Preview: Super Rugby - Round Three, Part Two
SPRINGBOK TRIALS: As South Africa gear for a round of vicious domestic derbies, the New Zealand and Australian franchises wrestled with the prickly poser of player management.
The South African derbies – between the Lions and Bulls, as well as Sharks versus Stormers – are seen as early-season Springbok trials.
However, the pre-World Cup restrictions – limiting All Blacks to 180 minutes on the field during the first three rounds – have caused a far more complicated conundrum for the New Zealand franchises.
Chiefs coach Colin Cooper said the arrangement, intended to prevent player burn-out and injuries ahead of the World Cup, was confusing and suggested a simpler approach.
“I think they should just cut them [All Blacks] out of the first three games and keep it plain and simple,” he told reporters.
“Minutes are tough because of injuries. You can have a good plan but injuries always muck that up.”
The Sydney Morning Herald said tensions were also simmering over the timing of Wallabies camps in a World Cup year and Rugby Australia chief Raelene Castle said a review would be conducted into how the injuries were sustained.
“We are all concerned about the injuries. That’s certainly not the ideal place for anyone to start,” she told the Herald this week.
“Nobody was comfortable with the fact we had injuries and Rugby Australia is reviewing the reasons for those injuries.”
The South African franchises have injury problems of their own – with the Lions and Bulls having lost their respective captains – Warren Whiteley and Lodewyk de Jager – to injuries after last week’s Round Two matches.
We look at all the Saturday matches!
Saturday, March 2:
Chiefs v Sunwolves
(Waikato Stadium, Hamilton – Kick-off: 19.35; 15.35 Japan time; 06.35 GMT)
The Sunwolves may be on the receiving end of a major backlash, following the Chiefs’ demoralising 17-54 loss to the Brumbies last week.
The defeat in Canberra follows a first-round loss to the Highlanders, which has left the Chiefs in the unfamiliar last place on the standings.
It may be early in the season and there is plenty of time for the two-time champion Chiefs to bounce back.
Chiefs coach Colin Cooper feels he has the answers to the early-season ills that have hampered his team.
“We need to carry better and defensively we didn’t connect as well as we should,” Cooper told superrugby.co.nz.
“We’ve been working hard on making sure we’re connected.
“They [the Brumbies] scored three tries because we weren’t connected.
“We’re not quite there, we’re not quite connected on the system yet.
“We’ll continue to work with that and we’ve got a lot of confidence it will come right,” he said.
https://www.facebook.com/chiefsrugby/videos/2022126137882670/
Cooper said he is not about to throw the baby out with the bath water.
Assistant coach Tabai Matson said this weekend will be no light task for the Chiefs.
“We need to pull together what we have been working on at training and transfer that into the game,” Matson said.
“The Sunwolves are a good side and we are not taking them lightly.
“They were close to a win [losing 30-31 to the Waratahs] last week and will be hurting just as we are.
“We just need to do the basics right and the rest will fall into place.”
Matson finished acknowledging the team want to provide Brodie Retallick with a more fitting celebration for his achievement.
“Last week we didn’t deliver for Brodie. As a team, we want to be able to put in a performance we are proud of and provide Brodie with a fitting acknowledgement for this significant milestone in front of a home crowd.”
Previous results:
2018: Chiefs won 61-10, Tokyo
2017: Chiefs won 27-20, Hamilton
Prediction: This will be just the third Super Rugby meeting between the Chiefs and the Sunwolves, with the Hamilton-based side coming out on top in both previous encounters. The only previous Super Rugby meeting between the Chiefs and Sunwolves in New Zealand saw the Japanese outfit outscore the Chiefs 17-7 in the second stanza; though, they still lost 27-20. The Chiefs have lost their last three Super Rugby fixtures, they’ve not lost more consecutive games since a run of five defeats spanning across the 2010 and 2011 seasons. The Chiefs have won 11 of their last 12 Super Rugby games at home against teams visiting from outside New Zealand, losing only to the Jaguares in that span. Gerhard van den Heever (Sunwolves) has gained 10.7 metres per carry this Super Rugby campaign, the most of any player to have made more than 10 carries for the season.
Winner: Chiefs
Likely winning margin: 26
Rugby Pass Index Prediction
Teams:
Chiefs: 15 Shaun Stevenson, 14 Sean Wainui, 13 Tumua Manu, 12 Orbyn Leger, 11 Etene Nanai-Seturo, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Brad Weber, 8 Taleni Seu, 7 Mitchell Karpik, 6 Mitchell Brown, 5 Michael Allardice, 4 Brodie Retallick (captain), 3 Angus Ta’avao, 2 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 1 Aidan Ross.
