Super 15 Rugby Preview - Week 2
Super Rugby Preview “ Week 2
The Hurricanes vs. Crusaders match has been cancelled this weekend due to the devastating earthquake in Christchurch. We send anyone affected our very best wishes.
Waratahs vs. Reds
The Waratahs put a big marker down last week with their 43-0 win over the Melbourne Rebels. Their strong forward pack set up a great forward platform for the backs to do what they do best, and that may be the defining factor this week against the Reds. Phil Waugh leads the 'Tahs pack out after a very strong showing in Melbourne. They certainly will not want to give up an inch on their home ground in Sydney, and expect the contest to be very physical up front.
The performance of the Waratahs backline last weekend speaks for itself. Kurtley Beale and Drew Mitchell both registered two tries in the drubbing, and if the men from Sydney want to neutralize the dangerous Reds defence, it will be those two playing the cover defence. Berrick Barnes must play well against Wallaby teammate Quade Cooper this weekend if he wants to keep Matt Giteau out of the Australian starting line-up.
The Queenslanders pack had a fairly average match last weekend, as the lineout misfired several times and there were some issues to address at scrum time. Coach Ewen McKenzie has hopefully addressed those problems, and the Reds will be able to rebound. Scott Higginbotham is promoted to the starting squad, while Leroy Houston drops down to the bench.
Plenty has been said about the Reds backline as of late, with most of the words coming from Waratahs coach Chris Hickey. Quade Cooper and the Reds will only be eyeing victory come Saturday though, as the Australian derby is one of the most intense in Super Rugby. The backs are unchanged from a disappointing performance last Sunday against the Western Force, which proved that as fluid and dynamic as they were last season, the Reds remain temperamental and inconsistent.
Player to watch: It doesn't get any easier for Quade Cooper. Last week he had to face James O'Connor at 10, and this week Berrick Barnes. Barnes is talented, poised and will be hungry to show that he just might be the best fly half in Australia.
Prediction: The Reds come into this game as the underdogs, but one bad performance doesn't define a team's season. This game will be sink or swim for the men from Queensland, and this time I expect them to swim “ Waratahs 24, Reds 26
Waratahs: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Lachie Turner, 13 Rob Horne, 12 Tom Carter, 11 Drew Mitchell, 10 Berrick Barnes, 9 Luke Burgess , 8 Ben Mowen, 7 Phil Waugh (C), 6 Dave Dennis, 5 Kane Douglas, 4 Dean Mumm, 3 Al Baxter, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Sekope Kepu.
Replacements: 16 Damien Fitzpatrick, 17 Benn Robinson, 18 Sitaleki Timani, 19 Chris Alcock, 20 Brendan McKibbin, 21 Daniel Halangahu, 22 Ryan Cross.
Reds: 15 Peter Hynes, 14 Rod Davies, 13 Will Chambers, 12 Anthony Faingaa, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Scott Higginbotham, 7 Ed Quirk, 6 James Horwill (C), 5 Van Humphries, 4 Rob Simmons, 3 James Slipper, 2 Saia Faingaa, 1 Ben Daley.
Replacements: 16 James Hanson, 17 Greg Holmes, 18 Leroy Houston, 19 Beau Robinson, 20 Ben Lucas, 21 Mike Harris, 22 Aidan Toua.
Venue: Sydney
Kick-off (GMT): 0840
Referee: Bryce Lawrence
Sharks vs. Blues
The Blues proved that they were the real deal last week in their cracker of a match against the Crusaders. The forwards had a strong performance as a unit, and they will need to find that fire again against a very deft Sharks front. The ageless Kevin Mealamu had a stormer last weekend, a form which hopefully he can continue all season. Jerome Kaino put in a few crunching tackles last weekend, and he and Daniel Braid have formed a formidable flanker duo in Auckland. Expect a war in the pack in this one.
The backs for the Blues were simply electric in Auckland, with Rene Ranger picking up my hero of the week in Week 1. Ranger, Joe Rockocoko and Isaia Toeava could form the back three of the competition judging by their current form, and it will interesting to see how the Sharks match up. Stephen Brett had an off day from the kicking tee; hopefully that will not be a season-long issue or else the Blues could be in trouble.
The Sharks did what they needed to do last weekend to pick up the win in Durban, but they will need a more inspired performance against a stronger team this weekend. John Smit has returned from a calf injury, but occupies a spot on the bench. The Sharks front row remains one of their strengths even without Smit, as the Du Plessis brothers, and Tendai Mtawarira (AKA The Beast) form a daunting trio.
The Durban backline didn't really show what they're capable of last week, but expect a turnaround in better weather this time around. Twenty year old Patrick Lambie controls the backs from the fly half position, and it will be interesting to see how he and Stephen Brett play each other. Lwazi Mvovo and Odwa Ndnungane will have their hands full against Rockocoko and Ranger, and they will need a strong defensive performance.
