Permutations start taking shape – Vodacom Super Rugby Round 17 Preview
With only two rounds of action left before the top six teams in Vodacom Super Rugby start fighting it out for the grand prize, there is still a lot that happen before the final positions on the log are secured.
What we do know is that the Hurricanes and Highlanders, opponents in Napier this weekend, have already booked their places in the top six; and that none of the Rebels, Cell C Sharks, Reds, Toyota Cheetahs, Blues or Force can make the playoffs anymore.
But the DHL Stormers, Waratahs, Chiefs, Brumbies, Emirates Lions, Crusaders and Vodacom Bulls still have a lot to play for – the final four spots in the playoffs.
The Vodacom Bulls still have a mathematical chance of reaching the playoffs, which means their match against the Rebels on Saturday is a must-win, preferably with a try-scoring bonus point. It would be their first win in Australia in almost three years.
The only local derby on the roster this weekend is in Cape Town, where the DHL Stormers can put an end to the Emirates Lions’ hopes of reaching the playoffs, while at the same time securing the South African Conference title for a third time.
The Emirates Lions have never beaten the DHL Stormers at DHL Newlands – in fact, they’ve only won once in 12 encounters against the Capetonians and will have to be at their very best on Saturday afternoon to keep alive their slim chance of making for the top six for the first time ever.
The final match involving a South African team is also on Saturday afternoon, when the Toyota Cheetahs will be playing under new coach Franco Smith for the first time, against the Waratahs in Bloemfontein. A fifth win over the New South Welshmen for the team from Central South Africa would have a big impact on the Australian Conference.
The Cell C Sharks have a bye this weekend.
Rebels v Vodacom Bulls
Date: Saturday, June 5
SA Time: 07h30
Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne
Referee: Nick Briant
Assistant referees: James Leckie, Michael Hogan
Television match official: Ian Smith
Team news:
- The Vodacom Bulls show seven changes for the Rebels match – three in the backline and four in the pack.
- Jesse Kriel (fullback), Travis Ismaiel (wing) and Jacques-Louis Potgieter (flyhalf) all move into the starting line-up from the bench, replacing Jurgen Visser, Bjorn Basson and Handré Pollard respectively.
- Visser and Basson will play off the bench, and will be joined by Tian Schoeman, with Pollard getting a break for this clash.
- Upfront, the injured Deon Stegmann is replaced by Lappies Labuschagne at flank and Victor Matfield will start at lock.
- Jacques du Plessis starts at on the other flank with Arno Botha joining Hattingh on the bench.
- Adriaan Strauss will also be resting with Callie Visagie earning his 50th cap for the Vodacom Bulls in the No 2 jersey. Jaco Visagie will be on the bench.
Stats:
- In what will be the Vodacom Bulls’ second visit to Melbourne, they will be looking to keep their unbeaten run against the Rebels intact in their fourth clash.
- The last time the Vodacom Bulls played in Victoria, in 2012, they won by 41-35 – it was the closest the Rebels ever came to beating the three-time champions.
- The Vodacom Bulls have never won their last tour match in Australasia. The closest they came was in 2008 and 2009, when the men from Pretoria lost by a point against the Force (15-14) and Brumbies (32-31) respectively.
Quotes:
Vodacom Bulls head coach Frans Ludeke: “We have not achieved the results we have hoped for this far on tour and we have to win this one to stay in the competition. In fact, we see this as a knock-out match. We cannot afford defeat and will go into this match in play-off mode.”
The teams are:
Rebels: Mike Harris, Dom Shipperley, Tamati Ellison, Mitch Inman, Cam Crawford, Jack Debreczeni, Nic Stirzaker, Scott Higginbotham (captain), Colby Fainga’a, Sean McMahon, Lopeti Timani, Luke Jones, Paul Alo-Emile, Pat Leafa, Toby Smith. Replacements: Tom Sexton, Cruze Ah-Nau, Tim Metcher, Sam Jeffries, Jordy Reid, Ben Meehan, Bryce Hegarty, Tom English.
