Preview: Aussie matches in Round 12

Kings v. Waratahs

The Kings are undefeated against Aussie teams after three games and will want to take another scalp to show to their home crowd. They will also want to keep alive an outside chance of not finishing last in the South African Conference, so they can dodge a relegation contest.

The Waratahs will just want to correct the errors of their loss to the Bulls, so they can get their season back on track to somewhere better than where they finished up at last year.

Last week the Kings struggled against a classy Cheetahs side but at least stopped them from achieving a bonus point win.

The Waratahs’ attacking rugby enabled them to take the lead against the Bulls at just about the time when their exhaustion became noticeable, and they didn’t have too much left when the momentum shifted.

Their lineout calling and execution was poor as was their response to the long kicking game of the Bulls. Coach Michael Cheika said after the Chiefs’ game that they were not very good at game management and his team confirmed that at Loftus Versfeld.

To make matters worse their discipline, which had improved recently, deteriorated under pressure. Their goal kicking was also mediocre.

Team changes: The Kings and Waratahs change only one player from their match day 22s last week – both wingers – although the Waratahs have name a provisional eight-man bench becauseTom Kingston may not recover from an injury.

The change for the Waratahs is that Peter Betham starts instead of Kingston, who got a knock last week.

For the Kings, ace youngster Sergeal Petersen is now fit to play and runs on.

The Plans: The Kings like to kick the ball into the opponents half and rely on the other team to make mistakes, as they did successfully in Melbourne. But they may spring a surprise and try to play an expansive game because they don’t have a lot to lose.

Stephen Sykes, the Kings’ lineout sergeant, will have watched how Juandrè Kruger, his equivalent at the Bulls, humiliated the Sydney team last week. Sykes will have his troops targeting this weak point of the Waratahs also.

The Matchups: The set pieces should be a match in that they may offset each other; the Tahs should have the better scrum and the Kings a better lineout. But there should be some personal battles between Andries Strauss and Ronnie Cooke of the Kings midfield, against Rob Horne and Adam Ashley Cooper of the Tahs.

Opponent to watch out for: The Kings’ scrummie Shaun Venter is an electric runner – remember his individual try against the Rebels?

Prediction: The Kings have been playing in the manner of the Bulls and have a flyhalf in Catrakilis who is a kickmeister like Steyn. If they keep playing the same kind of game, after all, they will trouble the Waratahs.

But at sea level the visitors to improve their lineout and score a few tries – the Waratahs by 8.

Brumbies v. Crusaders

This should be one of the big games of the season. The Brumbies are at the top of the Australian Conference and have the Reds sniffing at their heels, whereas the Crusaders are in third place in the NZ Conference and want to do the sniffing.

Last week the Brumbies blitzed the Force in the first half and were comfortable winners after easing off when their opponents settled down after oranges.

The Crusaders put on two tries and scored twelve points in as many minutes after the kick-off, but the lowly ranked Rebels team buckled down by scoring three tries to two and nearly stole the match.

The Crusaders defence was poor against the visitors who offloaded and and made running metres easily.

Team changes: The Brumbies start the same backline as last week and it’s the same for the second row and backrow though Ben Mowen swaps jerseys with Fotu Auelua.  The props are rotated again with Ben Alexander returning to the LHP side, Dan Palmer starting at THP and Scott Sio becoing a reserve.

For the Crusaders: Israel Dagg is demoted to the bench whilst centre Robbie Freuen returns to his usual spot. To accommodate these changes, Tom Taylor moves from 12 to 15, and Ryan Crotty from 13 to 12. First-five Dan Carter starts in his first game since Round 6.

Scrummie Andy Ellis returns to the run-on side after Wlli Heinz commenced the game last week.

In the forwards LHP Wyatt Crockett starts after having a rest on the bench against the Rebels.

The Plans: The Brumbies will play their South African type game of playing in the Crusaders’ half and pouncing on errors.

The Crusaders will not run the ball out of their own half as often as they usually do, especially with Taylor replacing Dagg at fullback, because they aren’t doing it very well these days.

The Matchups: The Crusaders should win the battle of the lineouts with Luke Romano and Sam Whitelock catching a bit of the Brumbies’ ball and most of their own, but how will the scrum contest go?

Opponent to watch out for: Henry Speight will defend his touchline better than the Force right winger did in Christchurch, but he will still have to watch Zac Guildford. The problem boy of NZ rugby had no decent form since returning from injury, but was dangerous last week.

Prediction: Everybody knows how deadly the ‘Saders are in transition after they snatch up turnover ball but the Brumbies are good defusers in that situation.

The Brumbies are turning their home ground back to the fortress it used to be; so – Brumbies by 5.

Team Lists

The team lists for all Super Rugby matches in Round 12 can be seen here.