Ken Borland

Previous results certainly won’t matter as the Sharks and Stormers go head-to-head at 19:10pm on Saturday night in Durban in a repeat of last year’s SuperRugby semi-final.

The Stormers are bound to be better than the limp outfit that succumbed to defeat in Pretoria, while the Sharks will be aware that even though they were impressive against the Cheetahs, there was still much room for improvement as they allowed their opponents back into the game in the second half.

Even if previous results did mean something, it is instructive that, since 1998, the Sharks and Stormers have met 18 times, with each side winning on nine occasions.

The Sharks will certainly go into the game as favourites at home and come into the crunch match as a settled outfit, coach John Plumtree having made just one change, Jean Deysel replacing Jacques Botes at flank.

Botes was chosen as an out-and-out fetcher against the expansive Cheetahs, but Deysel will be employed as a battering ram and strong ball-carrier against the physical Stormers pack in what should be a tight contest in Durban, the expected humidity making running rugby a tough ask.

The Stormers were described as “embarrassing” by coach Allister Coetzee after losing 25-17 to the Bulls last weekend, but it would be stupid to write off a team that has such quality in its ranks and has been the form team in South African rugby over the last couple of years.

Elton Jantjies is a top-class flyhalf, otherwise Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer would not have given him a second glance, but he suffered a miserable afternoon at Loftus. The 22 year old is a loan player trying to fit into a brand new style of play and he has had a tough time of it lately, what with his father, a major influence on his career, passing away due to a freakish bee sting.

Coetzee does at least have a second goalkicking option on the field in Joe Pietersen, who comes in at fullback after Jaco Taute sustained a groin injury. Peter Grant on the bench also provides a reassuring presence and the Japanese campaigner has a history of coming on as a replacement to great effect.

Steven Kitshoff, Frans Malherbe and Pat Cilliers are three of the most promising props in domestic rugby, but they will need to lift their game against Springboks Jannie du Plessis and Tendai Mtawarira after being tamed by the Bulls last weekend.

The Stormers will also want to make better use of the lineout, where Andries Bekker, Duane Vermeulen, De Kock Steenkamp and Rynhardt Elstadt have considerable ability.

Both the Sharks and Stormers boast wonderfully attacking backlines but, at this time of year, the weather in Durban is really not conducive to flashy rugby.

The Western Force, having lost to the rookies in Port Elizabeth last weekend, are now at Fortress Loftus and will need to be at their best to beat the Bulls.

Which, funnily enough, they usually are against the three-time champions, the ledger standing at 3-3 in the six matches they have played since the Perth franchise joined the competition in 2006.

The Force team was not yet available yesterday, but one thing is certain: they will be better acclimatised and will have put the shock against the Southern Kings behind them, looking forward instead to meeting a team they do seem to have some sort of hold over.

The Bulls are still in the process of building a new dynasty to replace those stars who won the trophy three times, but there are real signs their new generation is starting to bloom.

Loosehead prop Morné Mellett made a fantastic SuperRugby debut last weekend and Sampie Mastriet will earn his first cap on the right wing on Saturday, as coach Frans Ludeke shuffles the backline due to injuries to JJ Engelbrecht and Akona Ndungane.

“Sampie had a good Currie Cup and he is an exciting player. Throughout his career, when in broken field and space, he can be devastating. This is a great opportunity and he has been working towards this for four years,” Ludeke said.

He has also chosen the uncapped duo of loose forward Jean Cook and centre Jan Serfontein on the bench, and Ludeke will be particularly keen to see how the latter, a former IRB Junior Player of the Year, goes.

Cook is a Grey College product and he gets his call-up because of injuries to Dewald Potgieter and Deon Stegmann, forcing Ludeke to push Arno Botha and Jacques Potgieter into the starting line-up.

Having won so impressively last weekend, there is little doubt the Bulls will employ the same safety-first tactics against the Force (Aussie sides don’t really like playing that way) and Morné Steyn will once again be the key man, using his boot to pin the opposition in their own territory and then capitalising on their indiscretions with his in-form goal-kicking.

Facing the Sharks last weekend was a tough task for the Cheetahs and it only gets harder for them as they take on the Chiefs, defending champions and coming off a fantastic away win over the Highlanders. And the match is in Hamilton, a daunting venue for any visitor.

Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske has made one change to his starting line-up, Sarel Pretorius replacing Piet van Zyl at scrumhalf, and two on the bench, with lock Ligtoring Landman and utility back Riaan Smit coming in for the injured duo of Waltie Vermeulen and Elgar Watts.

Pretorius should add more attacking spark and better cohesion between forwards and backs, but a massive improvement in the tight phases will be necessary for the Cheetahs to entertain thoughts of just their second victory in New Zealand.

Flyhalf Johan Goosen had a rough first half last weekend against the Sharks, before putting in an impressive second-half display, when Pretorius was on the field. The experienced former Waratahs half-back will provide the young prodigy with someone to confide in as Goosen looks to show his brilliant SuperRugby debut season was no illusion.

The Chiefs have lost two players who were integral to their triumph in 2012 – Sonny Boy Williams and Sona Taumololo – but their new arrivals, headed by Gareth Anscombe at fullback, have been able to fit in well.

It will take an upset as incredible as the one in Port Elizabeth last weekend for the Cheetahs to win in Hamilton. DM

Teams

Cheetahs: Hennie Daniller, Willie le Roux, Johann Sadie, Robert Ebersohn, Raymond Rhule, Johan Goosen, Sarel Pretorius, Philip van der Walt, Lappies Labuschagne, Frans Viljoen, Francois Uys, Lood de Jager, Lourens Adriaanse, Adriaan Strauss, Trevor Nyakane. Replacements: Ryno Barnes, Coenie Oosthuizen, Ligtoring Landman, Boom Prinsloo, Piet van Zyl, Riaan Smit, Ryno Benjamin.

Bulls: Zane Kirchner, Sampie Mastriet, Lionel Mapoe, Wynand Olivier, Bjorn Basson, Morné Steyn, Francois Hougaard, Pierre Spies, Arno Botha, Jacques Potgieter, Juandré Kruger, Flip van der Merwe, Werner Kruger, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Morné Mellett. Replacements: Willie Wepener, Frik Kirsten, Grant Hattingh, Jean Cook, Jano Vermaak, Louis Fouché, Jan Serfontein.

Sharks: Louis Ludik, JP Pietersen, Paul Jordaan, Frans Steyn, Lwazi Mvovo, Pat Lambie, Cobus Reinach, Ryan Kankowski, Jean Deysel, Marcell Coetzee, Franco van der Merwe, Anton Bresler, Jannie du Plessis, Craig Burden, Tendai Mtawarira. Replacements: Kyle Cooper, Wiehahn Herbst, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Jacques Botes, Charl McLeod, Meyer Bosman, Odwa Ndungane.

Stormers: Joe Pietersen, Gio Aplon, Jean de Villiers, Damian de Allende, Bryan Habana,  Elton Jantjies, Nic Groom, Duane Vermeulen, Rynhardt Elstadt, Siya Kolisi, Andries Bekker, De Kock Steenkamp, Frans Malherbe, Deon Fourie, Steven Kitshoff. Replacements: Martin Bezuidenhout, Pat Cilliers, Don Armand, Nizaam Carr, Louis Schreuder, Peter Grant, Gerhard van den Heever.

Other fixtures (all on Friday): 8:30 Blues v Crusaders (Auckland); 10:20 Waratahs v Rebels (Sydney); 12:20 Reds v Hurricanes (Brisbane). Byes: Highlanders, Brumbies, Southern Kings.

http://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2013-03-01-superrugby-preview-throw-away-the-record-books/#.Ud6IMNI3A6w

It was a result cheered all around the country, except probably in Gauteng, as the Southern Kings surprised everyone by making a winning debut in SuperRugby and dispatching the Western Force 22-10 in Port Elizabeth.

It was a thrilling victory for rugby romantics, with passion and commitment in defence counting as much as any skill or big-name stars.

That the Force enjoyed 63% of possession and made just 83 tackles compared to the Kings’ 165 (with a 94% success rate) are telling statistics epitomising an effort that will go down in Eastern Cape rugby folklore.