Replacements: 16 Bradley Slater, 17 Tevita Mafileo, 18 Sefo Kautai, 19 Jesse Parete, 20 Lachlan Boshier, 21 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 22 Alex Nankivell, 23 Ataata Moeakiola.
Sunwolves: 15 Jason Emery, 14 Gerhard Van Den Heever, 13 Shane Gates, 12 Michael Little (captain), 11 Jamie Henry, 10 Hayden Parker, 9 Kaito Shigeno, 8 Rahboni Warren Vosayaco, 7 Edward Quirk, 6 Hendrik Tui, 5 Uwe Helu, 4 Luke Thompson, 3 Hiroshi Yamashita, 2 Atsushi Sakate, 1 Pauliasi Manu.
Replacements: 16 Nathan Vella, 17 Sam Prattley, 18 Asaeli Ai Valu, 19 Tom Rowe, 20 James Moore, 21 Jamie Booth, 22 Phil Burleigh, 23 Rikiya Matsuda.
Referee: Federico Anselmi (Argentina)
Assistant referees: Nick Briant (New Zealand), Dan Waenga (New Zealand)
TMO: Shane McDermott (New Zealand)
Reds v Crusaders
(Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane – Kick-off: 18.45; 21.45 NZ time; 08.45 GMT)
Crusaders coach Scott Robertson has cautioned against the improved Australian franchises, as the team heads to Brisbane for a Round Three encounter with the Reds.
Robertson was impressed by the Reds’ effort against the Highlanders last week – going down 31-36 in Dunedin.
“I think Australia rugby has probably got four stronger teams,” he said of their Trans-Tasman rivals.
“I think they are reaping the rewards for going down [from five to four teams] to a couple of years ago.
“It was a tough call at the time, but I think it’s paid off.”
The Reds are in a buoyant mood ahead of the arrival of the nine-time champions.
Reds attack coach Jim McKay is confident the hosts can halt the Christchurch outfit’s record 17-game winning streak.
“We lost the game [to the Highlanders] and everyone is saying we played well, but we were hard on ourselves,” McKay said.
“We’re still developing, but bring it on. We’re Queenslanders, we’re going to go for it.”
A shift to No.6 for Lukhan Salakaia-Loto to partner Angus Scott-Young in the back row signals the Reds’ intentions, with McKay acknowledging they needed to set a physical benchmark early.
“You have to do that, you need to disrupt their rhythm and flow,” he said.
The Reds haven’t beaten the Crusaders since the 2011 Final and are rank outsiders to repeat the dose this weekend against the back-to-back defending champions.
Eight All Blacks have been named in the Crusaders’ run-on side, but with David Havili and Ryan Crotty joining rested All Blacks forwards Kieran Read, Sam Whitelock and Codie Taylor on the sidelines the Reds may not get a better chance to spring an upset.
Recent results:
2017: Crusaders won 22-20, Brisbane
2016: Crusaders won 38-5, Christchurch
2015: Crusaders won 58-17, Christchurch
2014: Crusaders won 57-29, Brisbane
2013: Crusaders won 38-9, Christchurch (quarterfinal)
Prediction: Since losing to the Reds in the 2011 Final, the Crusaders have won six Super Rugby games in a row against the Queensland side including a come from behind win in their last meeting. The Reds have won each of their last two home games, including a 21-point victory against the Sunwolves at the end of last season, their biggest home win since 2011 (41-8 v Cheetahs). The Crusaders have won their last 17 games in a row, the longest winning run by any side in the history of Super Rugby. The Crusaders have won 46 of 47 scrums on their own feed across their last seven Super Rugby fixtures. Moses Sorovi (Reds) has scored two tries and provided one try assist in his last two Super Rugby games.
Winner: Crusaders
Likely winning margin: 21
Rugby Pass Index Prediction
Teams:
Reds: 15 Bryce Hegarty, 14 Chris Feauai-Sautia, 13 Jordan Petaia, 12 Samu Kerevi (captain), 11 Sefa Naivalu, 10 Hamish Stewart, 9 Moses Sorovi, 8 Angus Scott-Young, 7 Liam Wright, 6 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 5 Harry Hockings, 4 Izack Rodda, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1 Feao Fotuaika.