Player to watch: As enticing as it is to pick any of the wings from either team, I think that the matchup of both Tony Woodcock and Tendai Mtawarira is too good to pass up. What a battle this will be up front.
Prediction: This is the hardest one to call of Round 2. Very equally matched, I give the slight edge to the Blues under one stipulation “ Stephen Brett improves his kicking game. I expect it to be close and it could come down to one or two missed penalties or conversions “ Blues 24, Sharks 20
Sharks: 15 Louis Ludik, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Stefan Terblanche (c), 12 Meyer Bosman, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Patrick Lambie, 9 Charl McLeod, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Keegan Daniel, 5 Alistair Hargreaves, 4 Steven Sykes, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 John Smit, 17 Eugene van Staden, 18 Anton Bresler, 19 Jacques Botes/Lambert Groenewald, 20 Conrad Hoffmann, 21 Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 22 JP Pietersen.
Blues: 15 Isaia Toeava, 14 Joe Rokocoko, 13 Jared Payne, 12 Benson Stanley, 11 Rene Ranger, 10 Stephen Brett, 9 Alby Mathewson, 8 Chris Lowrey, 7 Daniel Braid, 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Ali Williams, 4 Anthony Boric, 3 John Afoa, 2 Keven Mealamu (c), 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: 16 Tom McCartney, 17 Charlie Faumuina, 18 Kurtis Haiu, 19 Luke Braid, 20 Toby Morland, 21 Luke McAlister, 22 Sherwin Stowers.
Venue: Durban
Kick-off (GMT): 1505
Referee: Jaco Peyper
Stormers vs. Lions
The Stormers reached the Super Rugby finals last year to be undone at the last minute by the Bulls. This year they look poised to do just as well, if not capture the whole thing. Up front they boast some household names in Schalk Burger, Francois Louw and Duane Vermulen in a very strong back row. They will need the stars to get around the park and be a force at the breakdown. Having won 10 straight against the Lions, I wouldn't expect much else.
In the backs the Stormers are just as strong, highlighted by a midfield consisting of Jean De Villiers and Jaque Fourie, two Springbok stalwarts. The real question this year will be De Villiers, and his ability (or lack thereof) to find a place in Peter De Villier's World Cup starting XV. He will need a strong showing this season to prove he deserves a spot. A surprise omission from the starting group is the sensational Juan De Jongh, who takes a spot on the bench.
The Lions almost pulled out an upset last weekend against the Bulls, but they will need a consistent 80 minute performance to have a shot at the upset. Franco van der Merwe had a good game last weekend, as did Josh Strauss. Both will have to step up to neutralize the Stormers' loose forwards.
I believe that Elton Jantjies will come to define the Lions' season this year. With so much pressure on his young shoulders, he will really have to improve on his Week 1 performance to give the Lions a shot at Super Rugby success. He was off with his kicking game last weekend, and an errant chip gave Gerhard van den Heever the opportunity to score a memorable try. Hopefully he can prove he is the real deal.
Player to watch: I think Jaque Fourie might be the best centre in world rugby, but that is based on last season's performances. He hasn't played in some time, however I expect him to be a deal breaker. Look for him to run rampant over the Lions.
Prediction: The Lions showed they have some guts last weekend, but the Stormers will need no extra motivation for their first outing of the 2011 season, which happens to be their home opener “ Stormers 38, Lions 10
Stormers: 15 Conrad Jantjes, 14 Danie Poolman, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Gary van Aswegen, 9 Ricky Januarie, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Francois Louw, 6 Schalk Burger (C), 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Rynhardt Elstadt, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Deon Fourie, 1 CJ van der Linde.
Replacements: 16 Siyabonga Ntubeni, 17 Frans Malherbe, 18 De Kock Steenkamp, 19 Pieter Louw, 20 Dewaldt Duvenage, 21 Peter Grant, 22 Juan de Jongh.
Lions: 15 Jaco Taute, 14 Lionel Mapoe, 13 Waylon Murray, 12 Doppies La Grange, 11 Michael Killian, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Josh Strauss, 6 Derick Minnie, 5 Franco van der Merwe (C), 4 George Earl, 3 Patrick Cilliers, 2 Bandise Maku, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Replacements: 16 Martin Bezuidenhout, 17 Kevin Buys, 18 Wikus van Heerden, 19 Cobus Grobbelaar, 20 Rory Kockott, 21 Burton Francis, 22 James Kamana.
Venue: Cape Town
Kick-off (GMT): 0640
Referee: Stuart Dickinson
Watch for the Super Rugby Week 2 Wrap Up on Monday, where I will go over all the weekend's action.