And the name Sergeal Petersen is one you are clearly going to hear a lot more of as the 18-year-old SA Schools wing scored two tries.

What’s impressive about Petersen is that he clearly has a nose for an opportunity, his first try coming when he darted between two defenders, juggled and caught the bouncing ball and sped clear to make a try out of nothing.

Petersen’s second try came when he received the ball close to the touchline, but he managed to evade a couple of defenders and the powerfully-built former World Youth Championships athlete then muscled his way over.

The Kings’ character was in the firing line in the first half as they trailled 5-10 and then lost inspirational captain Luke Watson after he took a blow in the throat. But they came out in the second half in high spirits, taking the lead through two penalties by flyhalf Demetri Catrakilis.

The key moment came in the 54^th minute as Force lock Hugh McMeniman was yellow-carded for a high tackle. The penalty was kicked into the corner and this gave the Kings the territory to launch the attack that led to Petersen’s second, crucial try.

The rookies led 16-11 and Catrakilis added to this advantage with two late penalties to seal one of the most surprising results ever in SuperRugby.

The other surprise of the weekend came in Pretoria where the Stormers played with none of the spark nor passion that took them to the top of the South African Conference and Currie Cup glory last year.

Coach Allister Coetzee called it “the Currie Cup blues” and the over-riding impression was that the Stormers just failed to pitch up for the game, which was extraordinary because it was the north/south derby against their arch-rivals, the Bulls.

The Bulls’ game plan of strangling the opposition by dominating territory through their kicking game was clinically executed, with flyhalf Morne Steyn the star of the show for the way he took control of the match and succeeded with all seven of his kicks at goal.

As captain Jean de Villiers pointed out, the Stormers picked up a log point from every game last year, but this time they would depart Loftus Versfeld with nothing after their 25-17 defeat.

“We were flat, in the first half especially, and we gave away stupid penalties and made stupid mistakes. It’s a massive wake-up call, there’s a huge difference between Currie Cup and SuperRugby, you need to step up, and we didn’t,” De Villiers said.

When playing the Bulls at Loftus, it is essential to have a good kicking game to release the pressure, but flyhalf Elton Jantjies sadly had a dreadful first outing for the Stormers, missing their first four kicks at goal and also being schooled by Steyn when it came to tactical kicking.

A creaking scrum and a dysfunctional lineout will be other items Coetzee and De Villiers will be looking to address this week.

The Bulls were in firm control in the first half, enjoying 68% territory, and probably should have converted that pressure into more points than just the three Steyn penalties that put them 9-0 in front.

Judging by how upset Coetzee was after the game, the Stormers were obviously given a blast by the coach in the changeroom in the halftime break and they came out firing for the third quarter.

De Villiers dived over in the corner for a try – which only the man in the TMO box thought was legal after a knock-on and Bryan Habana crawling along the ground with the ball – and a Joe Pietersen penalty closed the gap to 10-12 in the 54^th minute.

Stormers scrumhalf Nic Groom then did well to catch Pierre Spies in possession at the back of a scrum, but the visitors then went off their feet, gifting Steyn his fifth penalty.

De Villiers was then caught on the wrong side of a ruck in front of his own poles, giving Steyn another penalty just four minutes later, and hooker Chiliboy Ralepelle’s try, running on to a Francois Hougaard grubber, gave the Bulls a cosy 25-10 lead with just 12 minutes remaining.

The Sharks had to survive some rough seas in Bloemfontein (sorry, but there is Naval Hill nearby!) to see off the Cheetahs 29-22.

Attacking from broken play is the one department in which the Cheetahs consistently excel and, as the game opened up in the second half they mounted a stirring fightback from 5-26 down.

But the Sharks always had the edge in the set-pieces and this ultimately was the telling factor.

“We always knew it would be tough playing the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein, but the whole pack of forwards dominated on the day. Thanks to guys like Jannie du Plessis and Beast Mtawarira, we got a good platform from the scrums for our attacks,” Sharks captain Francois Steyn said.

It also didn’t help the Cheetahs that their talismanic young flyhalf Johan Goosen had an awful first half.

In contrast, his rival for the Springbok number 10 jersey, Pat Lambie, had a fine afternoon and had a hand in much of the good work the Sharks did, as well as kicking faultlessly at goal.

