Australian challenges and local derby to set tone – Vodacom Super Rugby Round 9 Preview
With only two points separating four of the South African franchises on the Vodacom Super Rugby log after eight weeks of play, round 9 of the competition will again be crucial for local teams, with the derby in Johannesburg between the Emirates Lions and Cell C Sharks set to attract huge interest from spectators.
The remaining three South African sides play Australian opponents on Saturday, with the DHL Stormers taking on the Waratahs in Sydney, the Toyota Cheetahs playing the Force in Perth and the Vodacom Bulls closing out a big weekend of rugby in their Pretoria clash against the Reds.
The DHL Stormers will be looking for a first tour win against the defending champion Waratahs knowing that the home side has won 12 of their last 13 matches in Sydney, with a victory margin of 18 points per match.
The Toyota Cheetahs will still be chasing a first overseas win in 2015 when they close out their tour against the Force at the NIB Stadium in Perth. The Cheetahs have won at this venue in the past, but will have to defend like never before. They average the most missed tackles in the competition, while the home side maintains the best tackling success rate (90%).
The Emirates Lions host the Cell C Sharks at Emirates Airline Park in the only South African derby of the weekend, which is expected to be a fiercely contested clash. The home team is well aware that a win could push them into first place in the South African conference, albeit that the Vodacom Bulls could again overhaul them later in the evening. The Cell C Sharks will be desperate to put their recent misfortunes behind them and win away from home.
The Vodacom Bulls take on the Reds, who despite not having the greatest of seasons, have a good record against the Loftus Versfeld team, winning 10 of their 16 encounters. The home team are on a three-match winning streak at Loftus and will be keen to make it four in a row as they have two away derbies lined up.
Vodacom Bulls prop Trevor Nyakane plays in his 50th Vodacom Super Rugby match, with the first 42 of those having been in Toyota Cheetahs colours.
Waratahs v DHL Stormers
Date: Saturday, 11 April
SA Time: 11h40
Venue: Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Referee: Mike Fraser (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Angus Gardner (New Zealand), James Leckie (Australia)
Television match official: Peter Marshall (Australia)
Team news:
• Regular captain Duane Vermeulen has returned to Cape Town as part of the agreed SA Rugby rest period, which has resulted in the captaincy being taken over by Juan de Jongh
• Nizaam Carr returns to the No8 position in place of Vermeulen in a new-look loose trio, which sees vice-captain Schalk Burger pack down at No6 and Michael Rhodes making his first start (at No7) since picking up a knee injury against the Emirates Lions at the end of February.
• Siya Kolisi drops to the bench after two successive starts on tour and will be joined amongst the replacements by prop Vincent Koch, lock Jean Kleyn and utility back Huw Jones.
• Koch makes way for Frans Malherbe in the No3 shirt – in what will be Springbok tighthead prop Malherbe’s first start of 2015. Kleyn comes in for Ruan Botha as the lock replacement and Jones reverts to the bench.
Stats:
• The ‘Tahs have won the last two meetings between the sides but have never won three games in a row against the Stormers.
• The Stormers have managed more scrum steals than any other side this season and have forced a lower success rate (74%) at the opposition feed than any other team.
• The Stormers enjoy a 50,8% winning ratio against teams from Australia, but only a 40% win ratio when playing them Down Under.
• Damian de Allende (29) has beaten more defenders than anyone else so far this season, with Waratahs fullback Israel Folau (26) second.
• Both leading scorers for the teams this season, Bernard Foley (Waratahs) and Demetri Catrakilis (Stormers), have scored 68 points so far.
Quotes:
DHL Stormers head coach Allister Coetzee: “We have kept continuity in our starting team, whilst also selecting a bench that can make an impact, in what we believe is the best possible DHL Stormers team to take on the Waratahs this week. If you look at our bench, the likes of Bongi Mbonambi, Oli Kebble, Vince, Jean Kleyn and Siya Kolisi can all make an impact as replacements, which gives us plenty of options. This was part of our thinking.”
