URC, Round 12 - Teams and Predictions

LOCAL SUPREMACY: It’s another Saturday of local derbies in South Africa with the Stormers currently sitting at the top of the South African Shield conference by two points.

The Capetonians will look to cap an impressive sequence of games against the rated Bulls and Sharks teams by winning against the Lions in Johannesburg in the earlier of the two games.

The Bulls and the Sharks square up in Pretoria in the late game.

After a draw and a defeat to the Stormers, the Durbanites will be looking to prove some doubters wrong at Loftus Versfeld against Jake White’s side.

“It’s a massive opportunity for us,” said Sharks head coach Sean Everitt. “When you look at the game at Kings Park [Sharks won 30-16 in December], you mustn’t forget that the Bulls were lacking personnel in the front row and sometimes you got to be realistic.

“Not taking anything away from our boys, our set-piece functioned really well and it did lay the foundation for a good win.

“We have done the Highveld thing before. Three weeks ago, we were able to put in an 80-minute performance against the Lions to put them away and likewise, we have done it before in the Currie Cup.

“I think it is a matter of starting well and really being motivated on the day and once again if players play well, I don’t think it [altitude] will be a factor. ”

Everitt believes that the Stormers’ win over the Bulls in Pretoria a few weeks ago is proof that altitude isn’t much of a factor for the coastal teams anymore.

“It’s a mental thing,” he added. “I think what gave us the world of confidence, and I know we talk about it all the time, but 12 months ago we went up there and played for 100 minutes [in the Currie Cup Final] at altitude and unfortunately our set-piece cost us at the death of that game and maybe some goalkicking.

“We were very competitive and probably should have won that game at 80 [minutes] had we been accurate in our execution, so I think that gave the team confidence.

“We don’t talk about it [altitude] anymore. They [Stormers] had a good win at Loftus two weeks ago and that would have given them confidence that they can cope with whatever intensity comes their way.”

Meanwhile White doesn’t agree with that view.

“Well, I think most international sports stars go and train at altitude before the Olympic Games so who knows maybe they will go start at sea level if it’s not that important,” said White.

“They [Sharks] are one team that kick a lot and they are a team that play very slowly. The rest they have in between plays in longer than any other team we’ve played against in the URC.

“I would be very happy if they play quickly. Having coached a long time I can tell you that altitude does play a significant role and that is why top sportsmen go to altitude before they go to the Olympic Games.

“If Dobbo [Stormers head coach John Dobson] and Sean [Everitt] think that they can bypass what science has proved over the last 100 years, well good luck.”

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Ellis Park battle

The Stormers are expecting to face a “desperate” Lions team in Johannesburg in the early game on Saturday.

The Lions currently prop up the South African Shield, with just two victories from eight starts.

They have lost their last three games in the competition since beating the Stormers in Cape Town on December 4.

“It’s another big scrum battle. We saw how they [Lions] attacked the Bulls in the scrum. They are very much a scrum heavy team,” said Dobson.

“We know how they like to play at Ellis Park with high ball in play and ball-in-hand tempo game. Those will be their threats and the third being how well they kick distance up there.

“Also, their desperation. There is nothing more dangerous in rugby than a team that is desperate. We saw what happened at Cape Town Stadium [19-37 defeat].

“I think those stats from the Bulls game at Loftus was very similar to our one. I think the Bulls were in the mid-sixties in terms of territory and possession and the score was only 21-13, so that is a team that is really fighting.”

Lions head coach Ivan van Rooyen summed up his team’s performances over the last few weeks.

“We were excellent patches against the Sharks [37-47 defeat] and over the 80 minutes we probably weren’t consistent enough,” said Van Rooyen. “Everyone knows we are not happy with the performance against the Bulls here [10-34 defeat].

“I think apart from probably two or three vital instances in the second game against the Bulls [13-21 defeat], I think we were a lot better. Where we are as a team, there is a lot of growth and a lot of reflection.

“There is a lot of honesty on where we are and where we need to improve and there is a massive hunger from the guys to improve and keep on working hard.

“We had a very good week in terms of preparation. It was a tough week, a little bit shorter. It’s our fourth game in a row.

“The guys are mentally fresh and excited. That is in a nutshell where we are currently.”

We bring you all the Saturday teams and predictions!

Saturday, February 12:

Lions v Stormers
(Ellis Park, Johannesburg – Kick-off: 15.00; 13.00 GMT)

Prediction

@rugby365com: Stormers by three points.

Teams:

Lions: 15 EW Viljoen, 14 Stean Pienaar, 13 Manuel Rass, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Tiaan Swanepoel, 9 Andre Warner, 8 Francke Horn, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Jaco Kriel (captain), 5 Ruben Schoeman, 4 Ruhan Straeuli, 3 Carlu Sadie, 2 PJ Botha, 1 Ruan Dreyer.
Replacements: 16 Jaco Visagie, 17 JP Smith, 18 Jannie du Plessis, 19 Ruan Venter, 20 Emmanuel Tshituka, 21 Morne van den Berg, 22 Jordan Hendrikse, 23 Wandisile Simelane.

Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Damian Willemse, 11 Seabelo Senatla, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Paul de Wet, 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Ernst van Rhyn, 6 Deon Fourie, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Adre Smith, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Siyabonga Ntubeni, 1 Steven Kitshoff (captain).
Replacements: 16 Andre-Hugo Venter, 17 Leon Lyons, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 David Meihuizen, 20 Marcel Theunissen, 21 Herschel Jantjies, 22 Dan du Plessis, 23 Angelo Davids.

Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen
Assistant referees: Aimee Barret-Theron, Paul Mente
TMO: Marius Jonker

Bulls v Sharks
(Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria – Kick-off: 17.05; 15.05 GMT)

Prediction

@rugby365com: Sharks by five points.

Teams:

Bulls: 15 David Kriel, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Madosh Tambwe, 10 Morne Steyn, 9 Zak Burger, 8 Elrigh Louw, 7 Arno Botha, 6 Marcell Coetzee (captain), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Walt Steenkamp, 3 Jacques van Rooyen, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Replacements: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Robert Hunt, 19 Janko Swanepoel, 20 Muller Uys, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Chris Smith, 23 Canan Moodie.

Sharks: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Sibusiso Nkosi, 13 Lukhanyo Am (captain), 12 Marius Louw, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Joaquín Díaz Bonilla, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Phepsi Buthelezi, 7 Henco Venter, 6 Siyamthanda Kolisi, 5 Hyron Andrews, 4 Gerbrandt Grobler, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Mbongeni Mbonambi, 1 Retshegofaditswe Nché
Replacements: 16 Kerron van Vuuren, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Khutha Mchunu, 19 Ruben van Heerden, 20 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 21 Grant Williams, 22 Curwin Bosch, 23 Werner Kok.

Referee: AJ Jacobs
Assistant Referees: Rasta Rasivhenge, Griffin Colby
TMO: Quinton Immelman

@rugby365com