PREVIEW: Super Rugby, Round 15 - Part Two
LEGAL OR LAWLESS: With the World Cup just under four months away, the yammering over refereeing contretemps have become alarmingly more frequent.
The latest to raise his voice in dissatisfaction with the match officials’ performances is All Black coach Steve Hansen.
He has criticised refereeing in South Africa, although his comments could also be seen as an early warning that he will be vocal about officiating at the World Cup in Japan.
An incorrect decision cost the Crusaders victory in their 19-all draw with Stormers last weekend and Hansen also believed the Lions were getting the rub of the green.
“[Penalties] are not consistent on both sides,” Hansen whined.
“If it’s a penalty today then it’s a penalty for the whole day, not just part of the day,” he said.
“The Lions have been awarded 48 penalties in three games while the opposing sides have only been awarded six. That would mean there’s not a lot of consistency being applied.”
The complaining is a departure for Hansen, whose colourful advice after previous refereeing controversies has been to “flush the dunny and move on”.
There are no doubt match officials will be more in the spotlight this weekend, especially after reports that SA officials Marius Jonker and Rasta Rasivhenge have been punished for questionable decisions they arrived at in last weekend’s Round 14 matches.
Rasivhenge and Jonker were scheduled to do duty this weekend at Newlands – where the Stormers host the Highlanders – but both have disappeared off the list of match official appointments.
We look at Saturday’s matches!
Saturday, May 25:
Sunwolves v Rebels
(Prince Chichibu Stadium, Tokyo – Kick-off: 14.15; 15.15 Melbourne time; 05.15 GMT)
With four rounds to play, including games against the defending champion Crusaders and Waratahs, the Rebels need to bank a win against the lowly Sunwolves to help secure a maiden play-offs berth.
While most coaches would talk in cliches and pretend that they ‘focus on themselves’ and the ‘processes’, Rebels mentor Dave Wessels is honest enough to acknowledge the motivation for his team.
Wessels said it would be naive to think his players hadn’t done the maths, but all they needed to think about was winning.
“We haven’t talked about it, but the reality is that we’ve got to do our thing,” Wessels said.
“It’s such a funny comp – with everyone knocking off everyone else – and there’s a lot of rugby to be played, so all you can control is your own performance.”
Wessels has also been pleased with the energy brought to training this week.
“I thought [Test lock] Adam Coleman [who has overcome a troublesome shoulder injury to be named in the starting side] brought a real presence in training.
“His control around the set piece, which will obviously be very important this weekend, and he’s in very good shape,” Wessels said.
“He hasn’t been able to play in recent weeks, but he’s done a lot of conditioning and a lot of running, so his body is feeling pretty fresh and pretty fit, so it’s nice to have him back in the mix.
“Tom [English] is a massive part of our team on and off-field.
“He drives a lot of feeling around the Club, and he’s played, until the injury, almost every game for us, and he’s a big part of our on-field presence as well, so it’s nice to have him back in the mix.”
Recent results:
2019: Rebels win 42-15, Melbourne
2018: Rebels won 40-13, Melbourne
2018: Rebels won 37-17, Singapore
2016: Rebels won 35-9, Tokyo
Prediction: The Rebels have won all four of their Super Rugby matches against the Sunwolves, scoring an average of 39 points per game against them. The Sunwolves have lost their last six Super Rugby matches on the bounce at home, the longest losing run on home soil in the club’s history. The Rebels have won only one of their last five Super Rugby games away from home, despite having led at half-time on three occasions in that time. The Rebels have conceded just six offloads per game this Super Rugby campaign, fewer than any other team in the competition. One of the two players to have made 100+ carries and 100+ tackles in Super Rugby 2019 has done so in a Sunwolves jersey (Rahboni Warren-Vosayaco).
Prediction: Rebels
Margin: Seven
Teams:
Sunwolves: 15 Jason Emery, 14 Gerhard Van Den Heever, 13 Josh Timu, 12 Phil Burleigh, 11 Semisi Masirewa, 10 Hayden Parker, 9 Kaito Shigeno, 8 Amanaki Mafi, 7 Dan Pryor, 6 Rahboni Warren-Vosayaco, 5 Luke Thompson, 4 Mark Abbott, 3 Hiroshi Yamashita, 2 Nathan Vella, 1 Masataka Mikami.