Vodacom Bulls: Jesse Kriel, Francois Hougaard, JJ Engelbrecht, Burger Odendaal, Travis Ismaiel, Jacques-Louis Potgieter, Rudy Paige, Pierre Spies (captain), Jacques du Plessis, Lappies Labuschagne, Victor Matfield, Flip van der Merwe, Marcel van der Merwe, Callie Visagie, Dean Greyling. Replacements: Jaco Visagie, Trevor Nyakane, Werner Kruger, Grant Hattingh, Arno Botha, Tian Schoeman, Bjorn Basson, Jurgen Visser.
Rebels v Vodacom Bulls (since 2011):
Played 3; Vodacom Bulls won 3
Vodacom Bulls points scored: 128
Rebels points scored: 52
Vodacom Bulls tries scored: 16
Rebels tries scored: 7
Average score: 43-17 to the Vodacom Bulls
Toyota Cheetahs v Waratahs
Date: Saturday, June 5
SA Time: 15h00
Venue: Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
Referee: Glen Jackson
Assistant referees: Jaco van Heerden, Lourens van der Merwe
Television match official: Johan Greeff
Team news:
- Franco Smith has made eight changes to his team for this match – five amongst the backs, two in the pack and one positional shift. The bulk of GWK Griquas’ players are not available because of Absa Currie Cup Qualifying commitments.
- Smith has handed debuts to two players – Niell Jordaan at No 8 and Neil Marais at flyhalf, which means Henco Venter and Joe Pietersen move to the bench.
- Coenie van Wyk (fullback), Rayno Benjamin (inside centre), Sarel Pretorius (scrumhalf) and BG Uys (loosehead prop) have all been promoted from the bench, with Henco Venter and Joe Pietersen now amongst the replacements.
- Cornal Hendricks will start at left wing, replacing Raymond Rhule (knee injury), while Tienie Burger and Boom Prinsloo will swop jerseys.
- The new faces on the bench are Shaun Venter, Gerhard Olivier, Elandré Huggett and DanieMienie.
Stats:
- The Toyota Cheetahs’ best record against the four Aussie sides in existence since they were formed in 2006, is against the Waratahs (50% win record). Against the Brumbies it’s at 30%, against the Reds 33% and against the Force 44%.
- The team from Central South Africa boast a 63.2% win record against visitors from Australia.
- The Toyota Cheetahs have not lost against the Waratahs for more than five years – their last defeat against NSW was on 3 April 2010 when the men in blue won 40-17 in Sydney.
- The Waratahs have only won once in Bloemfontein – in 2009 by 18-10. They visitors from Sydney have lost one in the Free State Stadium (by 35-34 in 2012) and one at GWK Park in Kimberley (30-26 in 2007).
Quotes:
Toyota Cheetahs head coach Franco Smith: “This is a big challenge for me and a massive privilege – I have big shoes to fill. I realise we can’t change everything in a week, but we have to set new goals and the players have to believe in them.
“Our plan for the next four and a half years started on Monday, but first we have to get the pleasure and enthusiasm back in the game for the players.
“We want to play with intensity and deliver quality rugby for the full 80 minutes, and will use the players on the bench as well as I believe this is a game played by 23 men and not only 15.
“The next two weeks against the Waratahs and the Bulls will not be easy though as both still have a lot to play for. Our aim will be to hold on to the ball for longer periods of time, lift our intensity and secure use our first phase possession and use it well.
The teams are:
Toyota Cheetahs: Coenie van Wyk, Sergeal Petersen, Francois Venter, Rayno Benjamin, Cornal Hendricks, Niel Marais, Sarel Pretorius, Niell Jordaan, Tienie Burger, Boom Prinsloo, Francois Uys (captain), Carl Wegner, Maks van Dyk, Torsten van Jaarsveld, BG Uys. Replacements: Elandré Huggett, Danie Mienie, Ewald van der Westhuizen, Steven Sykes, Gerhard Olivier, Henco Venter, Shaun Venter, Joe Pietersen.
Waratahs: Israel Folau, Taqele Naiyaravoro, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Kurtley Beale, Matt Carraro, Bernard Foley, Nick Phipps, Wycliff Palu, Michael Hooper, Jacques Potgieter, David Dennis (captain), Mitchell Chapman, Sekope Kepu, Hugh Roach, Benn Robinson. Replacements (from): David Porecki, Jeremy Tilse, Paddy Ryan, Dean Mum, Stephen Hoiles, Pat McCutcheon, Brendan McKibbin, Peter Betham, Jack Dempsey, Jono Lance.
