Here are some views ex Keo:
LIONS vs HURRICANES, JOHANNESBURG, FRI 19:10
VREDE’S CALL: If the Lions are to improve their Super Rugby standing they simply cannot lose to sides as poor as the Canes. The Stormers’ self-imposed slumber allowed the Canes back into the contest last week, but the Canes are sure to finish the season near the foot of the log. The Lions haven’t beaten them since 2007 and have consistently had 30 points-plus put on them. But this is a shadow of those Canes sides and indeed the Lions have made notable strides under coach John Mitchell. Their gainline contest will be central to their success. If they can blunt the Canes’ momentum they will force them into cavalier attacks. Penalties will follow and with goal kicker Elton Jantjies burning white hot at the moment the Lions will keep the scoreboard ticking over. Their attack has never been in question against opponents of this calibre. This is a match the Lions will have to win on defence. Lions by 7JC’S CALL: If the Lions attempt to run the ball from all corners they are only going to play into the Hurricanes’ hands. The Wellington side is rebuilding and their lack of synergy and experience up front was exposed at Newlands last week. The Lions need to exert similar pressure in the tight and also at the collisions, and cash in on any opportunities that come their way. There will be a temptation to throw the ball around in the second half as the altitude takes its toll on a young Hurricanes side(PLEASE NOTE THE ALTITUDE ISSUE), but the Lions must realise that there’s an opportunity for a four-try bonus point if they keep hammering away at the visiting pack. Lions by 9 CHEETAHS vs BULLS, BLOEMFONTEIN, SAT 17:05 VREDE’S CALL: With their win over the Sharks the Bulls went some way to dispelling the suggestion they won’t be a force this season. They started poorly but settled into a pattern that they will exhibit once more in Bloemfontein. If they execute it as well as they did against the Sharks they will demolish the Cheetahs, who don’t have the patience or personnel for a kicking duel. I suspect they will want to land haymakers (read: attempts at long-range kick returns after their back three have been turned) upon which their carriers will be isolated and forced into penalties. Morné Steyn is the pre-eminent goal kicker in the competition at present and will gradually build the Bulls’ lead. With superiority at the set phases, greater punch at the gainline (reducing Heinrich Brüssow’s threat) and vulnerabilities in the Cheetahs’ defensive line, there will be no shortage of opportunities for the Bulls to score the couple of tries it will take for them to pull into the distance. Bulls by 10
JC’S CALL: Steyn’s goal-kicking is potentially match-winning as far as this game is concerned, although I feel he made a bigger statement with his kicking out of hand against the Sharks. A slick lineout and a savagely determined breakdown effort handed him a platform, and Steyn took full advantage by booting the cover off the ball and winning the territorial battle. There could be a repeat performance in Bloemfontein unless this Cheetahs pack finds the motivation needed to halt the Bulls’ momentum. They have the kickers in Tewis de Bryn, Johan Goosen and Hennie Daniller to challenge the Bulls in a kicking battle but they will need the forwards to fire at the breakdowns and lineouts. It’s a tough one to pick considering this match is being played in Cheetahs country and the Bulls are still forging a new combination, but on the virtue of last week’s lineout showing and the form Steyn showed, I’d have to back the Bulls to take this one. Bulls by 5 MIGHTY STORMERS vs SHARKS, CAPE TOWN, SAT 19:10 VREDE’S CALL: There was little to inspire in the Mighty Stormers’ victory over the Canes last week but that was understandable given the infancy of the season. The loss of Schalk Burger is significant in a match that will largely be determined by who bosses the tackle fight. The standard he sets and inspiration he provides in this regard is invaluable to the Stormers. That loss is, however, softened by the absence of Ryan Kankowski and Willem Alberts in the Sharks’ ranks, ensuring the visitors don’t hold a notable advantage there. The Stormers have long abandoned their cavalier nature and are now a wholly more pragmatic side than they had previously been. The Bulls showed the value in such an approach, pinning the Sharks in their territory through accurate kicks and backing their defence to pressure them into errors. In the halfback duo of Gary van Aswegen and Dewaldt Duvenage and fullback Joe Pietersen they have competent tactical kickers who have the capacity to replicate the Bulls’ successful blueprint. Pietersen showed his aptitude as a goal-kicker last week and if the Stormers can build pressure on the Sharks in their territory his boot could be the difference. Their pack scrummed and mauled well against the Canes and will hold an edge here as well as at lineout time, where the Sharks struggled in Pretoria. If the Sharks stay in touch until the final quarter their superior bench could win it for them. But I think the Stormers will close it out before then. Stormers by 8
JC’S CALL: The Sharks are missing power players like Alberts and Jean Deysel, and this will limit their impact at the gainline. Bismarck du Plessis should still be a key figure for the visitors but he cannot be expected to win a fight of this nature all by himself. Because of injuries, John Plumtree has been forced to pick smaller players in the back row, but perhaps the breakdown strengths of Keegan Daniel, Marcell Coetzee and specialist fetcher Jacques Botes can be used to good effect. Du Plessis is also an exceptional forager on the ground, and it is here where the Sharks may cause problems for a Stormers side that has neglected to pick a fetcher in their match 22. The Stormers are banking on bulldozing the Sharks at the tackle point, and thus nullifying their ball-stealers. Provided the Stormers stick to their structures and maintain their discipline, they will succeed in securing quality attacking ball. But if the Sharks can stand up to this assault and then disrupt and niggle, they could force the hosts to concede penalties and lose their rhythm. If the Sharks are successful in their attempts to stifle the Stormers, then that pressure will be transferred onto young flyhalf Gary van Aswegen. The Sharks need to do something to compromise the Stormers’ sound defence, and winning the tackle fight is the only way they are going to win the match. It will also be interesting to see how much they kick on Saturday, as the Stormers boast a superior lineout unit and will be expected to dominate the Sharks in this facet. Stormers by 7 Stormers – 15 Joe Pietersen, 14 Gio Aplon, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Jean de Villiers (c), 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Gary van Aswegen, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Nick Koster, 7 Duane Vermeulen, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Subs: 16 Scarra Ntubeni, 17 Frans Malherbe, 18 De Kock Steenkamp, 19 Nizaam Carr, 20 Louis Schrueder, 21 Peter Grant, 22 Gerhard van den Heever. Sharks – 15 Riaan Viljoen, 14 Louis Ludik, 13 JP Pietersen, 12 Meyer Bosman, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Pat Lambie, 9 Frederic Michalak, 8 Keegan Daniel (c), 7 Marcell Coetzee, 6 Jacques Botes, 5 Ross Skeate, 4 Steven Sykes, 3 Wiehahn Herbst, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Dale Chadwick.
Subs: 16 Craig Burden, 17 Jannie du Plessis, 18 Anton Bresler, 19 Lubabalo Mtembu, 20 Charl McLeod, 21 Marius Joubert, 22 Paul Jordaan Hopefully the sharkies are going to battle against the Stormers tight five and will get scant assistance from their loose trio. They may be wanting to play a high tempo running game. Down with the guppies!! I also trust the Cheetahs will show da bulle the door! Great duel betwen Goosen and Steyn in prospect. Cheetahs needed Juan and Osthuizen fo this one.