Replacements: 16 Jaba Bregvadze, 17 Conan O’Donnell, 18 Takuma Asahara, 19 Yoshitaka Tokunaga, 20 Hendrik Tui, 21 Jamie Booth, 22 Hosea Saumaki, 23 Takuya Yamasawa.
Melbourne Rebels: 15 Dane Haylett-Petty (captain), 14 Jack Maddocks, 13 Reece Hodge, 12 Billy Meakes, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Richard Hardwick, 7 Angus Cottrell, 6 Ross Haylett-Petty, 5 Adam Coleman, 4 Matt Philip, 3 Sam Talakai, 2 Hugh Roach, 1 Matt Gibbon.
Replacements: 16 Jordan Uelese, 17 Tetera Faulkner, 18 Jermaine Ainsley, 19 Sam Jeffries, 20 Rob Leota, 21 Michael Ruru, 22 Matt To’omua, 23 Tom English.
Referee: Nick Briant (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Federico Anselmi (Argentina), Shuhei Kubo (Japan)
TMO: Minoru Fuji (Japan)
Crusaders v Blues
(Christchurch Stadium, Christchurch – Kick-off: 19.35; 07.35 GMT)
The Blues are excited to test themselves against the best, when they take on the Crusaders in their own backyard.
However, the Crusaders have reasons other than rugby to produce a commanding performance.
A week off-field drama followed the on-field drama between the Stormers and the Crusaders.
They were accused of abusing locals at a late-night eatery and making homophobic slurs – which has since resulted in a formal investigation.
Crusaders captain Sam Whitelock suggested the controversy could galvanise the team.
“Any team can turn things into a positive or a negative,” Whitelock said.
“We are trying to turn it into a positive. We have to make sure the boys are in very good head space.”
Blues coach Leon MacDonald said while his team had played well in their closely-fought loss to the defending champions in the opening game, that the Crusaders had gone on to again set the standard in the competition.
While many are billing the match as crucial, the Blues are not letting themselves become outcome-focussed.
“We have had the same approach every game and that is to strive to produce quality performances and to improve every week,” said MacDonald.
“If you put on a performance of quality over 80 minutes, then positive results are likely to follow, and we are getting closer to achieving that.
“We know that we will need to be at our very best against the Crusaders.
“Just like the people of the region, they know how to dig deep in times of adversity, and so we know what to expect.”
Recent results:
2019: Crusaders won 24-22, Auckland
2018: Crusaders won 54-17, Christchurch
2018: Crusaders won 32-24, Auckland
2017: Crusaders won 33-24, Christchurch
2016: Crusaders won 26-21, Auckland
2016: Crusaders won 28-13, Christchurch
Prediction: The Crusaders have won 10 of their last 11 Super Rugby matches against the Blues, including the last nine matches on the bounce. The Blues have won four of their last 39 Super Rugby matches against New Zealand teams; though, all four of those wins came on home turf on the day. The Crusaders are undefeated in their last 26 Super Rugby games on home turf; three of their last four such wins have come after trailing at half-time. The Blues have enjoyed an average of 18 minutes and four seconds time in possession per game this Super Rugby season, more than any other team in the competition. The Crusaders’ Sevu Reece and Blues’ Rieko Ioane have each made 24 clean breaks this Super Rugby season, more than any other players in the competition.
Prediction: Crusaders
Margin: 21
Teams:
Crusaders: 15 David Havili, 14 Sevu Reece, 13 Jack Goodhue, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 George Bridge, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Bryn Hall, 8 Whetukamokamo Douglas, 7 Matt Todd, 6 Jordan Taufua, 5 Sam Whitelock (captain), 4 Scott Barrett, 3 Michael Alaalatoa, 2 Andrew Makalio, 1 Joe Moody.
Replacements: 16 Brodie McAlister, 17 Isi Tu’ungafasi, 18 George Bower, 19 Luke Romano, 20 Ethan Blackadder, 21 Mitchell Drummond, 22 Mitchell Hunt, 23 Braydon Ennor.
