Stormers have the 'complete scrum'

Brumbies prop Ben Alexander knows that the front row have their work cut out at Newlands against the Stormers this weekend.

The experienced Wallabies tighthead rates the Stormers scrum as the best in Super Rugby this year, and is expecting a ferocious battle up front when they pack down in their play-off match on Saturday.

Alexander has experienced the power of the Stormers scrum first-hand, with the Cape side dominating this area in their tight 25-24 victory over the Brumbies at Newlands earlier in the season.

He believes that while props Steven Kitshoff, Frans Malherbe and Vincent Koch have been stand-outs this season, the real strength of the Stormers scrum comes from a concerted eight-man shove.

"The Stormers scrum has been the best in the competition this year, we played well the last time we were here, we were in the contest but we didn't scrum well and that was probably the difference between winning and losing the match.

"I think they have been scrumming as an eight, they have got an Argentinian in the second row [Manuel Carizza] as well and I think he is pretty sharp.

"Those two young props have been going well for a number of years, they have just stepped it up a notch, especially big [Steven] Kitshoff he has been playing really well.

"They have got [Vincent] Koch and they have been able to share the load between him and Frans Malherbe so they are both fresh.

"It is not just one or two blokes doing a good job, it is all eight that know their role and committing to doing a great job.

"They are very well-drilled, they are obviously very strong guys and big blokes, but they are also committed to doing a great job and tactically they are pretty sound as well so they are the complete scrum," he explained.

While the Brumbies were quite unlucky to go down at Newlands last time with Christian Lealiifano missing an easy conversion late in the match, and Alexander expects the intensity to be even higher this weekend in the knock-out clash.

"Newlands is a unique atmosphere and a unique stadium, we have got a lot of guys with recent experience of what that is like.

"We had a Test match like match last time we played here which was an incredibly physical game, and we know it is going to be up a notch and the crowd is going to be even bigger and more vocal.

"I thought we defended really well the last time against the Stormers, but we let ourselves down in the scrum which was probably the winning and losing of the match," he said.

One thing that is not worrying Alexander is referee Jaco Peyper, despite the fact that the Brumbies conceded a mammoth 19 penalties the last time the teams met.

"We had Jaco [Peyper] last week and we have had him in big games before so we know what to expect. He was good last week, we had no-one to blame but ourselves.

"We know how he referees so it is up to us to adhere to what he wants.

"More often than not penalties kill you in finals footy, but the refs are very decisive and their communication has been good so we have got to make sure we listen to what they say and do what they want because finals games are always going to be close and it could come down to one kick," he added.

By Michael de Vries