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-71:
Good looking side that. Very strong bench.
Except for Botes.
Would rather have PSDT and Deysel there and drop Botes entirely. His time has come to make way for the youngsters.
12 Jul 2012, 14:39 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-73: Oh so when you said most consistent you actually meant to say most impressive then?
Oh OK, sorry, my bad.
My mind reading powers are waning.
In spite of my wife’s high expectations of them…..
12 Jul 2012, 14:41 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-73: Ja that game 2 games ago when we beat the Bulls was a really kuk game by us. Things are just going from bad to worse…..
We should have thumped such a loser team by much more…..
12 Jul 2012, 14:44 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-73: It seems you are getting ready to climb on the Sharks mini-bus if the Bulls Quantum rolls off the road?
I love the way you Bulls and Sharks astro-travel between Durban and Pta (depending on which team is winning)…..You’re the best, no you’re the best, no you’re the best.
Get some of this rock hard generic Viagra kak being advertised on this website you limp willied prairie dogs.
12 Jul 2012, 14:46 pm
And some people still wonder why the Bulls are such a hated team, in all corners of the world
12 Jul 2012, 14:46 pm
LOL @ cry baby Tacitus
I’d rather support the ‘lucky’ Stormers than a team who just got whipped 4 times in their last 5 games.
Eina
12 Jul 2012, 14:50 pm
For the Stormers supporters
In Wellington the Hurricanes have a much better record against the Chiefs as they have played them 9 times and won 6 – or 66 % of their matches against the men from Waikato.
However all six of those matches have been won in the last six clashes and the Chiefs have not beaten the Hurricanes in Wellington in 11 years as their last positive result was a 27-51 victory in May 2001.
12 Jul 2012, 14:50 pm
The Sydney Morning Herald refers to the Stormers as ‘dour’.
12 Jul 2012, 14:51 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.(The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food)-80:
Tegnikus believes naively that if he talks up the Sharks on a blog then the attention/spotlight will move to the Sharks
Im not sure what the rest of permutations are, but one thing is guaranteed: in that simulation the Bulls lift the trophy
PS – why are you so harsh?
12 Jul 2012, 14:54 pm
@Sharks fans are genuine Bok supporters(Predawn)-84: And that chap on Re-union referred to the Sharks as ‘mentally weak’.
Next….
12 Jul 2012, 15:01 pm
@line break(line break)-58: chiefs? stormers? brumbies?
if the sharks and the crusaders were the best sides in the tournament then they would have been no 1 and no 2.
12 Jul 2012, 15:01 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.(The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food)-86:
But who are the game breakers in that awesome Sharks team?
Freddie Wie-se luck?
12 Jul 2012, 15:02 pm
The Stormers getting all the attention again… Shame that is what happens when you are tops…
12 Jul 2012, 15:04 pm
@Sheriff(Sheriff)-88: I think you should ask the Shark’s poster boy Pre-*** about that…
If you really want my opinion on the Shark’s gamebreakers though, I would have to say: Craig Joubert and Jaco Peyper.
12 Jul 2012, 15:05 pm
Everyone can go on happily predicting the Stormers demise. Its been that case since the start of the season, if I had 10 bucks for everyone on here saying “Stormers will fall apart soon”, “wait until that game” etc etc I would be able to buy a losie at Newlands.
Us true province fans will just keep watching and enjoying the games, knowing that we have a good chance to finally win a Super title. Indeed we would prefer it if you keep making us into the underdogs, every time in recent history the Stormers was touted as favorites they lost composure and blew it, so please, keep writing them off.
12 Jul 2012, 15:05 pm
@Gumboots(Gumboots)-89: Jealousy makes you, well many things. None of them pleasant.
12 Jul 2012, 15:07 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-92:
Psychology says you will always criticize a threat! I love it…
12 Jul 2012, 15:10 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.(The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food)-90:
Someone once said that the Sharks are chokers?
And to be fair, I think we’ve seen it a few times at the business end of the competition
12 Jul 2012, 15:11 pm
Bismarck on the bench. Risky
12 Jul 2012, 15:12 pm
Don’t the prophets of doom ever feel embarassed to come online and then still try and predict. They are always proved wrong, yet come back to open another can of whoopass. They look really foolish and lose credibility too… No names mentioned…
12 Jul 2012, 15:12 pm
@wpjoulekkading(wpjoulekkading)-91:
And all you strompies told us game after game “wait till our brokebackline click, then you’ll see.” We’re still waiting.
12 Jul 2012, 15:14 pm
Na the premier chokers are the lads from Cape Town. Choked against The Sharks in the Currie Cup final, The Bulls in the Super 15 final….next.
12 Jul 2012, 15:17 pm
I guess the ‘chokers’ concept resonated with you
You just had to come and defend yourself
12 Jul 2012, 15:17 pm
@Atlas(Atlas)-97:
Generalize all you want, I never said that. And think about what you people are saying? You seem to suggest the Stormers players should do much better than they are, that they have more quality than that. So just how good do you think the Stormers are then?
And another thing, guess all you “brokeback” jokers must either be homophobic or *** yourselves.
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