The run home: the comp gets serious

[Groucho]

The Stormes should beat the Bulls in Cape Town really. They will be pissed off.

The Bulls play their semi (and final if they win) in Soweto. Loftus is now poofball territory.

Whilst it is obviously a setback for them to not be at Loftus, it is obviously alien territory for any overseas visitors (trust me). In a way it is a wonderful occasion - a bid rugby game being played in Soweto.

I'd love to go back 20 years in Pretoria and see the reaction if people were told that "Vilk, oor twintig jaar speel die Bulle 'n groot game in Soweto." ("My people, in twenty years time the Bulls will play a big game in Soweto").

I think its a great thing.

Fans like to imagine that their team will be 'pissed off' after a loss, and therefore win the next game, but by far the more common result is a further loss. This is because rugby is a game of content, form and skill, more than emotion.

 

[Blue]

Fans like to imagine that their team will be 'pissed off' after a loss, and therefore win the next game, but by far the more common result is a further loss. This is because rugby is a game of content, form and skill, more than emotion.

I am not a Stormer's fan. I want the Bulls to win.

The reason they will be pissed is becuase they had their own destiny in their hands in Durban and simply did not pitch up. They got hammered in the forwards and made a ton of errors.

I get your point but I back them to bounce back at home in Cape Town because of what's at stake.

The standards they seem to have set for themselves suggests to me they will produce a win (and they have bounced back from a loss every time this year)

 

[Langthorne]

I am looking forward to these matches.

Although the Stormers will want the win, I think the Bulls will want it too as they won't want their potential finals opponent to have anything over them.

I didn't realise the Bulls were playing at Soweto instead of their home ground - this is a good thing for their opponents (certainly better than playing them in Pretoria).

 

[PaarlBok]

Stormers vs Bulls , you never get them bigger, its going to be tough, its going to be brutal, its going to be passionate, its going to be intensive, its going to be north vs south and its going to be make or break for the Stormers. To summarise its going to be the biggest SA rivalry, no wonder it was a sell out within a day for Newlands.

Thankfull we,ll know exactly what needs to be done to get a home semi, a win at the moment but i think the Stormers is the last team the Brutes want to meet in Soweto.

 

[Biffo]

Stormers vs Bulls , you never get them bigger, its going to be tough, its going to be brutal, its going to be passionate, its going to be intensive, its going to be north vs south and its going to be make or break for the Stormers. To summarise its going to be the biggest SA rivalry, no wonder it was a sell out within a day for Newlands.

Thankfull we,ll know exactly what needs to be done to get a home semi, a win at the moment but i think the Stormers is the last team the Brutes want to meet in Soweto.

All of that, Mate.

Can you please excuse those of us "neutrals" who cheer for maximum damage on both sides?

 

[Spook]

I wonder if the Bulls will play a B side.

 

[Scotty]

The Reds are virtually no possibility of making the four. Mathematically there is only one way they could make it. They would have to win with a bonus point and the Stormers lose without any bonus points, plus they would have to make up the 90 points difference advantage that the Stormers hold over them.

The long shot for the Reds would be the Brumbies and Saders having a draw.

 

[Lindommer]

The Reds are virtually no possibility of making the four. Mathematically there is only one way they could make it. They'd have to win with a bonus point and the Stormers lose without any bonus points, plus they would have to make up the 90 points difference advantage that the Stormers hold over them.

The long shot for the Reds would be the Brumbies and Saders having a draw.

But the Brumbies would finish on 39 points which the Reds COULD match with a bonus point win. However, the Ponies for/against is 29 points better. I've looked at this upside down, sideways and inside out and I just can't see the Reds making it; too many stars have to align. And too many injuries have cruelled the Reds' marvellous season. A good win in the final home game would be just deserts for their wonderful fans.

 

[Ruggo]

Should that draw happen, 29 points is not an impossible task. They will go into the game knowing exactly what needs to be done. We have the ability to put on a 29 point victory if required. Clutching at straws I know but as long as there's the slightest chance, I'm keeping the faith.

 

[Blue]

I wonder if the Bulls will play a B side.

Like Paarl said its the biggest SA rivalry with so much at stake. They canlt let the Stormers beat them now and they have made it clear all season that they want momentum with the same players so no.

 

[Spook]

I wonder if the Bulls will play a B side.

Like Paarl said its the biggest SA rivalry with so much at stake. They canlt let the Stormers beat them now and they have made it clear all season that they want momentum with the same players so no.

I hope they don't. It should be a great game. What's the stadium like in Soweto?

 

[Scotty]

If the Bulls win, then they are likely to be playing the Stormers in the first week of the finals.

Is it in their best interest to have the Stormers in 2nd place, rather than 4th?

 

[rustycruiser]

I wonder if the Bulls will play a B side.

Like Paarl said its the biggest SA rivalry with so much at stake. They canlt let the Stormers beat them now and they have made it clear all season that they want momentum with the same players so no.

I hope they don't. It should be a great game. What's the stadium like in Soweto?

 

[Spook]

Thanks Rusty. Looks effing huge.

 

[Scotty]

I reckon we will have a top 4 of:

Bulls
Stormers
Tahs
Saders

 

[rustycruiser]

It hold around 40K, so down 12K versus Loftus. It was completed in 2008, and will only serve as a training venue for the Soccer World Cup, hence it's availability.

 

[Blue]

It hold around 40K, so down 12K versus Loftus. It was completed in 2008, and will only serve as a training venue for the Soccer World Cup, hence it's availability.

Ah ok so its new. I thought it was the old stadium that's actually in Orlando. Would have been a nice shaking up for a visiting tam to ake a drive through Sweto to Orlando

This looks like its right off a motorway.

Man, I would have loved to have been here to see the look on the local's faces when the fat boere arrive all brandie and coked up with their bull horns :lmao:

 

[rustycruiser]

This stadium is on the site of the old one. Playing a Super match there would have been taking the piss. Old stadium:

 

[rustycruiser]

Google map link of where the stadium is. Pretty close to Soccer City.

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=&ie=...2454,27.919693&spn=0.020749,0.054932&t=k&z=15

 

[Lindommer]

The make up of the four finalists is all down to the last week. Well done, SANZAR. We have 3 v 5 on Friday followed by 6 v 4 on Saturday and finishing up with 2 v 1 on Sunday morning. For the sake of reality I'm leaving the Reds out of finals calculations; there's more chance of Lord Lucan returning, the Pope allowing priests to marry or me riding Shergar in the Melbourne Cup. Or style and sophistication breaking out in Brisbane! Consider if many universes align and the Reds do scrape into 4: a trip across the Indian Ocean with a depleted squad just to cop another almighty shellacking from the Brutes a la 2007. Not good for their 2011 mojo.

The Bulls and Tahs seem to have a semblance of form up their sleeves while the Brumbies and Canes have both competently dispatched the resurgent Reds in tough matches. If all three home teams win the four will be Bulls/Stormers/Tahs/Saders. But the Bulls will desparately want to put a win over the Stormers and yield a travel-weary ANZAC team for their semi while the Canes have built up a head of steam at the right end of the season. The Saders look to be the most vulnerable with their horrific travel schedule and a Brumbies side hitting their straps with a (nearly) full squad. Who's missing of note, only Kimlin, Lealiifano and Mortlock? However, this match is in Christchurch, a fortress for the Saders for the last how many years. Three absolutely fascinating matches, all three could go either way.

My prediction: Bulls, Stormers, Tahs, Brumbies.