Toyota Cheetahs v Waratahs (since 2006):
Played 8; Toyota Cheetahs won 4; lost 4
Toyota Cheetahs points scored: 164
Waratahs points scored: 196
Toyota Cheetahs tries scored: 20
Waratahs tries scored: 19
Average score: 25-21 to the Waratahs
DHL Stormers v Emirates Lions
Date: Saturday, June 5
SA Time: 17h05
Venue: DHL Newlands, Cape Town
Referee: Stuart Berry
Assistant referees: Marius van der Westhuizen, Quinton Immelman
Television match official: Deon van Blommestein
Team news:
- Schalk Burger, Frans Malherbe and Bongi Mbonambi have all been included in the DHL Stormers’ starting line-up, for Nizaam Carr, Vincent Koch and the injured Scarra Ntubeni respectively.
- Carr and Koch shift to the bench, where they are joined by Michael Willemse and Jaco Taute, both of whom played for DHL Western Province in the Vodacom Cup Final last weekend.
- The only changes to the Emirates Lions starting line-up is in the midfield, where Harold Vorster moves from inside to outside centre, with Alwyn Hollenbach coming in. Lionel Mapoe is out injured.
- On the bench, Howard Mnisi replaces Stokkies Hanekom while Dillon Smit, who made his debut last weekend, retains his place as replacement scrumhalf.
Stats:
- In the 12 previous games between these two sides, a try-scoring bonus-point has only been scored once – that was in 2009, when the DHL Stormers won 56-18 and outscored the Emirates Lions by eight tries to two in Cape Town.
- The eight tries scored by the DHL Stormers on that occasion is the joint-most they’ve ever scored in a Vodacom Super Rugby match – they also carded eight five-pointers against the Blues in Auckland in 2004, a match won 51-23 by the visitors from Cape Town.
- The Emirates Lions have only beaten the DHL Stormers once – in the second round last year in Johannesburg by 34-10.
- The nine penalty goals kicked by Elton Jantjies in the Emirates Lions’ only victory over the Capetonians last season is a Vodacom Super Rugby record.
Quotes:
DHL Stormers head coach Allister Coetzee: “The Lions’ results this season speak for themselves – they’re a form team with plenty of self-belief and why not? We know we’re in for a tough game against a team that asks a helluva lot of questions of you, especially in the set-piece.”
The teams are:
DHL Stormers: Cheslin Kolbe, Seabelo Senatla, Juan de Jongh, Damian de Allende, Dillyn Leyds, Demetri Catrakilis, Nic Groom, Duane Vermeulen (captain), Siya Kolisi, Schalk Burger, Manuel Carizza, Eben Etzebeth, Frans Malherbe, Bongi Mbonambi, Steven Kitshoff. Replacements: Michael Willemse, Oli Kebble, Vincent Koch, Jean Kleyn, Nizaam Carr, Louis Schreuder, Kurt Coleman, Jaco Taute.
Emirates Lions: Andries Coetzee, Ruan Combrinck, Harold Vorster, Alwyn Hollenbach, Courtnall Skosan, Elton Jantjies, Faf de Klerk, Warren Whiteley (captain), Warwick Tecklenburg, Jaco Kriel, Franco Mostert, Martin Muller, Julian Redelinghuys, Armand van der Merwe, Schalk van der Merwe. Replacements: Malcolm Marx, Corne Fourie, Ruan Dreyer, Robert Kruger, Kwagga Smith, Dillon Smit, Marnitz Boshoff, Howard Mnisi.
DHL Stormers v Emirates Lions (since 2006):
Played 12; DHL Stormers won 11; Emirates Lions won 1
DHL Stormers points scored: 310
Emirates Lions points scored: 191
DHL Stormers tries scored: 31
Emirates Lions tries scored: 13
Average score: 26-16 to the DHL Stormers
Other fixtures (SA kick-off times):
Friday, June 5:
09h35: Hurricanes v Highlanders – Napier
13h00: Force v Brumbies – Perth
Saturday, June 6:
09h35: Blues v Crusaders – Auckland
11h40: Reds v Chiefs – Brisbane
Bye: Cell C Sharks
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