There are two issues here that I think could have an influence in the outcome of the game, namely -
* the teams selection; and
* a lunatic kicking game by the Stormers
The Teams selections
There are two issues that can have an impact on the potential outcome of the game:-
* The teams selection; and* Avoidance by the Stormers of a lunatic kicking game.Team Selection
Even though he Stormers team have not been announced yet - I will add the team later on - the following Waratahs team deserve comment:-
15 Israel Folau, 14 Andrew Kelleway, 13 Lalakei Foketi, 12 Kurtley Beale, 11 Curtis Rona, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Jake Gordon, 8 Michael Wells, 7 Micjael Hooper (c), 6 Ned Hanigan, 5 Rob Simmons, 4 Tom Staniforth, 3 Paddy Ryan, 2 Damian Fitzpatrick. 1 Tom Robertson
Replacements : !6 Hugh Roach. 17 Harry Johnson-Holmes, 18 Shambeckler Vui, 19 Nick Palmer, 20 Jed Holloway, 21 Mitch Short, 22 Bryce Hegarty, 23 Alex Newsome
The majority of the starting players have very few or zero games to their credit and as such there are a major degree of uncertainty as to how they are going to perform. I may be wrong, but at this stage I am fairly certain that if the Stormers cannot beat that team - they will not make headway in the series,The Stormers team is as follows:-
15 SP Marais, 14 Dillyn Leyds, 13 JJ Engelbrecht, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Kobus van Dyk, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4 JD Schickerling, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Ramone Samuels, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Replacements : 16 Dean Muir, 17 JC Janse ven Rensburg, 18 Carlu Sadie, 19 Chris van Zyl, 20 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 21 Justin Phillips, 22 George Whitehead, 23 EW Viljoen.
I do have some reservations about the team. The loosies are problematical. Van Dyk is good in line-outs and especially ball protection and recovery. There could also be problems on the wing from a defense perspective - where the hell is Senatla? The scrummie last week was piss-poor - they should have started with Philips. Despit the above4 the team can win - but the defcienciesas mentioned would be a negative.A lunatic kicking game by the Stormers
Even though there will be screams of annoyance by Mozart - for him the kicking game is the only one to be played - the Stormers can lose the game by lunatic kicking. Folau is the best player in world rugby under high balls and such kicks will give him space to operate in, which could cost the Stormers the game.
Those type of kicks cost the Springboks dearly last year and I hope that Fleck would not have players like Duvenhage making lunatic kicks like he did last Saturday against the Jaguares.