The teams are:
Waratahs: Israel Folau; Taqele Naiyaravoro, Matt Carraro, Kurtley Beale, Rob Horne; Bernard Foley, Nick Phipps; Wycliff Palu, Michael Hooper, Jacques Potgieter; Dave Dennis (captain), Will Skelton; Sekope Kepu, Tolu Latu, Benn Robinson. Replacements: Tatafu Polota-Nau, Jeremy Tilse, Paddy Ryan, Mitchell Chapman, Pat McCutcheon, Stephen Hoiles, Brendan McKibbin, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Peter Betham, Jono Lance (two to be omitted)
DHL Stormers: Cheslin Kolbe, Kobus van Wyk, Juan de Jongh (c), Damian de Allende, Dillyn Leyds, Demetri Catrakilis, Nic Groom, Nizaam Carr, Michael Rhodes, Schalk Burger, Manuel Carizza, Eben Etzebeth, Frans Malherbe, Scarra Ntubeni, Steven Kitshoff. Replacements: Bongi Mbonambi, Oli Kebble, Vincent Koch, Jean Kleyn, Siya Kolisi, Louis Schreuder, Kurt Coleman, Huw Jones
Waratahs v DHL Stormers (since 1998):
Played 17; DHL Stormers won 9; Waratahs won 7; one draw
Points scored: 351
Points conceded: 339
Tries scored: 34
Tries conceded: 33
Average score: 21-20 to the DHL Stormers
Force v Toyota Cheetahs
Date: Saturday, 11 April
SA Time: 13h45
Venue: NIB Stadium, Perth
Referee: Rohan Hoffman (Australia)
Assistant referees: Will Houston, Graham Cooper (both Australia)
Television match official: Ian Smith (Australia)
Team news:
• There are two changes in the starting team. BG Uys will start at loosehead, with Danie Mienie moving to the bench. At scrumhalf, Sarel Pretorius takes over from Tian Meyer, who moves to the bench.
• It will be the first start on the overseas leg for Pretorius, who joined the team late as his wife gave birth to their second child in the opening week of the tour.
Stats:
• The last time the Force hosted the Toyota Cheetahs on 23 March 2013 the visitors won 19-10. The Force, however, won the last match between the sides, on 10 May 2014 at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein, 23-16.
• Six of the eight encounters between the sides were decided by fewer than 10 points; each of those six games saw fewer than 40 combined points scored.
• It will also be the fourth time the teams meet at the NIB Stadium in Perth since the first Perth encounter on 27 April 2007.
• The Cheetahs have lost their last five matches, and should they suffer a defeat it will mark the first time since the beginning of 2009 that they lose six games in a row.
• Sias Ebersohn, the Force flyhalf, played 30 times for the Toyota Cheetahs and scored 220 points for the team. He made his debut for the Bloemfontein team in 2010. He will play in his 50th match for the Force on Saturday. He shares the Toyota Cheetahs record for the most points in a match (26 against Lions, 2011) with Meyer Bosman (26 against Stormers, 2006). His 179 points (2011) is also a Cheetahs’ season point’s record.
• The two top try-scorers in the history of the Toyota Cheetahs will start on Saturday. Sarel Pretorius (25) and Willie le Roux (18) are playing scrumhalf and fullback respectively.
The teams are:
Force: Dane Haylett-Petty, Luke Morahan, Kyle Godwin, Luke Burton, Nick Cummins, Sias Ebersohn, Alby Mathewson, Ben McCalman, Kane Koteka, Steve Mafi, Adam Coleman, Sam Wykes (c), Tetera Faulkner, Nathan Charles, Pekahou Cowan. Replacements: Heath Tessmann, Chris Heiberg, Oliver Hoskins, Angus Cottrell, Chris Alcock, Ian Prior, Zack Holmes, Marcel Brache
Toyota Cheetahs: Willie le Roux, Cornal Hendricks, Johann Sadie, Francois Venter, Raymond Rhule, Joe Pietersen, Sarel Pretorius, Willie Britz, Boom Prinsloo, Heinrich Brüssow, Francois Uys (c), Carl Wegner, Coenie Oosthuizen, Torsten van Jaarsveld, BG Uys. Replacements: Stephan Coetzee, Danie Mienie, Maks van Dyk, Steven Sykes, Tienie Burger, Tian Meyer, Willie du Plessis, Ryno Benjamin.