Blues: 15 Melani Nanai, 14 Caleb Clarke, 13 Thomas Faiane, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 11 Rieko Ioane, 10 Harry Plummer, 9 Jonathan Ruru, 8 Akira Ioane, 7 Blake Gibson, 6 Tom Robinson, 5 Scott Scrafton, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu, 3 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 2 Leni Apisai, 1 Alex Hodgman.
Replacements: 16 James Parsons, 17 Marcel Renata, 18 Lua Li, 19 Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, 20 Hoskins Sotutu, 21 Augustine Pulu, 22 Otere Black, 23 Levi Aumua.
Referee: Mike Fraser (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand), Glen Jackson (New Zealand)
TMO: Aaron Paterson (New Zealand)
Waratahs v Jaguares
(Western Sydney Stadium, Parramatta – Kick-off: 19.45; 06.45 Buenos Aires time; 09.45 GMT)
The Waratahs are precariously placed at third in the Australian conference, with four rounds remaining, and know they can’t afford any more slip-ups in their fight to stay in the play-off race.
“We are in the fight for our lives in terms of staying alive in the comp and the conference,” coach Daryl Gibson said.
“This game is incredibly important.”
Gibson resisted resting key Wallabies, naming his first unchanged starting line-up of the season.
Gibson must still rest skipper Michael Hooper, playmaker Bernard Foley, fullback Kurtley Beale and prop Sekope Kepu for one match each before the end of the regular season under protocols agreed to help the Wallabies’ World Cup campaign.
“No, we haven’t thrown it away. We are very mindful,” he said of the Wallaby resting protocol.
“But we also need to be in a position to stay alive in the competition.
“First and foremost I want to be able to give the team the opportunity to do that and we see that through picking our strongest side.
“They’ll be [rested] somewhere. It’s just a matter of getting us to a point where we remain competitive.
“I have debated the strategy of resting our guys through different games but I have got to play the short game, not the long game.”
“It’s nice to be able to be consistent. We have named a fairly consistent line up for most of the games in recent weeks and I think that’s really helping us. The team is settling down and knowing their roles well.”
Jaguares coach Gonzalo Quesada said they are aware that it will be a tough test against a desperate Waratahs team.
“They need to win to keep their play-off hopes alive,” Quesada said.
“Last week they played a great game against the Reds – a game in which they were effective on defence and attack.
“They also showed great character to stay in the fight right to the end, even when it seemed the Reds had won the game.
“We are preparing for a very tough challenge.”
Previous results:
2018: Jaguares won 38-28. Buenos Aires
2017: Jaguares won 40-27, Sydney
Prediction: This will be just the third Super Rugby fixture between these sides, the Jaguares have won the first two matches including the inaugural clash in Sydney (40-27). Each of the NSW Waratahs’ last nine Super Rugby games has been decided by a single-digit margin on the day; however, the Waratahs have managed just three wins in that time. The Jaguares have won five of their last six Super Rugby matches; though, just one of those six games was decided by a margin of greater than eight points. The Jaguares boast a points differential of +59 in the final quarter of games this Super Rugby season, the second highest of any team in the competition. Bernard Foley (NSW Waratahs) has slotted 41 kicks at goal this Super Rugby campaign – the second most of any player in the competition – at an accuracy of 77 percent.
Prediction: Waratahs
Margin: Three
Teams:
Waratahs: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Alex Newsome, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Karmichael Hunt, 11 Cam Clark, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Michael Wells, 7 Michael Hooper (captain), 6 Lachlan Swinton, 5 Rob Simmons, 4 Ned Hanigan, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Damien Fitzpatrick, 1 Tom Robertson.
Replacements: 16 Andrew Tuala, 17 Harry Johnson-Holmes, 18 Chris Talakai, 19 Jed Holloway, 20 Will Miller, 21 Jake Gordon, 22 Lalakai Foketi, 23 Curtis Rona.
