The Tahs appear to have their mojo back, but they will need to be at their best to beat the Stormers, who currently top the SA conference.
Confidence is up in the Tah’s camp after last week’s comprehensive win over the Force. The 49 points amassed was the most they’ve scored against an Australian team in Super Rugby and they executed their attack with a level of sustained precision not seen all season.
But the Force had lost five on the trot going in to last week’s clash, while the Stormers are in second place overall and Newlands is a notoriously hostile place for visiting sides.
While the Tahs beat the Stormers in their last clash in Cape Town, in 2014, you have to go back to 2006 to find the last time NSW were victorious at Newlands. Furthermore, the Stormers have won 16 and drawn one of their last 21 Super Rugby matches on home soil against Australian teams.
Can the Tahs win? Yes they can. But they will need to get off to a good start. The Stormers have the best opening quarter points differential, having scored 45 more points than they have conceded in the first 20 minutes of games so far this season.
TEAM NEWS
Waratahs
- Dean Mumm replaces Jack Dempsey (shoulder injury) at blindside flanker and Sam Lousi joins the bench.
- Israel Folau, who last week broke Lote Tuqiri’s Waratah try-scoring record has been retained at outside centre.
- Dave Dennis will play his 100th Super Rugby match for the Tahs. Big congrats.
Stormers
- Co-captains Juan de Jongh (outside centre) and Frans Malherbe (tighthead prop) return this week from concussion/illness.
- Schalk Burger will start at No.8, Nizaam Carr shifts to blindside flanker and Siya Kolisi moves to the bench.
- In the front row, JC Janse van Rensburg will start at loosehead prop, with Oliver Keeble now a replacement.
Waratahs stalwart, Dave Dennis, will play 100th Tahs game
KEY MATCH-UPS
Schalk Burger v Jed Holloway
Any idea that Jed Holloway might be in line for higher honours in the future will be tested again this week, when he faces Schalk Burger. They are of similar height and weight and both are powerful ball runners. But Burger is one of the more fearless and competitive backrowers in the game and Holloway well need to show similar traits if he is to get the better of his opponent and continue to press for an eventual Wallaby jersey. A genuine old bull v young bull clash.
Israel Folau v Juan De Jongh
Folau, at 1.93m and 103kg faces off against De Jongh at 1.75m and 88kg. If size were the only factor, then Folau has a big opportunity to improve his attacking stats even further. He currently sits in the top ten in the comp for carries, metres gained and defenders beaten. But he still has a lot to learn in the 13 jersey and De Jongh has the footwork to test Folau’s defense in one-on-one clashes.
Andrew Kellaway v Cheslin Kolbe
Both are Super Rugby rookies, with Kellaway about to play his third match as a starter and Kolbe his eighth. Both are also recent stars at the under 20s level and have the potential to really ignite a game with their speed and footwork. Kellaway has been particularly impressive in his last two matches with astute field positioning and clever running lines leading to tries to Israel Folau.
FEARLESS PREDICTION
The Tahs to get off to a flyer, followed by a second half comeback from the locals.
Stormers to win by 7.
THE TEAMS
[one_half last=”no”]
Waratahs
1. Paddy Ryan
2. Hugh Roach
3. Tom Robertson
4. David Dennis (VC)
5. Will Skelton
6. Dean Mumm
7. Michael Hooper (C)
8. Jed Holloway
9. Nick Phipps
10. Bernard Foley
11. Rob Horne
12. Kurtley Beale
13. Israel Folau
14. Reece Robinson
15. Andrew Kellaway
Replacements
16. Tatafu Polota-Nau
17. Jeremy Tilse
18. Angus Ta’avao
19. Sam Lousi
20. Wycliff Palu
21. Matt Lucas
22. David Horwitz
23. Matt Carraro
[/one_half]
[one_half last=”yes”]
Stormers
1. JC Janse van Rensburg
2. Bongi Mbonambi
3. Frans Malherbe (co-captain)
4. Rynhardt Elstadt
5. Pieter-Steph du Toit
6. Nizaam Carr
7. Sikhumbuzo Notshe
8. Schalk Burger
9. Nic Groom
10. Jean-Luc du Plessis
11. Leolin Zas
12. Damian de Allende
13. Juan de Jongh (co-captain)
14. Kobus van Wyk
15. Cheslin Kolbe
Replacements
16. Scarra Ntubeni
17. Oli Kebble
18. Vincent Koch
19. JD Schickerling
20. Siya Kolisi
21. Louis Schreuder
22. Brandon Thomson
23. Huw Jones
[/one_half]
THE DETAILS
Date: Saturday, 30 April 2016
Time: 7.15pm (local time), 3.15am (AEST)
Venue: Newlands Stadium, Cape Town
Referee: Mike Fraser
AR: Paul Williams and Cwengile Jadesweni
TMO: Shaun Veldsman
Statistics courtesy of Opta Sports
