Bulls v Stormers on paper

Paper does not count but for what its worth here is my take:

15. Pietersen v Kirchner: Kirchner is better on attack, Joe has a better boot. Kirchner wins the battle

14. Aplon v Ndungane: Aplon has the spark, he wins this one

13. de Jongh v Sadie: No contest, Sadie is the real deal and wins it hands down

12. Jean v Olivier: Close call but Jean takes it, but might not on the day as Olivier is in good form

11. Habana v Basson: Habana looks back in business so he takes this one

10. Grant v Morne: Close call, I am no Morne fan but I'll go evens on this one

9. Duvehage v Hougaard: Chalk and cheese this one - Hougaard is twice the player

1. Kitshoff v Greyling: Close call, but I'll go with the youngster

2. Liebenberg v Chiliboy: No contest, Chiliboy is far superior

3. Harris v Kruger: Harris is a sad excuse for a prop, they should be starting with Malherbe. Kruger wins this one

4. Etzebeth v Flip: Very close call, but I'll give it to the very impressive Eben

5. Bekker v Kruger: Again a very close call but it has to go to Bekker

6. Kolisi v Stander: Two class acts - too close to call - this one is even

7. Elstadt v Potgieter: Close again, Elstadt has serious grunt but is a lock - evens here

8. Vermeulen v Spies: Close enough call, but Spies is the ace

So on paper its Stormer 6 Bulls 6 - too close to call on paper and reality

Pietersen v Kirchner: As you say, Kirchner joins the line better. In fact, he is our best attacking fullback outright. Joe reminds me very much of that intelligent tactical boot of Monty or Terblanche. In a game that is likely to be tight, I would say Joe takes this one, particularly as his defence is that much better.

Aplon v Akona: Aplon is not as much of a threat from the wing as he is from fullback. He will be solid there, but can he offer the cerebral content of Akona? Hard to say, but if someone is going to spark something, it will be Aplon.

de Jongh v Sadie: de Jongh has been very good all season. In many respects the form 13 of the SA franchises. He has been starved of possession though. In a game of this nature it is questionable how much he will be brought into play. For this reason alone it looks like Sadie will make more of an impression, but I'll take a stab and back de Jongh as the better player.

Jean v Olivier: We've seen a few spurts from Jean here and there, but by and large he has been a clot in the number 12 jersey. It will be very unlikely that Jean will take this one.

Habana v Basson: Habana is definitely the better wing, but will he be more integral to the outcome that Basson? It's a very hard one to call. Given how the Bulls will approach this game, and how welll Basson has executed his role, I will call Basson.

Grant v Morne: Morne outclasses Grant in every respect.

Duvenage v Hougaard: As you say, Hougaard is significantly the better player.

Kitschoff v Greyling: Kits has been in furious form, it would be very harsh not to call him on this one.

Liebenberg v Chiliboy: Chiliboy is the form South African hooker and consideranly better than Liebenberg.

Harris v Kruger: Agreed, Kruger.

Etzebeth v Flip: This is one of the more tastey encounters. Flip needs a big game here and it's too close to call. I call Etzebeth given his incredible form.

Bekker v Kruger: I actually call Kruger on this. At times Bekker has been excellent, but Kruger has become something of a revelation! Bekker has a lot to prove here. He, like Flip, needs a big game to set the record straight. I don't think it will happen though, but I'll call Bekker for his experience.

Elstadt v Potgieter: Potgieter.

Vermuelen v Spies: Spies is really starting to step up, and I think he'll be fired up for this one. I call Spies.

I believe that's 9/6 in favour of the Bulls.

 

Joe Pietersen besting the Woolly Booly breaks your tie Dave. I'm calling this contest for the mighty Stormers.

 No I can't go with that Moz, what does Joe add on attack - nothing - you cant have a 15 that brings nothing to the party on attack. He has a good boot on him, but with Kirchner you have a player who constantly looks to attack. Give me dreadlocks over the little guy anyday - no contest. I dont rate Joe at all

Joe is a very competent attacking player. Perhaps you should note the impact he made when he replaced Jantjes and when returning from France where he was in very good form.

 Wrong Joe does nothing on attack, never joins the line, makes no impression at all on the counter attack - very ordinary player with a good boot. Add the fact that he is small and incapable of imposing himself physically. I dont rate him at all, he is hardly a new kid on the block, so no chance of a change of opinion on him. Jantjies as average as he is, is probably better on attack than Joe is. I really do not know what people see in this guy.

The Stormers have far too many little guys in their backs who make little or no impact - Aplon, de Jongh and Joe