Jaguares: 15 Emiliano Boffelli, 14 Santiago Carreras, 13 Matias Orlando, 12 Jeronimo de la Fuente (captain), 11 Ramiro Moyano, 10 Domingo Miotti, 9 Tomás Cubelli, 8 Javier Ortega Desio, 7 Tomás Lezana, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Marcos Kremer, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Santiago Medrano, 2 Julian Montoya, 1 Mayco Vivas.
Replacements: 16 Agustin Creevy, 17 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 18 Lucio Sordoni, 19 Tomás Lavanini, 20 Juan Manual Leguizamon, 21 Felipe Ezcurra, 22 Joaquin Diaz Bonilla, 23 Matias Moroni.
Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Egon Seconds (South Africa), Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
TMO: Ian Smith (Australia)
Stormers v Highlanders
(Newlands, Cape Town – Kick-off: 15.05; 13.05 GMT; 01.05, Sunday, May 26 NZ time)
To say the Stormers are ‘desperate’ would be to state the obvious. They showed that much in their approach to the 19-all draw with the Crusaders last week.
That is why the Highlanders, in their first visit to Cape Town in more than five years, will find the Stormers in an equally resolute mindset to what they had last week.
Despite being in 12th place on the standings, the Cape Town-based franchise is just three points being the Highlanders in eighth place.
A win will elevate them into the play-off zone.
Although the Highlanders arrive in the Mother City on the back of three wins from their last three matches against the Stormers, all of those were played in Dunedin.
The picture at Newlands is vastly different though – the Stormers have won their last four home games against the men from Dunedin, whose last victory in the shadow of Table Mountain was way back in 2006.
Stormers coach Robbie Fleck said that his team is looking forward to another home game.
“The atmosphere last week was incredible and the players can’t wait to get out there again and play in front of our fans,” Fleck said.
“We want to keep building and improving as we approach the end of the season and this match will be another important step forward for us,” he added.
Fleck said that winning is now the only option.
“There will be no quarter given for the rest of the campaign,” the coach said of the last four league matches.
Fleck said they need to reproduce the intensity, effort and attitude they brought against the Crusaders last week.
“Our preparation has been great again this week and the players’ buy-in has been good.
“The Highlanders are a very good side and they have been in some classic battles this year.
“They do have a smart kicking game. We respect the way they play tactically.”
Captain Siyamthanda said they will be working for ‘every single point’ in the race to the play-offs.
“We can be hot one week and cold the next,” Kolisi said, adding: “The people have seen what we can do and they want more of that.”
Recent results:
2018: Highlanders won 33-15, Dunedin
2017: Highlanders won 57-14, Dunedin
2015: Highlanders won 39-21, Dunedin
2014: Stormers won 29-28, Cape Town
2012: Stormers won 21-6, Dunedin
Prediction: The Highlanders have won their last three Super Rugby games against the Stormers by an average margin of 26 points per game. The Stormers have won five of their last six Super Rugby matches against the Highlanders in South Africa, including their last four on the bounce. The Highlanders have won only one of their last six Super Rugby games away from home; their only win in that span a 52-0 triumph over the Sunwolves. The Highlanders have scored 14 tries within the opening quarter of games in Super Rugby 2019, more than any other team in the competition and nearly three times as many as the Stormers (five). The Stormers’ Seabelo Senatla has scored two tries in his last two Super Rugby games when he’s started from the bench on the day.
Prediction: Stormers
Margin: Three
Teams:
Stormers: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Johannes Engelbrecht, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Dillyn Leyds, 10 Joshua Stander, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Jaco Coetzee, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siyamthanda Kolisi (captain), 5 Cobus Wiese, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Siyabonga Ntubeni, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Replacements: 16 Chad Solomon, 17 Corne Fourie, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Kobus van Dyk, 20 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 21 Justin Phillips, 22 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 23 Dan Kriel.
Highlanders: 15 Matt Faddes, 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Rob Thompson, 12 Patelesio Tomkinson, 11 Jordan Hyland, 10 Josh Ioane, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Elliot Dixon, 7 James Lentjes, 6 Luke Whitelock (captain), 5 Tom Franklin, 4 Pari Pari Parkinson, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Liam Coltman, 1 Daniel Lienert-Brown.