The Cheetahs were not structured nor sharp enough on attack in the first half, not enjoying the same cohesion they displayed in the second half when Goosen came good.

But when they click, the Cheetahs are not going to be easy-beats in Bloemfontein.

http://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2013-02-25-superrugby-wrap-dream-start-for-southern-kings/#.UdNHzDs3A6w

The Southern Kings have neither the funds nor the players that the Bulls and Stormers do, but there will be as much attention on their Vodacom SuperRugby debut in Port Elizabeth as there will be on the humdinger expected at Loftus Versfeld for the north/south clash.

The Western Force should provide reasonable opposition and at least some chance of victory for the Kings, but the downside for the competition newbies is that there has been precious little time for their team to gel as a unit for one of the games they would have targeted for a win.

Captain Luke Watson has a key role for the Kings in this regard and is one of the few members of their squad who knows what SuperRugby is all about, having played in 82 matches for the Stormers and Sharks.

Lock Steven Sykes, centre Andries Strauss and hooker Bandise Maku have also played enough SuperRugby to know what to expect, but such is the pace and intensity of the southern hemisphere competition that the Kings are most definitely being thrown into the deep end. Most observers expect defeat on Saturday to be the precursor to a series of batterings for the Eastern Cape minnows.

While many are eagerly preparing themselves to mock the Kings’ efforts this season, the chance their participation gives the likes of former Western Province flyhalf Demetri Catrakilis, 18-year-old SA Schools wing Sergeal Petersen, fullback SP Marais and young forwards Wimpie van der Walt and David Bulbring to play on this stage should be welcomed.

The Kings enter a whole new world at 19:10 on Saturday night, but at the same time on Friday night, all eyes will be on Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria when two of the title contenders clash.

The Stormers will be chasing a third successive win on that hallowed turf and victory will certainly set them on their way to another strong challenge.

Some key injuries will count heavily against them, though. Schalk Burger’s imminent return has just turned out to be a fanciful yarn, while the absence of lock Eben Etzebeth means the Bulls pack now nears the Stormers’ in terms of physicality and ability.

The absence of hooker Tiaan Liebenberg and centre Juan de Jongh, both Springboks, are further spokes in the Stormers’ wheel, but eighthman Duane Vermeulen is a man who can inspire a forward pack and there is still plenty of quality in the backline.

Elton Jantjies has been entrusted with the number 10 jersey and the responsibility of sparking that backline, with the Stormers also calling on the experience of Jean de Villiers and Bryan Habana to ensure they keep calm in the cauldron of Loftus.

Bulls captain Pierre Spies called the Stormers/Western Province the best team in South Africa last year and he is aware that the Bulls’ prospects in their second season since the Great Trek saw the likes of Matfield, Du Preez, Rossouw and the two Bothas depart, will be measured against how they perform against the 2012 SA Conference winners.

The Stormers can expect little leeway from a Bulls side that will be steely in midfield with Wynand Olivier teaming up with JJ Engelbrecht, and physical up front with the likes of Spies, Dewald Potgieter, Flip van der Merwe and Werner Kruger thriving on the tight exchanges.

While the Bulls and Stormers are competing for an early psychological edge and a quick start to the competition, the Cheetahs start their campaign aware that they are already probably standing on the ledge with a huge drop beneath them.

Taking on last year’s two finalists – the Sharks in Bloemfontein on Saturday and then the defending champions Chiefs in Hamilton next weekend – is not the kindest of draws for the Cheetahs, who will be keeping an eye on the progress of the Kings lest they get caught up in the horror of promotion/relegation at the end of the season.

And the Sharks are obviously over the “bogey side” phenomenon, having beaten the Cheetahs in their last four encounters.

It will be a massive blow to the Cheetahs’ confidence if they lose at home hours before flying to New Zealand, but it is a very real possibility given the depth, experience and quality that the Sharks will be bringing to Bloemfontein.

And it does not help the home side’s cause that the one area of improvement the Sharks are focusing on is starting the competition well, after they lost four of their first seven matches last year, which came back to haunt them in the end as they had to travel for all their playoff games.

