Cell C Sharks aim for number four as De Villiers celebrates his century
Springbok captain Jean de Villiers reaches a very special Vodacom Super Rugby milestone this weekend, while the Cell C Sharks will be looking to make their home ground advantage count when they aim for their fourth consecutive win of the season.
The Reds, champions in 2011, visit Growthpoint Kings Park on Saturday in the final match of the weekend where the Cell C Sharks will be aiming to keep their winning streak on track.
The Lions host their first opponents from aboard this year when they take on the Blues at Ellis Park in Johannesburg in the earlier match on Saturday.
It will be a happy return to Wellington for the Toyota Cheetahs when they face the Hurricanes at Westpac Stadium early on Saturday morning and the DHL Stormers will be looking to make it a happy 100th for their captain, Jean de Villiers, against the Chiefs in Hamilton on Friday morning.
De Villiers will become only the second DHL Stormers player to reach this mark, following in the footsteps of Andries Bekker, while Bryan Habana played 57 of his 118 matches for the Capetonians.
The 33-year-old De Villiers made his DHL Stormers debut in 2005 and is one of a small group of players who has played Test rugby before featuring at Vodacom Super Rugby level. He made his Test debut in France in 2002, but injuries meant he had to wait almost two years before playing in his second Test.
By the time De Villiers put on the DHL Stormers jersey for the very first time, against the Cell C Sharks in Cape Town on 25 February 2005, he had already played eight Tests for the Springboks.
De Villiers is currently on 96 Test and 99 Vodacom Super Rugby caps – 24 as Springbok captain and 58 as DHL Stormers skipper. He has scored 25 tries for South Africa and 27 for the DHL Newlands-based side.
In South Africa, only Victor Matfield (75 games as captain) and John Smit (67) have more captaincy experience at this level than De Villiers, who is behind only Smit (83), Gary Teichmann (36) and Francois Pienaar (29) in terms of Springbok captaincy.
“To be honest, I haven’t really been thinking about it (100 games) a lot and I will be approaching this weekend’s match as I do all my games for the DHL Stormers,” said De Villiers this week.
“The highs definitely outweigh the lows, but I suppose the thing that keeps you going is that we’re still hunting the trophy and trying to win this competition, which is not easy. You always have to aim high and we’re still doing that.”
Only five South African players currently active in Vodacom Super Rugby have reached 100 caps at this level, out of a total of 23. They are Matfield and two sets of brothers, Jannie and Bismarck du Plessis, as well as Odwa and Akona Ndungane.
The Vodacom Bulls have a bye this week.
The full list of South African Vodacom Super Rugby centurions (active players in bold):
128: Victor Matfield (Cats 8, Bulls 119)
125: AJ Venter (Cats 19, Sharks 96, Stormers 10) and John Smit (Sharks)
123: Morné Steyn (Bulls)
122: Stefan Terblanche (Sharks)
118: Bryan Habana (Bulls 61, Stormers 57)
117: Jannie du Plessis (Cheetahs 26, Sharks 91)
116: Danie Rossouw (Bulls)
114: Jacques Botes (Sharks)
113: Pedrie Wannenburg (Bulls), Adi Jacobs (Bulls 21, Cats 4, Sharks 88)
112: Fourie du Preez (Bulls)
110: Wynand Olivier (Bulls)
108: Ollie le Roux (Natal 24, Sharks 60, Cats 3, Cheetahs 21), Meyer Bosman (Cheetahs 61, Sharks 47), Odwa Ndungane (Bulls 10, Sharks 98)
106: Bismarck du Plessis (Sharks)
104: Andries Bekker (Stormers), Jano Vermaak (Cats 11, Lions 62, Bulls 31)
103: Pierre Spies (Bulls)
102: Albert van den Berg (Cats 7, Sharks 95)
100: Bakkies Botha (Bulls), Akona Ndungane (Bulls)
Note: The 2014 Vodacom Super Rugby Media Guide (size: 9.5Mb) can be downloaded in PDF-format by clicking here. You can also access very interesting stats, supplied by SANZAR in conjunction with Opta Sports, by clicking here.
For all the South African team announcements, fixtures, results, logs, live score updates, top points and try scorers as well as and match summaries, click here.
Chiefs v DHL Stormers
Of all the destinations in the Land of the Long White Cloud, the DHL Stormers have had a better than average run when facing the Chiefs in their own backyard.
Over the years, the DHL Stormers have played the Chiefs in Hamilton, Rotorua, Mount Maunganui and Pukukohe. Of these eight matches, they’ve won four, which is better than their average winning percentage of 35% in New Zealand.
In fact, only their 57.1% winning ratio against the Hurricanes away is better than when the DHL Stormers play the Chiefs in New Zealand. They struggle more against the Blues (44.4% wins), Highlanders (28.6%) and Crusaders (0%) in that part of the world.
But on Friday, the double defending champions are awaiting the DHL Stormers at Hamilton’s Waikato Stadium. The Chiefs have been impressive this season and already started off with good wins in their two opening fixtures.