Replacements: 16 Alex Mafi, 17 JP Smith, 18 Ruan Smith, 19 Caleb Timu, 20 Scott Higginbotham, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 Duncan Paia’aua, 23 Isaac Lucas.
Crusaders: 15 Will Jordan, 14 Braydon Ennor, 13 Jack Goodhue, 12 Tim Bateman, 11 George Bridge, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Mitchell Drummond, 8 Whetukamokamo Douglas, 7 Matt Todd (captain), 6 Tom Sanders, 5 Quinten Strange, 4 Scott Barrett, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Andrew Makalio, 1 Joe Moody.
Replacements: 16 Ben Funnell, 17 Harry Allan, 18 Michael Alaalatoa, 19 Luke Romano, 20 Jordan Taufua, 21 Bryn Hall, 22 Mitchell Hunt, 23 David Havili.
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
Assistant referees: AJ Jacobs (South Africa), Damon Murphy (Australia)
TMO: George Ayoub (Australia)
Lions v Bulls
(Ellis Park, Johannesburg – 15.05; 13.05 GMT)
The loss of their respective captains – Warren Whiteley and Lodewyk de Jager – has added spice to what is always an intriguing Trans-Jukskei derby.
Both teams had promising starts to the season – the Lions beating the Jaguares in Buenos Aires for the first time and the Bulls demolishing the Stormers.
Last year the Bulls shocked the Hurricanes in the first round, then lost four consecutive matches and finished 12th.
The Lions won their first three matches in 2018, before a mid-season slump left them with much ground to make up.
Both are determined to avoid similar downtrends.
The Bulls began this season with a 37-point triumph over the Stormers only, to suffer a heavy defeat by the Jaguares in rain-lashed Buenos Aires last weekend.
Playing away to the Lions – who beat the Jaguares 25-16 in BA and then lost 17-19 to the Stormers last week – is a tough task at the best of times.
The Bulls must front up on Saturday without Springbok lock De Jager.
He hurt his shoulder in Argentina and will also miss the fourth-round clash with the Sharks in Pretoria.
https://soundcloud.com/user-645352503/lions-press-conference-ahead-of-bulls-showdown
Stand-in skipper and flyhalf Handre Pollard is conscious of the need to avoid another early-season collapse.
“Losing Lodewyk for at least two matches is a massive blow and the rest of us must ensure we get back on the winning trail this weekend,” Pollard said.
Malcolm Marx, standing in as captain for the injured Whiteley (torn pectoral muscle) said his side has put their last-minute loss to the Stormers behind them and they are aiming for an improved display in front of the Johannesburg faithful.
“There’s always a lot of pride at stake in these games.
“We want to return to winning ways as soon as possible, but the Bulls will be equally motivated to show their loss to the Jaguares was just a hiccup, so we are prepared for a massive challenge from a very quality side.”
Bulls coach Pote Human reckons his men need to play a perfect match against their Gauteng foes.
“We got punished last weekend [in Buenos Aires] by not retaining our ball on attack and against the Emirates Lions, who are so ruthless on the counter-attack, we cannot afford to do so again.
“They are at home for the first time this year and will come out all guns blazing and it’s going to be a typical physical derby.”
Recent results:
2018: Lions won 38-12, Johannesburg
2018: Lions won 49-35, Pretoria
2017: Lions won 51-14, Johannesburg
2016: Lions won 56-20, Pretoria
2015: Bulls won 35-33, Pretoria
2015: Lions won 22-18, Johannesburg
Prediction: The Lions have won six of their last seven games against the Bulls including each of their last four in a row, this after failing to win any of their initial 11 encounters in Super Rugby. The Lions have won their last 14 games when hosting South African opposition, last losing at home to their fellow countrymen in February 2015, when they were beaten by the Stormers. The Lions boast the best tackle success rate of any side so far this season (89 percent) and have won the most turnovers (24). The Bulls are one of just two sides to boast a 100 percent line-out success rate after the opening two rounds of the season (also Rebels), winning all 23 of their throws. Marvin Orie (Lions) has made 32 tackles so far this campaign – the most of any player – and has missed just two further attempts.
Winner: Lions
Likely winning margin: 13
Rugby Pass Index Prediction
Teams:
Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Ruan Combrinck, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Marnus Schoeman, 6 Albertus Smith, 5 Stephan Lewies, 4 Rhyno Herbst, 3 Carlu Sadie, 2 Malcolm Marx (captain), 1 Dylan Smith.