Replacements: 16 Ash Dixon, 17 Ayden Johnstone, 18 Siate Tokolahi, 19 Josh Dickson, 20 Shannon Frizell, 21 Kayne Hammington, 22 Marty Banks, 23 Thomas Umaga-Jensen.
Sharks v Lions
(Kings Park, Durban – Kick-off: 17.15; 15.15 GMT)
The Sharks know they have to reverse their recent disappointing form in Durban if they are to stay in the play-off race.
The Durban outfit has lost four of their six matches at Kings Park, including a 34-point drubbing (17-51) by the Argentine Jaguares.
“I do not know the exact reasons why we struggle at home,” admitted Springbok prop Coenie Oosthuizen.
“What I do know is that we need to start home matches better.
“When our team does not begin well, we tend to struggle throughout a game.”
Despite winning only five of 12 matches and lying fourth in the South African conference, the Sharks are just three points behind the conference-topping Bulls.
The Lions played down talk of ‘revenge’ for the loss to the Sharks at Ellis Park last month, but flank Cyle Brink described it as a “painful” experience.
“It was my first game back after being out for eight months,” Brink told a media scrum this week.
“It was sore to lose at Ellis Park.
“Of course we want to make up for that result. It’s never nice losing to a South African team and it will be great if we can pull off a win.”
Sharks midfielder Andre Esterhuizen said Saturday’s encounter is very important, considering how congested the standings are.
“Every game is vital from now on,” Esterhuizen said, adding: “There are just a few points that separate the teams in the South African conference, so we know the importance of every single game.
“But we aren’t putting pressure on ourselves. We’re going out there to enjoy it and play for each other. That’s what we thrived on during the tour and it worked for us.”
He said the Lions have been very much like the Sharks this season – one game up, one game down, a bit of inconsistency.
“They are still a very dangerous side.
“The previous result [the 42-5 win for the Sharks in Johannesburg last month] means nothing.”
Recent results:
2019: Sharks won 42-5, Johannesburg
2018: Sharks won 31-24, Durban
2018: Lions won 26-19, Johannesburg
2017: Lions won 23-21, Johannesburg (quarterfinal)
2017: Lions won 27-10, Durban
2017: Lions won 34-29, Johannesburg
Prediction: The Sharks have won their last two Super Rugby games on the bounce against the Lions; however, they had lost their seven meetings in succession prior to that brace. The Sharks have lost five of their last seven South African derbies as hosts in Super Rugby, including their last two on the bounce; they have never lost more than three such fixtures in succession. The Lions have won 10 of their last 13 Super Rugby matches visiting the other South African teams, both losses in that span came despite leading at half-time. The Lions are one of only two teams (Rebels) with a 90 percent success rate at both the line-out (90 percent) and the scrum (92 percent) in Super Rugby 2019. Makazole Mapimpi (Sharks) has scored three tries in his last three games against the Lions, including a brace in his last game against them.
Prediction: Sharks
Margin: Three
Teams:
Sharks: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Sibusiso Nkosi, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Louis Schreuder (captain), 8 Daniel du Preez, 7 Jean-Luc du Preez, 6 Philip van der Walt, 5 Ruan Botha, 4 Ruben van Heerden, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Kerron van Vuuren, 1 Mzamo Majola.
Replacements: 16 Dylan Richardson, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 John-Hubert Meyer, 19 Hyron Andrews, 20 Jacques Vermeulen, 21 Cameron Wright, 22 Robert du Preez, 23 Kobus van Wyk.
Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Courtnall Skosan, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Albertus Smith (captain), 7 Cyle Brink, 6 Marnus Schoeman, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Stephan Lewies, 3 Johannes Jonker, 2 Jan-Henning Campher, 1 Dylan Smith.
Replacements: 16 Pieter Jansen, 17 Sti Sithole, 18 Carlu Sadie, 19 Reinhard Nothnagel, 20 Vincent Tshituka, 21 Hacjivah Dayimani, 22 Shaun Reynolds, 23 Tyrone Green.
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen
Assistant referees: Cwengile Jadezweni, Stefan Geldenhuys
TMO: Christie du Preez
Compiled by Jan de Koning, additional reporting by AAP & AFP
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* Statistics provided by Opta Sports