The DHL Stormers have one win from three matches, but they came very close to causing a massive upset against the Crusaders in Christchurch last weekend. That performance, said Allister Coetzee, coach of the Cape Town-based side, gave his charges a lot of confidence as they travelled north for this weekend’s fixture.
“There’s a couple of sore bodies in the team, but the belief is there and the excitement is there,” said Coetzee this week.
“We’re under no illusions that it will be tough against the Chiefs in Hamilton, but if you want to play at the highest level this is what you have to face.
“We know we have to pitch up, physically in order to come out on top, but even more so for Jean as we would love to make it special for him in this great occasion. Jean is a true warrior and a real WP Rugby man and we’re hoping to make this 100th game special for him, which he deserves.”
The teams are:
Chiefs: Gareth Anscombe, Tim Nanai-Williams, Charlie Ngatai, Tom Marshall, James Lowe, Aaron Cruden, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Liam Squire, Tanerau Latimer, Liam Messam (captain), Brodie Retallick, Matt Symons, Ben Tameifuna, Mahonri Schwalger, Jamie MacKintosh. Replacements: Rhys Marshall, Pauliasi Manu, Josh Hohneck, Michael Fitzgerald, Tevita Koloamatangi, Brad Weber, Robert Fruean, Asaeli Tikoirotuma.
DHL Stormers: Jaco Taute, Kobus van Wyk, Jean de Villiers (captain), Damian de Allende, Gio Aplon, Demetri Catrakilis, Nic Groom, Duane Vermeulen, Schalk Burger (vice-captain), Deon Fourie, De Kock Steenkamp, Ruan Botha, Brok Harris, Tiaan Liebenberg, Steven Kitshoff. Replacements: Stephan Coetzee, Oliver Kebble, Frans Malherbe, Siya Kolisi, Nizaam Carr, Louis Schreuder, Peter Grant, Sailosi Tagicakibau.
Chiefs v DHL Stormers
Date: Friday, 14 March
SA Time: 08h35
Venue: Waikato Stadium, Hamilton
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Nick Briant (New Zealand), Shane McDermott (New Zealand)
Television match official: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
Hurricanes v Toyota Cheetahs
Although their record in New Zealand is nothing major, the Toyota Cheetahs will always enjoy playing the Hurricanes at Westpac Stadium in Wellington.
Why? It’s the scene of the franchise from Central South Africa’s first-ever Vodacom Super Rugby victory in New Zealand. (Free State beat the Otago Highlanders in New Zealand way back in 1997 – scoring seven tries in their 49-18 win – but that was in the days before franchises.)
When the Toyota Cheetahs beat the Hurricanes by an impressive 47-38 on 31 March 2012, they had 15 unsuccessful outings in New Zealand. Only once in all of these matches, did they not lose – it was in 2010 against the Chiefs in Hamilton and after 80 minutes the score was deadlocked at 25-25.
If Naka Drotské’s team is to get back to winning ways this weekend, they will have to address their struggles in ball retention.
The Toyota Cheetahs have had an average of 13 minutes and six seconds of possession per match this year – the lowest of all 15 teams – and they’ve conceded on average 10 turnovers per game, which is the highest in the competition in 2014.
But back to Wellington in 2012 – on that day the Toyota Cheetahs crossed for six tries, which still is the most they’ve ever scored against any team from Australia or New Zealand, at home or away.
Only the nine tries they carded against the Lions in 2010 in Welkom were more than what the Toyota Cheetahs heaped up during their last visit to the New Zealand capital.
Seven members of the Toyota Cheetahs’ squad on that day in Wellington two years ago, will be in action again this weekend – they are Willie le Roux, Johan Goosen, Philip van der Walt, Adriaan Strauss, Trevor Nyakane, Andries Ferreira and Hennie Daniller.
Daniller and Strauss were amongst the try-scorers back in 2012, while Goosen slotted four conversions and three penalty goals against the ‘Canes.
The teams are:
Hurricanes: James Marshall, Alapati Leiua, Conrad Smith (captain), Hadleigh Parkes, Julian Savea, Beauden Barrett, Chris Smylie, Blade Thomson, Ardie Savea, Faifili Levave, Mark Reddish, Jeremy Thrush, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Dane Coles, Ben Franks. Replacements: Motu Matu’u, Chris Eves, John Schwalger, James Broadhurst, Jack Lam, TJ Perenara, Matt Proctor, Marty Banks.
Toyota Cheetahs: Willie le Roux, Cornal Hendricks, Johann Sadie, Francois Venter, Raymond Rhule, Johan Goosen, Sarel Pretorius, Philip van der Walt, Lappies Labuschagne, Boom Prinsloo, Francois Uys, Lood de Jager, Maks van Dyk, Adriaan Strauss (captain), Caylib Oosthuizen. Replacements: Ryno Barnes, Trevor Nyakane, Rossouw de Klerk, Andries Ferreira, Jean Cook, Shaun Venter, Elgar Watts, Hennie Daniller.
