How will the Stormer's scrum perform

The absence of the powerhouse Etzebeth and of course the 114 kg Tiaan Liebenberg from the tight five makes a significant difference. As does schalk at 6 supporting Kitshoff. Kitshoff ha Deon, Steenkamp and kolisi as his most direct support - instead of Tiaan, Etzebeth and Schalk.

Last year I thought Malherbe held the Beast pretty well and Jannie didnt get much change out of Kitshoff. However with a weakened tight five and not having Schalk at 6, can our front row hold the sharkies Bok props?

Sharks blowhards like rooitwit need not answer this question as their fantasies belong on fantasy rugby!!

Well, I have said all along Pat Cilliers is an average prop and he was exposed by the inexperienced Morne Mellett of the Bulls. Mellett is certainly one to watch.

Some wrongly had Kitshoff down as the issue, this was not the case, Kitshoff was solid enough his end against the impressive Frik Kirsten. He got wrongly pinged for hinging when in fact the Bulls prop had his knee on the ground.

The Stormers scrum lacks grunt with the average de Kock Steenkamp at 4 and the loss of Liebenberg at 2. I dont rate Liebenberg at all but he does add bulk to the frontrow. Malherebe is an improvement on Cilliers and it was a bit of an insult to Malherbe with Coetzee selecting Cilliers over him for the first match. Typical of the out of touch Coetzee. Had he looked after Quinn Roux last season, the loss of Etzebeth would not have been a sorley felt.

Adding old Schalk to the pack ahead of Kolisi would weaken the Stormers pack. Kolisi adds more these days.

The Stormers pack without Eben and Liebenberg will be no match for the impressive Beast and Jannie. They can be thankful Bismark is injured.

We should have done more to hang onto Roux and Catrikillis for sure.

As long as the scrums holds reasonably foim is not too much of an issue. I think the scrums will go better in the second half. Lets see if this happens.

Beeno

It is not only the ofrwards that is important here - it is what the backline will do with the ball when they get it  that is even more important.   I think the situation is back to the CC final - but for the weak Steenkamp that would not bring his part.   In the CC final there were three scrums where the WP forwards collapsed - they were fairly solid in the rest of the scrums.  

The backline  will get some balls - Jantjies???????????????????????  - bound to bugger up.

The pity of it is that the Stormers pack with Tiaan, Etzebeth and Schalk would have a decided edge on the sharkies. I would back a full strength side to win but we go in without key players. Tiaan is key because he throws in well and is a strong scrummager. Etzebeth is a world class lock and Schalk if fit a world class loosie.

If Jantjes is messing about he will come off earlier and hopefully Joe will do the goal kicking from the start. Take a bit of pressure off Jantjes.

Nevertheless the sharkies must not imagine they are going to have it easy. The Stormers are going to step it up.

THe Sharks are also missing three key forwards so I dont understand what your point is. Unless you are getting your excuses lined up already?