The Cheetahs backline is a dangerous one, however, with Hennie Daniller, Willie le Roux, Johann Sadie, Robert Ebersohn and Raymond Rhule all players that should be on the radar of Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer. Johan Goosen is back at flyhalf to direct the show, while scrumhalf Piet van Zyl is one of the most improved players in South African rugby.

The Sharks backline is blessed with current Springboks though in JP Pietersen, Frans Steyn, Pat Lambie and Lwazi Mvovo, while Louis Ludik and Paul Jordaan are great talents.

The Sharks loose trio is regarded as one of the best in the competition and will play a key role as defenders and stiflers of the quick ball that makes the creative Cheetahs so threatening.

Veteran Lions lock Franco van der Merwe makes his debut as a Shark in the number five jersey alongside Anton Bresler, who emerged as one of the country’s most promising second-rowers in last year’s Currie Cup.

Jannie du Plessis and Beast Mtawarira are as formidable a pair of props as their journeymen Cheetahs counterparts, Trevor Nyakane and Lourens Adriaanse, could hope to come up against.

Coenie Oosthuizen is on the bench for the Cheetahs but, as one of just four Springboks against the 14 in the Sharks’ squad, not even he can provide enough firepower to avoid the home side being rank underdogs.

Other fixtures

Friday: Highlanders v Chiefs (Dunedin); Rebels v Brumbies (Melbourne).

Saturday: Hurricanes v Blues (Wellington); Reds v Waratahs (Brisbane).

South African teams

Bulls: Zane Kirchner, Lionel Mapoe, JJ Engelbrecht, Wynand Olivier, Bjorn Basson, Morné Steyn, Francois Hougaard, Pierre Spies, Dewald Potgieter, Deon Stegmann, Juandré Kruger, Flip van der Merwe, Werner Kruger, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Morné Mellett. Replacements: Willie Wepener, Frik Kirsten, Grant Hattingh, Arno Botha, Jano Vermaak, Louis Fouché, Francois Venter.

Stormers: Jaco Taute, Gio Aplon, Jean de Villiers, Damian de Allende, Bryan Habana, Elton Jantjies, Nic Groom, Duane Vermeulen, Rynhardt Elstadt, Siya Kolisi, Andries Bekker, De Kock Steenkamp, Pat Cilliers, Deon Fourie, Steven Kitshoff. Replacements: Martin Bezuidenhout, Frans Malherbe, Don Armand, Nizaam Carr, Dewaldt Duvenage, Gerhard van den Heever, Joe Pietersen.

Cheetahs: Hennie Daniller, Willie le Roux, Johann Sadie, Robert Ebersohn, Raymond Rhule, Johan Goosen, Piet van Zyl, Philip van der Walt, Lappies Labuschagne, Frans Viljoen, Francois Uys, Lood de Jager, Lourens Adriaanse, Adriaan Strauss, Trevor Nyakane. Replacements: Ryno Barnes, Coenie Oosthuizen, Waltie Vermeulen, Boom Prinsloo, Sarel Pretorius, Elgar Watts, Ryno Benjamin.

Sharks: Louis Ludik, JP Pietersen, Paul Jordaan, Frans Steyn, Lwazi Mvovo, Pat Lambie, Cobus Reinach, Ryan Kankowski, Marcell Coetzee, Jacques Botes, Franco van der Merwe, Anton Bresler, Jannie du Plessis, Craig Burden, Tendai Mtawarira. Replacements: Kyle Cooper, Wiehahn Herbst, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Jean Deysel, Charl McLeod, Meyer Bosman, Odwa Ndungane.

Southern Kings: SP Marais, Sergeal Petersen, Ronnie Cooke, Andries Strauss, Marcello Sampson, Demetri Catrakilis, Shaun Venter, Luke Watson, Wimpie van der Walt, Cornell du Preez, Steven Sykes, David Bulbring, Kevin Buys, Bandise Maku, Schalk Ferreira. Replacements: Edgar Marutlulle, Jaco Engels, Daniel Adongo, Jacques Engelbrecht, Johan Herbst, George Whitehead, Hadleigh Parkes.

http://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2013-02-22-superrugby-preview-telling-opening-weekend-for-sa-teams/#.UdNBODs3A6w