Preview: Stormers v Brumbies

 

As finals records go, the Stormers would prefer to forget the past. In their sixth Finals campaign, they have only progressed past the semifinal stage once, going on to lose the 2010 grand final to the Bulls.

 

After finishing second overall in 2011, and first in 2012, they lost both home semifinals, crucially without their current captain Duane Vermeulen. He will be absent again this weekend, with injury ruling him out for a third consecutive Super Rugby finals match.

 

Most of the Stormers though have been well rested and recovered after they fielded a second-string side against the Sharks in the final round of regulation season.

 

Stormers coach Allister Coetzee used that time wisely to work extra hard on certain areas.

 

"It helped a lot [the resting of key players]," said Coetzee at a press conference at Newlands.

 

"We put emphasis on making sure our line-outs function well, and extra split sessions where we worked on stopping mauls and maul defence.

 

"It was a good week of preparation last week for the team that will be in action this week."

 

The Stormers have been boosted by the return of points-machine Demetri Catrakilis which is vitally important for play-off games. 

 

"It is about taking your opportunities this weekend and to kick your three points is vital as you have to take all your points coming your way, explained Coetzee.

 

The Brumbies have a devastating kicker too in Christian Lealiifano and therefore Coetzee emphasised the importance of discipline in such play-off games. 

 

"We have to make sure that our discipline is impeccable like it has been all season and that we put scoreboard pressure on when the penalties come our way." 

 

The Brumbies travel to South Africa knowing they have won a knockout game there before, upsetting the Bulls at Loftus in 2013 en-route to a grand final in Hamilton.

 

However the Canberra side lost on their last occasion at Newlands in a scrappy encounter and will have done their homework this time around. 

 

"Both sides felt the impacts [in Round 13] and it was Test match intensity but that is what it takes to beat the Stormers," explained Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham.

 

"Physicality will be a massive part of this game."

 

There are a lot of parallels between the Stormers and the Brumbies in terms of their styles – both have very imposing forwards and organised line-speeds on defence.

 

"Our stats are very similar and they are known to open the game up with their skills and at other times they use their forwards to get some go forward – very similar to us."

 

"If you look at both of our games there is enough unpredictability in them to not go into the game confident or complacent.

 

Given the home-ground advantage to the Stormers, Larkham highlighted the importance of putting pressure on the scoreboard early on in the game.

 

"It is always important, every game this season we have been lucky with scoreboard pressure," explained Larkham.

 

"We will be treating it like a Test match, we will be very careful with the decisions we take at penalty time." 

 

Coetzee commented on the nature of the last nasty encounter saying: "We will never get pulled into another dog fight, we will never allow it to distract us and we are not prepared to be drawn into any off the ball stuff."

 

For Brumbies: Henry Speight has got it all on the wing – pace, power and a step, while Christian Lealiifano is a quality distributor and dangerous with the boot. Ita Vaea is not easy to stop and he will be making many carries in midfield. David Pocock won't give an inch in the rucks and if the Stormers aren't quick to secure the ball his hands will be all over the pill. Steven Moore's work-rate and experience in play-off games will always benefit the Brumbies.

 

Head to head: The Stormers front row against the highly penalised Brumbies front row will be an interesting encounter which the Stormers will want to capitalise on. Siya Kolisi will have to be working extra hard to nullify the David Pocock threat at the ruck. The battle of the scrumhalves

will be one to watch as they will be wanting to get under each others skin. Demetri Catrakilis's and Christian Lealiifano will no doubt have a goal-kicking dual. The fullback position will be interesting to watch as the attacking, running game of Cheslin Kolbe will be up against the tactical, kicking game of Jesse Mogg.

 

2015: Stormers won 25-24, Cape Town 

2014: Brumbies won 25-15, Canberra

2013: Stormers won 35-22, Cape Town

2011: Stormers won 16-3, Canberra

2010: Brumbies won 19-17, Cape town

2009: Brumbies won 17-10, Canberra

2008: Stormers won 20-10, Cape Town

 

Prediction: The Stormers are unbeaten in their last five home games, and have won seven of their last eight when hosting Australian sides.The South African side has won three of their last four meetings with the Brumbies; before that they had won just one in 12 against the Canberra-based outfit.The Brumbies have lost three of their last four away games in South Africa over the last two seasons. The Canberra side has won two out of two in the qualifiers and this is the third year in a row they have played in this stage. The Stormers have lost five of their six games when reaching the post-season stage, however this will be their first appearance in the qualifiers. The Brumbies conceded fewer tries than any other team this season, conceding just 10 first-half tries and 11 in the second 40. The Stormers conceded the joint-second fewest second-half tries in the regular season (14). The Brumbies have scored 34 tries after winning their own lineout, 12 more than the next best team. Demetri Catrakilis has the best kick success (89 percent) of any player to attempt more than 10 shots at goal this season. Only the Cheetahs have scored more tries than the Brumbies off first phase ball (22) in 2015. In the Round 13 meeting between these sides, the Stormers recorded their lowest tallies for metres gained (268m) and clean breaks (one), while the Brumbies beat just nine defenders, their fewest in a match this season. The Newlands faithful plus the deadly boot of Demetri Catrakilis will help the Stormers to a 3 point win.

 

 

Stormers: 15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Dillyn Leyds, 13 Juan de Jongh (captain), 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Seabelo Senatla, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Siya Kolisi, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Manuel Carizza, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Steven Kitshoff.

Replacements: 16 Siyabonga Ntubeni, 17 Allister Vermaak, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Jean Kleyn, 20 Michael Rhodes, 21 Louis Schreuder, 22 Kurt Coleman, 23 Jaco Taute.

 

Brumbies: 15 Jesse Mogg, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Robbie Coleman, 11 Joe Tomane, 10 Christian Lealiifano, 9 Nic White, 8 Ita Vaea, 7 David Pocock, 6 Scott Fardy, 5 Blake Enever, 4 Rory Arnold, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Stephen Moore (captain), 1 Scott Sio.

Replacements from – Josh Mann-Rea, Allan Alaalatoa, Ruan Smith, Jordan Smiler, Jarrad Butler, Michael Dowsett, Matt Toomua, James Dargaville, Les Makin, Nigel Ah Wong

 

Date: Saturday, June 20

Venue: Newlands, Cape town

Kick-off: 17.05 (01.05 Sunday, June 21 AEST; 15.05 GMT)

Expected weather: Pleasant and Sunny with a high of 22 degrees Celsius, no chance of rain.

Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)

Assistant referees: Craig Joubert (South Africa), Jason Jaftha (South Africa)

TMO: Deon van Blommestein (South Africa)