The Brumbies have packed their bags and headed across the Indian Ocean to Cape Town to play the Stormers in the first week of the Super Rugby finals.
These sides are meeting for the second time this season with the Stormers getting up by one point in the previous game, also in Cape Town, where Christian Lealiifano unfortunately missed a conversion that probably would have won the game.
This week he gets a shot at redemption in what will be his 100th Super Rugby game after debuting in 2008 and in a game that is expected to be dominated by kicking by both sides, there will be no better place to do so.
The Stormers took the risk of resting 14 of their team in last weeks game against the Sharks, knowing that they could not finish any lower than third on the final ladder and came away with a loss whilst the Brumbies lost to the Crusaders at home in a game that coach Stephen Larkham said was of finals intensity that would better prepare his team for this weeks encounter.
The hosts will have to do without their inspirational captain Duane Vermeulen who has been ruled out with a neck injury but have a more than capable replacement in Nizaam Carr. They will also have Schalk Burger help to lead the way and his battle with David Pocock will be one to watch. (NB: Burger is now in doubt with a groin injury)
Pocock was in some doubt earlier in the week after suffering a head knock in the Crusaders game but he has passed his return to play protocols and his presence at the back of the Brumbies rolling maul will be crucial if they are to get the win.
In the last fixture, the Brumbies were penalised out of the game conceding 19 penalties that didn’t help their cause at all especially with sharp shooter Demetri Catrakilis able to knock them over in threes and has a 89% success rate in 2015. The Brumbies will need to have a strong scrum this time around after getting towelled up last time.
Jaco Peyper has the whistle for this game and this will be the third game in recent weeks that he has controlled that featured the Brumbies. In the Lions game it looked like they could rack up another high number of penalties but were able to adjust to his rulings and overcome five penalties against them in the fist 15 minutes.
Although the Brumbies have struggled in Cape Town where they haven’t won since 2010, they do have the advantage of being in a similar position in 2013 where they came up against the Bulls in Pretoria in 2013 and came away with a win that sent them on to the final with the majority of that squad involved in this game.
Key Match ups:
This matchup was written before it was revealed that Burger suffered a groin injury and is severe doubt of taking part in the game but has up until 1 hour before the game to be passed fit.
Pocock v Burger
Every time these two play, it is always an epic battle at the breakdown. Both sides go pretty hard at the breakdown and it will be one of the areas to gain dominance since both sides have a defensive mindset. Both Burger and Pocock bagged a try in the game earlier in the year and with Pocock in fine try scoring form, he will be looking for more against the Stormers.
Lealiifano v Catrakilis
Not only are they both sides goal kickers, they are playing fly half for their respective sides. In a game where bonus points aren’t on the line, it will come down to who can keep the pressure on the other side with pin point kicking around the field. Lealiifano has had to step up without Toomua by his side in recent weeks so he knows what is needed. Hopefully he can unleash the Brumbies back line that has probably become envious watching the forwards claim the plaudits with try after try from rolling mauls.
Nic White v The Newlands Crowd
There was a lot of talk following the last game that contained a lot of niggle off the ball from both sides with the home side fans pointing the finger at Nic White as the instigator. It will be crucial to keep the emotion in check in such an important game or the battle becomes harder with 50,000 baying for your blood and wanting you to cop a bliksem.
Fearless Prediction
The fact the Stormers suffered the blow of Vermeulen being ruled out but still had Schalk Burger had me initially thinking the home side might sneak home.
But that has been thrown out the window now the Stormers have the added problem of Burger in doubt of playing due to his groin injury and his presence around the ruck will be missed, if out.
The Brumbies will have learnt a lot from their last visit to Newlands and have the benefit of playing in front of a hostile crowd in the Republic in recent years but I doubt the game will be an open or expansive event with so much riding on it with a lot of tactical kicking but my Brumbies bias will see the Brumbies home by 6.
Stormers v Brumbies Final
 |  | 
|
| Steven Kitshoff | 1 | Scot Sio |
| Bongi Mbonambi | 2 | Stephen Moore |
| Frans Malherbe | 3 | Ben Alexander |
| Eben Etzebeth | 4 | Rory Arnold |
| Manuel Carizza | 5 | Blake Enever |
| Schalk Burger/Michael Rhodes | 6 | Scott Fardy |
| Siya Kolisi | 7 | David Pocock |
| Nizaam Carr | 8 | Ita Vaea |
| Nic Groom | 9 | Nic White |
| Demetri Catrakilis | 10 | Christian Lealiifano |
| Seabelo Senatla | 11 | Joe Tomane |
| Damian de Allende | 12 | Matt Toomua |
| Juan de Jongh | 13 | Tevita Kuridrani |
| Dillyn Leyds | 14 | Henry Speight |
| Cheslin Kolbe | 15 | Jesse Mogg |
| Reserves | ||
| Scarra Ntubeni | 16 | Josh Mann-Rea |
| Ali Vermaak | 17 | Allan Alaalatoa |
| Vincent Koch | 18 | Ruan Smith |
| Jean Kleyn | 19 | Jordan Smiler |
| Michael Rhodes/Sikhumbuzo Notshe | 20 | Jarrad Butler |
| Louis Schreuder | 21 | Michael Dowsett |
| Kurt Coleman | 22 | Nigel Ah-Wong |
| Jaco Taute | 23 | Robbie Coleman |
| Location: | Newlands, Cape Town | |
| Kickoff: | Sun 21 June 1:05 | |
| Referee: | Jaco Peyper | |
| Assistant Ref 1: | Craig Joubert | |
| Assistant Ref 2: | Jason Jaftha | |
| TMO : | Deon van Blommestein |