Force v Toyota Cheetahs (since 2006):
Played 8; Toyota Cheetahs won 3; Force won 5
Points scored: 137
Points conceded: 153
Tries scored: 14
Tries conceded: 16
Average score: 19-17 to the Force
Emirates Lions v Cell C Sharks
Date: Saturday, 11 April
SA Time: 17h05
Venue: Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg
Referee: Stuart Berry
Assistant referees: Jaco van Heerden, Rodney Bonaparte
Television match official: Deon van Blommestein
Team news:
• Julian Redelinghuys will start at tighthead for the Lions while Jaco Kriel also returns to the starting line-up at flank in the two changes upfront.
• There are two changes to the Lions backline with Faf de Klerk starting at scrumhalf and former Springbok Sevens player Mark Richards set to make his Vodacom Super Rugby debut on the left wing.
• Scrumhalf Lohan Jacobs will make his Vodacom Super Rugby debut should he come off the bench.
• There are eight changes to the Sharks from last weekend, three forced by injuries and suspension. Pat Lambie, Kyle Cooper and Jean Deysel will be replaced by Fred Zeilinga, Franco Marais and Renaldo Botha respectively.
• A new front row will front up against the Lions with Dale Chadwick, newcomer Marais and tighthead Lourens Adriaanse packing together for the first time this year.
• S’bura Sithole makes his return to the team on the right wing in the other Sharks backline change.
• Marco Wentzel will be the fourth captain of the Sharks this year, following in the footsteps of Pat Lambie, Bismarck du Plessis and Jean Deysel.
Stats:
•The Lions have beaten the Sharks just once in their last 11 attempts with their average losing margin being 15 points. That only win was in 2012 when the home side won 38-28 in Johannesburg.
•The Lions have won four of their last five matches this year, with all the wins by margins fewer than five points.
• The Lions have a 33% winning record against other South African teams at Emirates Airline Park.
•The Sharks have won just two of their last six away games, however both those away wins were in South Africa, in Bloemfontein and Cape Town. They have a 50% winning record away from home against South African teams.
•The Sharks prevented the Lions from scoring a try in their last two outings and three times in their last seven clashes.
Quotes:
Emirates Lions coach Johan Ackermann: “We are playing with good discipline in recent times and I am pretty sure the players will keep on doing that. We have created a culture of responsibility in our group and players know what we expect from them. The best way to stay out of trouble is always to keep your focus on executing the gameplan.”
Sharks Director of Rugby Gary Gold: “Our performance this past weekend was unacceptable and we have taken full responsibility for the result and are determined to fix it this weekend. The Lions are playing some fantastic rugby and have come off a great tour. We are under no illusions about the toughness of the task on Saturday; however, in saying that, we have worked extremely hard this week and are determined to get our campaign back on track.”
The teams are:
Emirates Lions: Andries Coetzee, Ruan Combrinck, Lionel Mapoe, Harold Vorster, Mark Richards, Elton Jantjies, Faf de Klerk, Warren Whiteley (c), Warwick Tecklenburg, Jaco Kriel, Franco Mostert, Andries Ferreira, Julian Redelinghuys, Robbie Coetzee, Jacques van Rooyen. Replacements: Armand van der Merwe, Corne Fourie, Ruan Dreyer, Robert Kruger, Derick Minnie, Lohan Jacobs, Marnitz Boshoff, Howard Mnisi.
Cell C Sharks: Odwa Ndungane, S’bura Sithole, Waylon Murray, Andre Esterhuizen, Lwazi Mvovo, Fred Zeilinga, Cobus Reinach, Ryan Kankowski, Renaldo Bothma, Marcell Coetzee, Marco Wentzel (c), Mouritz Botha, Lourens Adriaanse, Franco Marais, Dale Chadwick. Replacements: Monde Hadebe, Thomas du Toit, Matt Stevens, Etienne Oosthuizen, Willem Alberts, Conrad Hoffmann, Lionel Cronje, Jack Wilson.