Replacements: 16 Pieter Jansen, 17 Sti Sithole, 18 Frans van Wyk, 19 Robert Kruger, 20 Vincent Tshituka, 21 Ross Cronje, 22 Franco Naude, 23 Courtnall Skosan.
Bulls: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Dylan Sage, 11 Rosko Specman, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Hanro Liebenberg, 6 Ruan Steenkamp, 5 Eli Snyman, 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Schalk Brits, 1 Lizo Gqoboka.
Replacements: 16 Corniel Els, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Dayan van der Westhuizen, 19 Jannes Kirsten, 20 Tim Agaba, 21 Ivan van Zyl, 22 Manie Libbock, 23 Divan Rossow.
Referee: Paul Williams
Assistant referees: Cwengile Jadezweni, Griffon Colby
TMO Marius Jonker
Sharks v Stormers
(Kings Park, Durban – Kick-off: 17.15; 15.15 GMT)
Sitting pretty at the top of the standings – with a full-house 10 points from two matches – the odds on the Sharks have shortened dramatically in the last week.
Coach Robert du Preez has had the good fortune of being able to name an unchanged starting XV for the second consecutive week.
“We couldn’t ask for much better than the two big wins,” the Sharks’ Springbok centre Lukhanyo Am said.
“It’s a confidence booster for us going into this week’s match against the Stormers.
“Like us, the Stormers have a big pack and a good backline, we know we need to pitch up as far as physicality goes.”
Stormers coach Robbie Fleck said that his team is under no illusions about the challenge that awaits them in Durban.
“We know that we will have to be sharp in every area if we are to get the result we want in Durban.
“Our focus is on being as accurate as possible so that we are able to impose ourselves and our plans on the opposition.”
Fleck spoke of the form the Durban-based team brought into Super Rugby, after claiming the Currie Cup by beating Western Province in the Final at Newlands last year.
“They are playing with a lot of confidence,” Fleck said.
“Winning the Currie Cup Final has obviously given them that extra boost of confidence.
“In the first two games I felt tactically they were really smart. I think they are playing a clever brand of rugby.
“They are not just relying on that brute force and that ability to dominate up front.
“I think they got a nice balance to the way they play. They are tactically smart, and we are certainly going to have to match them in that regard.”
Recent results:
2018: Stormers won 27-16, Cape Town
2018: Sharks won 24-17, Durban
2017: Sharks won 22-10, Durban
2016: Sharks won 18-13, Cape Town
2015: Sharks won 34-12, Durban
2015: Stormers won 29-13, Cape Town
Prediction: The Sharks have won four of their last five games against the Stormers, although their one defeat in that run came in their most recent meeting, in Round 18 last season. The Sharks have won their first two games of the season and will be aiming to win three consecutive matches for the first time since the beginning of 2017 when they won four on the bounce. The Sharks have won all 21 of their scrums this season, the most of any side and one of six teams to still have a 100% scrum success rate after the opening two rounds of action. Eight of the last nine Super Rugby games between the Sharks and Stormers have seen the home side score the opening try of the game; however, the side to score the first try in that span has gone on to lose on four occasions. The Stormers’ Dillyn Leyds has scored three tries in his last three Super Rugby games away from home for the Stormers, making a total of 34 carries for 209 metres gained in that period.
Winner: Sharks
Likely winning margin: 8
Rugby Pass Index Prediction
Teams:
Sharks: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Sibusiso Nkosi, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Robert du Preez, 9 Louis Schreuder (captain), 8 Daniel du Preez, 7 Tyler Paul, 6 Jacques Vermeulen, 5 Ruan Botha, 4 Hyron Andrews, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Akker van der Merwe, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Kerron van Vuuren, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 Thomas du Toit, 19 Gideon Koegelenberg, 20 Phepsi Buthelezi, 21 Cameron Wright, 22 Jeremy Ward, 23 Curwin Bosch.
Stormers: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Dan du Plessis, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 SP Marais, 10 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 John Schickerling, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ali Vermaak.
Replacements: 16 Siyabonga Ntubeni, 17 Corne Fourie, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Chris van Zyl, 20 Jaco Coetzee, 21 Justin Phillips, 22 Ruhan Nel, 23 Dillyn Leyds.
