Stormers won’t take prisoners
BUT BULLS HOPE TO KEEP TOP SPOT
THERE is only one Super Rugby show in town this weekend if you’re a South African – at Newlands, where a relaxed Stormers host a determined Bulls with the aim of ending a disappointing campaign on a high.
South Africa’s teams have a habit of messing up the play-off aspirations of their compatriots and tomorrow, the Stormers – in true local fashion – will do their best to ruin the Bulls’ dreams of a home final.
If the Bulls win they will clinch top place in the overall standings and the prize for doing that is a home semifinal – and a home final if they progress that far.
If they lose to the Stormers their chances of hosting a final diminish considerably. If we ’ re honest, the Bulls’ only realistic hope of winning a fourth title is to ensure they don’t have to leave Loftus other than to braai with friends or visit the Menlyn shopping mall.
The Bulls have lost all three play-off matches they’ve contested in Australasia, while winning all six of the ones they’ve appeared in at Loftus.
A Stormers victory would mean little in terms of log position for the Cape side.
They ’ ll finish somewhere between seventh and 10th on the standings regardless of the result. Yet they are more motivated than if this were a knockout game.
And they’re more dangerous because they have nothing to lose.
In theory, coach Allister Coetzee should rest key Springboks such as centre Jean de Villiers and lock Eben Etzebeth for this clash, with national interest at heart. But he can’t do that because beating the Bulls could salvage a mediocre season.
Another reason is that it’s wired into the DNA of South African players that full-bore blood and thunder is only way to play a match. Against compatriots that approach is multiplied and when its north versus south that characteristic is multiplied further.
No country’s players climb into each with the same gusto that South Africans do, a situation that will have both Bulls coach Frans Ludeke and Springbok mentor Heyneke Meyer looking on nervously.
Ludeke has the play-offs to think about and he cannot afford to lose key players to injury. Meyer has the Rugby Championships to consider.
Coetzee, by contrast, can ask his team to pull themselves inside out in search of victory knowing that there is no next week.
The Stormers’ home record is also formidable. In the past two seasons they’ve won 14 of 16 games at Newlands.
Their only home loss this year was a 19-14 defeat to the Crusaders.
They ’ re currently on a four-match winning streak, which included a massive 28-3 win over the play-offbound Cheetahs.
Newlands adds something extra to the Stormers’ game.
The Bulls, though, have won their past nine on the bounce, but historically have only won three of nine games at Newlands.
Both sides are depleted through injury – the Bulls slightly less so – but at home the Stormers pack should have the edge. And from that platform they have the tools to grind out an ugly win based on defence and pressure.