VENUE & TIME: Newlands, Cape Town, Saturday March 20, 17.05 local (Sunday 04.05 NZT).
HEAD TO HEAD: Played 4 – Stormers 2, Cheetahs 2.
LAST TIME: May 16, 2009 (Bloemfontein) – Cheetahs 22-28 Stormers.
LAST TIME AT VENUE: April 12, 2008 – Stormers 34-22 Cheetahs.
WALKING WOUNDED: The Stormers emerged from the Hurricanes match with few problems; the only rugby-related one was Juan de Jongh’s elbow which will see him miss at least two weeks. Reserve flyhalf Lionel Cronje was involved in a nightclub scuffle after the match and he has been stood down for two weeks as well. Heinrich Brussow is gone for the year, a loss the Cheetahs will battle to overcome as he is one of the best opensides in the game. Lineout star David de Villiers injured a shoulder at midweek training and he is out for an indefinite period, as surgery is required. Forward coach Barend Pieterse, a fine player in his own right, has returned to the squad as cover. The Cheetahs are also without fullback Riaan Viljoen, suspended for a breach of team protocol.
FORM:
PAST FIVE Stormers:
Round 1: Beat Lions 26-13
Round 2: Beat Waratahs 27-6
Round 3: Lost to Brumbies 17-19
Round 4: Beat Highlanders 33-0
Round 5: Beat Hurricanes 37-13
PAST FIVE Cheetahs:
Round 1: Lost to Bulls 34-51
Round 2: Beat Sharks 25-20
Round 3: Lost to Highlanders 24-31
Round 4: Beat Hurricanes 28-12
Round 5: Bye
Apart from that careless loss to the Brumbies the Stormers are travelling very nicely and, in the last two weeks, have made it quite clear they’re serious top four material. A big pack is playing with vigour we haven’t seen for years in a Stormers team and the backs are making good use of the possession and territory hard-earned by the large clunkers up front. On top of a decent attack, the Stormers can boast what is by far the best defence in the whole competition; their four tries and 51 points conceded are both half the next best by any team (the Crusaders) and the thing opponents have to find a way to overcome. The Cheetahs have been on a lose-one, win-one run while scoring a few points and giving up a few as well. They are having trouble scoring tries – not good when confronted by the Stormers defence – but are forcing a lot of penalties and the 21 they have kicked so far is a competition-leading number despite having played only four matches. That said, they won’t beat the Stormers in instalments of three and must find something more in attack this week if they’re to have any real chance.
WHO'S HOT: Most Stormers players are travelling nicely at present but two whose recent performance lifts have contributed greatly to the team’s overall effectiveness are Jaque Fourie and Sireli Naqelevuki. While Fourie has long been recognised as a world-class performer the big Fijian wing has previously shown a tendency to drift through games at times but his recent displays have been far more powerful. Up front the big names are delivering on a weekly basis but unsung front-rowers Wickus Blaauw, Tiaan Liebenberg and Brok Harris are all doing a sterling job. The Cheetahs will ask a lot of veteran lock Nico Breedt in this match as he takes on the big Stormers