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Egon Seconds (South Africa), Divan Uys (South Africa)
TMO: Willie Vos (South Africa)
Jaguares v Blues
(Jose Amalfitani Stadium, Buenos Aires – Kick-off: 18.40; 21.40 GMT; 10.40, Sunday, March 3 NZ time)
The Blues – having run the Crusaders close in week one and then disappoint against the Sharks last week – are looking to get their campaign back on track against a tricky opponent.
The Auckland-based team has been notoriously poor travellers, having won just three of their last 10 matches on the road.
Skills and backs coach Dan Halangahu said they have worked hard at ending their travel bogey.
“The boys are bitterly disappointed with how they performed in Durban,” he said of their 7-26 loss to the Sharks.
“This week marks an opportunity for them to right the wrong.”
He said they will look to run the Argentineans ragged and avoid an arm-wrestle.
“We have trained hard to play with more speed,” Halangahu said.
“Our game is based around our big ball carriers, playing with speed – not giving their defence time to be set.
“We have so many threats with ball in hand, across the park.
“We need to do work off the ball to give guys like Melani [Nanai], Ma’a [Nonu] and Rieko [Ioane] the opportunity to get the ball in space.”
The team shows a number of changes from that which faced the Sharks.
Melani Nanai starts at fullback in place of Michael Collins, with Tanielu Tele’a coming in on the right wing to fill the vacancy created by Nanai’s move to No.15.
Ma’a Nonu and Sonny Bill Williams swap roles – Nonu starting at inside centre this week and Williams playing off the bench.
Augustine Pulu starts at scrumhalf ahead of Jonathan Ruru.
The only change in the pack sees Alex Hodgman start at loosehead prop ahead of All Black Karl Tu’inukuafe – who drops down to the bench.
Jaguares coach Gonzalo Quesada named an unchanged set of forwards, but made two changes to the backs.
Captain Jerónimo de la Fuente has been ruled out by injury, with Matías Moroni and Matías Orlando the centres. The latter also takes over the captaincy.
Previous results:
2018: Jaguares won 20-13, Auckland
2016: Blues won 24-16, Albany
Prediction: This will be the third Super Rugby meeting between the Jaguares and the Blues, the two sides are evenly split at one win apiece in their previous two meetings, although this will be the first time the Jaguares have hosted this fixture. The Jaguares have won four of their last five home games, with only last year’s runners-up the Lions managing to come away from Argentina with victory in that run. The Blues have lost their last three away games, they’ve not lost more consecutive games on the road since losing 10 in a row from 2014 to 2016. The Blues are one of six sides to maintain a 100% scum success rate this season, winning all 20 on their own feed, although the Jaguares are one of just two teams to win one against the head so far (also Lions). Blues No.8 Akira Ioane has made 31 carries in Super Rugby this season so far, more than any other player, teammate Michael Collins ranks joint third with 26.
Winner: Jaguares
Likely winning margin: 7
Rugby Pass Index Prediction
Teams:
Jaguares: 15 Juan Cruz Mallia, 14 Bautista Delguy, 13 Matias Moroni, 12 Matias Orlando (captain), 11 Ramiro Moyano, 10 Joaquin Diaz Bonilla, 9 Tomas Cubelli, 8 Javier Ortega Desio, 7 Marcos Kremer, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Tomas Lavanini, 4 Guido Petti Pagadizaval, 3 Santiago Medrano, 2 Agustin Creevy, 1 Mayco Vivas.
Replacements: 16 Julian Montoya, 17 Juan Pablo Zeiss, 18 Enrique Pieretto Heilan, 19 Matias Alemanno, 20 Rodrigo Bruni, 21 Martin Landajo, 22 Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias, 23 Joaquin Tuculet.
Blues: 15 Melani Nanai, 14 Tanielu Tele’a, 13 Thomas Faiane, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 11 Rieko Ioane, 10 Otere Black, 9 Augustine Pulu, 8 Akira Ioane, 7 Dalton Papali’i, 6 Tom Robinson, 5 Joshua Goodhue, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu, 3 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 2 James Parsons, 1 Alex Hodgman.
Replacements: 16 Matt Moulds, 17 Karl Tu’inukuafe, 18 Sione Mafileo, 19 Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, 20 Matt Matich, 21 Jonathan Ruru, 22 Harry Plummer, 23 Sonny Bill Williams.
Compiled by Jan de Koning
@king365ed
@rugby365com
* Stats courtesy of Opta Sports