Emirates Lions v Cell C Sharks (since 2006):
Played 12; Cell C Sharks won 10; Emirates Lions won 1; one draw
Emirates Lions points scored: 195
Cell C Sharks points scored: 350
Emirates Lions tries scored: 17
Cell C Sharks tries scored: 39
Average score: 29-16 to the Cell C Sharks
Vodacom Bulls v Reds
Date: Saturday, 11 April
SA Time: 19h10
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Referee: Jaco Peyper
Assistant referees: Quinton Immelman, Pro Legoete
Television match official: Shaun Veldsman
Team news:
• Flip van der Merwe returns to the field for the first time this year. The lock last played in the competition on May 31st last year, against the Emirates Lions. He will start off the bench.
• Two changes to the pack from last week see Callie Visagie and Arno Botha replacing Adriaan Strauss (rested) and Hanro Liebenberg (bench) respectively.
• Only five players – wings Bjorn Basson and Francois Hougaard, centre JJ Engelbrecht, flanker Deon Stegmann and Jacques du Plessis have started in all seven Vodacom Bulls matches so far.
• Replacement hooker Jaco Visagie has done bench duty twice this year, but is yet to take to the field.
Stats:
• Prop Trevor Nyakane will play in his 50th Vodacom Super Rugby match, the first 42 were in the colours of the Toyota Cheetahs.
• The Reds have won three of the last four meetings between the sides, but lost their last five away games to the Bulls including their heaviest Super Rugby loss of all-time, and the Bulls’ largest win (92-3, May 2007)
• Coach Frans Ludeke will take charge of his 140th match as coach at this level (13 as Cats coach), extending his own tournament record.
• The Bulls have won their last three matches against Australian opponents, but still have a negative record against teams from Down Under (63 matches; 31 wins, 32 defeats for 49,2%)
Quotes:
Vodacom Bulls captain Pierre Spies: “The Reds are desperate to get their season going and teams like that are always dangerous. They have some classy players in their team and if they are on song on the day, they can destroy you in a blink. We will have to play all the big moments well, but will also have to force our style of play on them and dictate the terms. That will require commitment and discipline.”
Vodacom Bulls coach Frans Ludeke: “It is great to have Flip back. He does not only provide a physical presence and some real grunt up-front, he is also an important leader in the squad and with Victor (Matfield) out for a couple of weeks, his return could not come at a better time.”
The teams are:
Vodacom Bulls: Jesse Kriel, Francois Hougaard, JJ Engelbrecht, Burger Odendaal, Bjorn Basson, Jacques-Louis Potgieter, Rudy Paige, Pierre Spies (c), Arno Botha, Deon Stegmann, Grant Hattingh, Jacques du Plessis, Trevor Nyakane, Callie Visagie, Dean Greyling. Replacements: Jaco Visagie, Morné Mellett, Marcel van der Merwe, Flip van der Merwe, Hanro Liebenberg, Piet van Zyl, Tian Schoeman, Jurgen Visser.
Reds: Karmichael Hunt, Lachie Turner, Samu Kerevi, Anthony Fainga’a, Chris Feauai-Sautia, Nick Frisby, Will Genia, Adam Thomson, Liam Gill, Curtis Browning, Rob Simmons, Dave McDuling, Greg Holmes, Saia Fainga’a, James Slipper. Replacements: James Hanson, Ben Daley, Sef Faagase, Marco Kotze, Tom Murday, Adam Korczyk, Ben Tapuai, Chris Kuridrani.
Vodacom Bulls v Reds (since 1998):
Played 16; Vodacom Bulls won 6, Reds won 10
Points scored: 435
Points conceded: 371
Tries scored: 53
Tries scored: 46
Average score: 27-23 to the Vodacom Bulls
Other fixtures (SA kick-off times):
Friday, 10 April:
09h35: Blues v Brumbies – Auckland
Saturday, 11 March:
09h35: Crusaders v Highlanders – Christchurch
Byes: Rebels, Chiefs, Hurricanes
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