CRAIG LEWIS looks ahead to the final three Super Rugby matches of round six, including the games involving the Stormers and Lions.
HURRICANES vs HIGHLANDERS (Wellington, Saturday 08:35)
Both teams come into this clash high on confidence after claiming recent wins over defending champions, the Crusaders, and all signs suggest this should be a typically enthralling New Zealand derby.
The Highlanders currently top the New Zealand standings after an unbeaten start to the competition, while the Canes have rebounded impressively following their shock opening-round loss to the Bulls.
This contest should provide an interesting contrast in styles, with the Highlanders quite happy to apply pressure through their kicking game and then look to feed off errors from the opposition. They also boast a competition-high 87% tackle success rate.
Meanwhile, the Canes boast an All Blacks-laden backline that includes the Barrett brothers, Jordie and Beauden, who will offer plenty of threats, although the hosts have lost superstar Vaea Fifita to injury.
The Hurricanes have won four of their last five regular-season games against the Highlanders, and they should be slight favourites at home, but this game will be decided by the smallest of margins.
Stats and facts
- Only once in 14 home games against the Highlanders have the Hurricanes failed to pick up competition points (won nine, four losing bonus points).
- The Hurricanes have won six of their last seven New Zealand derbies on home turf, including each of their last two. Only the Chiefs have defeated them in that time.
- The Highlanders have lost their last three away games in New Zealand, including a 26-point loss to the Hurricanes.
- The Highlanders have begun their season with three wins on the bounce, only three times before have they made a better start to a Super Rugby campaign (four wins in 1999, 2000, 2012)
Hurricanes – 15 Jordie Barrett, 14 Julian Savea, 13 Matt Proctor, 12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Ben Lam, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Gareth Evans, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Brad Shields (c), 5 Sam Lousi, 4 Murray Douglas, 3 Ben May, 2 Ricky Riccitelli, 1 Chris Eves.
Subs: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 Fraser Armstrong, 18 Jeff To’omaga-Allen, 19 Michael Fatialofa, 20 Reed Prinsep, 21 Richard Judd, 22 Ihaia West, 23 Vince Aso.
Highlanders – 15 Ben Smith (c), 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Rob Thompson, 12 Tei Walden, 11 Tevita Li, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Luke Whitelock, 7 Dillon Hunt, 6 Elliot Dixon, 5 Tom Franklin, 4 Jackson Hemopo, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Liam Coltman, 1 Daniel Lienert-Brown.
Subs: 16 Ash Dixon, 17 Aki Seiuli, 18 Siate Tokolahi, 19 Shannon Frizell, 20 Marino Mikaele Tu’u, 21 Kayne Hammington, 22 Josh Ioane, 23 Matt Faddes.
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STORMERS vs REDS (Cape Town, Saturday 17:15)
The Stormers well and truly silenced their critics last weekend with an emphatic victory over the Blues, which coach Robbie Fleck insists was an indicator that they are making progress in the desired direction.
What it undoubtedly illustrated is that the Stormers are a completely different prospect at their Newlands fortress, with their physicality up front and clinical finishing enabling them to snap a three-match losing streak.
The Stormers’ high-paced press defence also proved to be highly effective in cutting down the Blues’ time and space on attack, and it’s this sort of approach that they will be looking to replicate this Saturday.
Understandably, the Stormers have made minimal changes to their starting lineup, and although they will be without injured fullback Dillyn Leyds, they do welcome back influential flanker Cobus Wiese.
As it is, the Opta stats provide cause for the Stormers to feel encouraged as they are ranked first for clean breaks (74) and carries (598) – albeit coming from an extra game or two compared to some other sides.
The Reds do head into this clash after encouraging wins over the Jaguares, Bulls and Brumbies, but their commute from Argentina was disrupted by a medical mix-up that delayed their arrival in Cape Town.
It swings factors further in favour of the Stormers, who have won nine of their last 12 games against the side from Brisbane.
Stats and facts
- The Stormers have won nine of their last 12 games against the Reds. However, the spoils are split at three wins apiece in their last six meetings.
- Each of the Stormers’ five games so far this campaign have been won by the home team, with the Stormers earning wins against the Jaguares and Blues so far this season.
- The Reds have won just one of their last 11 games in South Africa, a one-point win over the Cheetahs in round 10, 2015.
- The Reds have gained just 346m per game this season, the fewest of any team in the competition.
- The Stormers’ Damian Willemse and Reds’ James Tuttle have each kicked six penalty goals this season, the equal most of any players.
Stormers – 15 Craig Barry, 14 JJ Engelbrecht, 13 EW Viljoen, 12 Damian De Allende, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Cobus Wiese, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4 Jan de Klerk, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Ramone Samuels, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Subs: 16 Dean Muir, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Carlu Sadie, 19 Chris van Zyl, 20 Kobus van Dyk, 21 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 22 Justin Phillips, 23 George Whitehead.
Reds – TBC
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JAGUARES vs LIONS (Buenos Aires, Saturday 23:40)
The Lions will view this clash as an opportunity to make a much-needed statement. After a recent defeat to the Blues, the Lions battled their way to a hard-fought two-point win over the unheralded Sunwolves last weekend.
After that unconvincing victory, coach Swys de Bruin acknowledged that the team has lost some of its usual confidence, and it is the reason he has taken a strong squad over to Argentina.
The Lions have lost Ross Cronjé and Andries Ferreira to injury, but their pack has been bolstered by the return of first-choice props Jacques van Rooyen and Ruan Dreyer, while Rohan Janse van Rensburg slots back into his preferred position at inside centre.
It will be interesting to see whether the Lions adopt a more pragmatic approach against the Jaguares this Saturday, particularly considering that the Argentinian team loves to feed off broken-field opportunities.
The Lions do have a solid set piece and a powerful driving lineout and, ensuring that they play in the right areas of the field, it should be the priority in Argentina where they have had their struggles in recent seasons.
The Jaguares have been as inconsistent as ever this year, but the fact remains that they have managed just one win from five games, and the Lions must see this encounter as an opportunity to rediscover their mojo.
Stats and facts
- Each of the previous five meetings between the Jaguares and Lions have been won by the home team, with the Jaguares enjoying 12-point wins in each of their previous two home games against the Johannesburg-based outfit.
- However, the Jaguares have won only one of their last five games at home, failing to break into double-digits in two of their last three.
- The Lions have won their last seven games away from home, a streak more than twice as long as any other they have managed as either the Lions or Cats in Super Rugby.
- The Lions have averaged 31 defenders beaten per game this season, the most of any team and seven more per game than the Jaguares.
- Pablo Matera made 23 carries in round five, six more than any other player, while only Damian de Allende (63) has made more than Matera (55) overall this season.
Jaguares – TBC
Lions – 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Sylvian Mahuza, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Marco Jansen van Vuren, 8 Kwagga Smith, 7 Robert Kruger, 6 Cyle Brink, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Marvin Orie, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Robbie Coetzee, 1 Jacques van Rooyen.
Subs: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Dylan Smith, 18 Johannes Jonker, 19 Lourens Erasmus, 20 Len Massyn, 21 Dillon Smit, 22 Howard Mnisi, 23 Shaun Reynolds.
Photo: Carl Fourie/Gallo Images