Hurricanes v Toyota Cheetahs
Date: Saturday, 15 March
SA Time: 05h35
Venue: Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)
Assistant referees: Mike Fraser (New Zealand), Mike Lash (New Zealand)
Television match official: Chris Watt (New Zealand)
Lions v Blues
The Lions’ defence and discipline will be firmly in the spotlight when they take on the Blues at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on Saturday afternoon.
The Blues have made the most clean line-breaks thus far this season, with 22, but last weekend the Vodacom Bulls showed how great “in your face” defence could derail the Aucklanders’ attacking prowess.
And looking back at the results between these two teams, the Blues have always scored a lot of points against the Lions – on average 37 per match, which is the most points they score against any other team in Vodacom Super Rugby.
With a tackle success rate of 88%, the Lions’ defence is pretty solid, but they will have to improve their discipline otherwise they could find themselves on the back foot for most of the time. No team has conceded more than the Lions’ 41 penalties this season, and they also lead the stakes in terms of yellow cards, with three.
Interestingly, two survivors from 2006, when the Lions recorded their first and only victory over the Blues, will be in action this weekend – they are Willie Wepener and Tony Woodcock. Was it not for injury, the Aucklanders could’ve had three, with Jerome Kaino and Keven Mealamu also still in action.
The teams are:
Lions: Coenie van Wyk, JW Jonker, Deon van Rensburg, Stefan Watermeyer, Courtnall Skosan, Marnitz Boshoff, Faf de Klerk, Warren Whiteley (captain), Willie Britz, Jaco Kriel, Franco van der Merwe, Franco Mostert, Julian Redelinghuys, Robbie Coetzee, Schalk van der Merwe. Replacements: Willie Wepener, Corne Fourie, Ruan Dreyer, MB Lusaseni, Warwick Tecklenburg, Ross Cronje, Elton Jantjies, Ruan Combrinck.
Blues: Benji Marshall, Frank Halai, George Moala, Pita Ahki, Charles Piutau, Chris Noakes, Piri Weepu, Steven Luatua, Luke Braid (captain), Patrick O’Connor, Tom Donnelly, Patrick Tuipulotui, Charlie Faumuina, James Parsons, Tony Woodcock. Replacements: Tom McCartney, Sam Prattley, Angus Ta’avao, Liaki Moli, Jordan Manihera, Bryn Hall, Simon Hickey, Jackson Willison.
Lions v Blues
Date: Saturday, 15 March
SA Time: 15h00
Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Referee: Stuart Berry (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Christie du Preez (South Africa), Francois de Bruin (South Africa)
Television match official: Johan Greeff (South Africa)
Cell C Sharks v Reds
The Cell C Sharks’ attacking play will be tested when they host the Reds, Vodcaom Super Rugby champions in 2011, at Growthpoint Kings Park in Durban on Saturday afternoon in the final match of round five.
The KwaZulu-Natalians and the Waratahs are the top try scorers so far this season, with 10 tries each, although the Waratahs have played in one fewer match than the South Africans.
Added to that, the Durbanites have caused their three opponents to date to miss an average of 17% of their tackles per match, which is also a competition-high.
However, the Reds, with a tackling success rate of 91%, the highest in the competition at this stage, will give the Cell C Sharks a proper test when they launch their attacks.
“There is no doubt that the Reds have a lot of experience,” said Cell C Sharks Director of Rugby Jakoe White this week.
“They’ve won the competition and a lot of their current players were in that winning team, so they understand what it takes to win, they travel quite well as a group and the Wallaby captain is leading them.
“Obviously they have the makings of a good team and cannot be taken lightly. They have shown that when they beat the Brumbies and Cheetahs.”
The teams are:
Cell C Sharks: SP Marais, JP Pietersen, S’bura Sithole, Frans Steyn, Lwazi Mvovo, Patrick Lambie, Cobus Reinach, Ryan Kankowski, Willem Alberts, Marcell Coetzee, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Anton Bresler, Jannie du Plessis, Bismarck du Plessis (captain), Tendai Mtawarira. Replacements: Kyle Cooper, Dale Chadwick, Lourens Adriaanse, Stephan Lewies, Tera Mtembu, Charl McLeod, Heimar Williams, Jaco van Tonder.
Reds: Aidan Toua, Rod Davies, Chris Feauai-Sautia, Mike Harris, Lachie Turner, Quade Cooper, Will Genia, Jake Schatz, Liam Gill, Ed Quirk, James Horwill (captain), Rob Simmons, Greg Holmes, Saia Faingaa, James Slipper. Replacements: James Hanson, Ben Daley, Jono Owen, Ed O’Donoghue, Beau Robinson, Nicholas Frisby, Ben Tapuai, Dom Shipperley.
Cell C Sharks v Reds
Date: Saturday, 15 March
SA Time: 17h05
Venue: Growthpoint Kings Park, Durban
Referee: Lourens van der Merwe (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Jaco van Heerden (South Africa), Stefan Breytenbach (South Africa)
Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
Other fixtures (South African kick-off times):
Friday, 14 March:
10h40: Rebels v Crusaders – Melbourne
Saturday, 15 March:
08h35: Highlanders v Force – Dunedin
10h40: Brumbies v Waratahs – Canberra
Bye: Vodacom Bulls
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