JON CARDINELLI looks ahead to the last three Super Rugby matches in round six of the competition.
STORMERS vs CHEETAHS (Saturday, 15:05)
The Stormers have been the best Africa 1 side on show in 2017. This statement is substantiated by a record that reads four wins in four matches.
The Stormers should beat the Cheetahs at Newlands this Saturday. The big question is whether the Cape side will emerge from the contest with four or five log points. While they've made great strides on attack this season, their weak defence has cost them a bonus point on several occasions.
The Cheetahs have lost 11 of the last 13 derbies played outside of Bloemfontein. Meanwhile, the Stormers have won their last four regular season games at home, scoring an average of 38 points per match.
The Cape side will be boosted by the return of several Springboks this week. Eben Etzebeth and Pieter-Steph du Toit were the best lineout forwards in the tournament last year, and have turned in some impressive all-round showings in 2017. Expect the two Bok locks to strengthen the Stormers at the set pieces and around the park.
The Cheetahs' refusal to kick could play into the Stormers' hands. No team has made fewer kicks from hand (15 per game on average) in 2017.
The Cheetahs' fourth-quarter slump in the recent match against the Sharks saw them finishing without so much as a losing bonus point. The Stormers should expect to claim five log points this Saturday.
Stormers – 15 SP Marais, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 EW Viljoen, 12 Dan du Plessis, 11 Dillyn Leyds, 10 Robert du Preez, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Siya Kolisi (c), 6 Cobus Wiese, 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg
Substitutes: 16 Ramone Samuels, 17 Caylib Oosthuizen, 18 Oli Kebble, 19 Chris van Zyl, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Dewaldt Duvenage, 22 Kurt Coleman, 23 Dan Kriel
Cheetahs – 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Francois Venter, 12 Niel Marais, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Fred Zeilinga, 9 Shaun Venter, 8 Henco Venter, 7 Oupa Mohoje, 6 Paul Schoeman, 5 Francois Uys, 4 Armandt Koster, 3 Johan Coetzee, 2 Torsten van Jaarsveld, 1 Charles Marais.
Subs: 16 Elandré Huggett, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Tom Botha, 19 Carl Wegner, 20 Niell Jordaan, 21 Tian Meyer, 22 Nico Lee, 23 Luther Obi.
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LIONS vs SHARKS (Saturday, 17:15)
The Lions fired and then faded in their recent match against the Kings. They did enough to finish the round at the top of the South African group standings, but will know that an improvement is needed ahead of a clash with the Sharks.
That said, the Sharks weren't entirely convincing in their last game against the Cheetahs. They will need to improve if they're to walk away from this crucial Africa 2 match with the spoils.
The Lions have won each of their last three games against the Sharks. They are a stronger side at Ellis Park, as their record of eight consecutive home wins by an average margin of 26 points confirms.
The Lions are currently ranked second for points, tries, defenders beaten and clean breaks. They are at third for metres made. Rohan Janse van Rensburg is in great form, and will present a threat to the Sharks midfield this Saturday.
The Sharks, however, are ranked second for tackle success. Statistically, they possess the best scrum in the tournament. Their loose forwards may not be as athletically gifted as Warren Whiteley and Jaco Kriel, but they should excel if the game becomes a battle in the trenches.
The Lions would do well to avoid that scenario. At the same time, they will know that territory will be important in a game of this nature.
The Sharks haven't scored many tries this season, but they have hurt opposition teams with the boot. SA U20 star Curwin Bosch goalled seven from eight in Bloemfontein last week, and won the game for the Sharks.
That said, it remains to be seen if the Sharks can go the distance against a very fit Lions side. It's in the final quarter where the Lions may run away with the result.
Lions – 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Madosh Tambwe, 13 Harold Vorster, 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Warren Whiteley (c), 7 Ruan Ackermann, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Andries Ferreira, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Jacques van Rooyen.Subs: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Corné Fourie, 18 Johannes Jonker, 19 Lourens Erasmus, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Ross Cronjé, 22 Jacques Nel, 23 Dillon Smit.
Sharks – 15 Garth April, 14 Kobus van Wyk, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 André Esterhuizen, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Daniel du Preez, 7 Jean-Luc du Preez, 6 Tera Mtembu (c), 5 Ruan Botha, 4 Etienne Oosthuizen, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1 Thomas du Toit.
Subs: 16 Franco Marais, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 Lourens Adriaanse, 19 Stephan Lewies, 20 Jacques Vermeulen, 21 Michael Claassens, 22 Inny Radebe, 23 Jeremy Ward.
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WARATAHS vs CRUSADERS (Sunday, 08:05)
The Crusaders have won five from five and claimed 21 out of a possible 25 log points. Meanwhile, the Waratahs have won two of their five games, and are yet to record a try-scoring bonus point.
Perhaps the Waratahs will take heart from their performance against the Rebels last week. After trailing 25-6, the Waratahs hit back to win 32-25. The return of flyhalf Bernard Foley made a big difference to their attack.
That said, they will be hard-pressed to live with a Crusaders side that has been a class apart in the first five rounds. The Crusaders possess one of the strongest scrums and lineouts in the competition, and have used their set pieces to create pressure.
They are ranked fourth for tries scored, and nine of those 22 tries have been scored in the fourth quarter. Only the Lions (10) have scored more tries during this period.
The Waratahs can't afford to start as poorly as they did last week. They may battle to compete against this Crusaders side in the second half, though. No team has managed to outplay the Cantabrians in the fourth quarter this season.
Waratahs – 15 Cam Clark, 14 Reece Robinson, 13 Israel Folau, 12 David Horwitz, 11 Andrew Kellaway, 10 Mack Mason, 9 Jake Gordon, 8 Jed Holloway, 7 Michael Hooper (c), 6 Ned Hanigan, 5 Will Skelton, 4 Dean Mumm, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Tolu Latu, 1 Tom Robertson.
Subs: 16 Damien Fitzpatrick, 17 Paddy Ryan, 18 David Lolohea, 19 David McDuling, 20 Michael Wells, 21 Nick Phipps, 22 Irae Simone, 23 Taqele Naiyaravoro.
Crusaders – 15 David Havili, 14 Digby Ioane, 13 Tim Bateman, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 George Bridge,10 Mitchell Hunt, 9 Mitchell Drummond, 8 Whetu Douglas, 7 Matt Todd, 6 Jordan Taufua, 5 Sam Whitelock (c), 4 Scott Barrett, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Joe Moody.
Subs: 16 Ben Funnell, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Michael Alaalatoa, 19 Luke Romano, 20 Pete Samu, 21 Bryn Hall, 22 Marty McKenzie, 23 Manasa Mataele.
Photo: Anne Laing/HM Images
