Cheetahs have drive to beat the Bulls at last

ARNO Botha versus Lappies Labuschagne, Adriaan Strauss against Chiliboy Ralepelle and Jan Serfontein pitting his skills against Robert Ebersohn are only some of the key subplots of tomorrow’s Super Rugby clash between the Bulls and Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.

The stakes are high for both teams and, for many individuals with Springbok aspirations, selection for next month’s Test series is also on the line.

Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer will probably have settled on his final 30-man squad before kick-off, but he might not have composed his ideal Test 23, and players still in the frame could sway his thinking.

But, more importantly, the Bulls have a chance to virtually seal top place in the South African conference with a victory. The Bulls have 50 points on the standings, the Cheetahs 45, but the Bloemfontein side has played one more game.

Something has to give at the Free State Stadium and while Bok places are there to be had, Super Rugby momentum is paramount as the regular season draws to a close.

Since their separation from the Cats in 2006, the Cheetahs have played the Bulls 10 times and lost every match, including this season’s first encounter when they went down 26-20 at Loftus.

But the Cheetahs are a vastly different predator this year compared to any time in their recent history.

They have won nine of 13 games this season, surpassing their previous best of five wins in a single campaign. Four of those wins have been at home, with two losses. Bloemfontein is not quite a fortress, but it is turning into a sturdy laager.

If one side could break the Bulls’ seemingly inevitable march to the conference title, the Cheetahs are that team

The Bulls, despite a disappointing tour, have made progress through the pool phase thanks to a solid pack and commanding set pieces, the boot of flyhalf Morné Steyn and the incisiveness of centre Serfontein.

Their away record is about the only weakness in their armoury and that is only when they leave SA. They have won both of their “internal” away matches against the Kings (340) and the Sharks (18-16) and have not lost to a South African team this season. In Super Rugby history the Bulls have an overall 62% winning record against South African teams — 60.6% at home and 63.6% away.

They are not fazed when leaving Loftus to face fellow South Africans, although if one side could break the Bulls’ seemingly inevitable march to the conference title, the Cheetahs are that team.

In Cape Town, the Stormers will have to battle both the Southern Kings and the elements if they hope to secure a maximum five points from their clash.

When the fixture list was drawn up, the Stormers always knew the first 10 rounds of the campaign were going to be tough, but they presumed that facing the Kings twice in their past four matches would provide some compensation.

That was before the Kings morphed into the little team that could, and started winning games.

Suddenly a win against the Kings is not a foregone conclusion.