Vodacom Super Rugby Preview – Round 16
Two South African derbies are on the cards – in Cape Town the DHL Stormers host the MTN Lions, while the Toyota Cheetahs travel to Pretoria to face the Vodacom Bulls as they chase their best ever Vodacom Super Rugby season.
The DHL Stormers and the Vodacom Bulls have not lost to their respective opponents for this weekend since the Cats disbanded to form the MTN Lions and the Toyota Cheetahs at the end of the 2005 competition.
Springbok midfielder Wynand Olivier will earn his 100th Vodacom Super Rugby cap, all in the blue of the Vodacom Bulls.
Furthermore, Morné Steyn will be chasing 200 points for 2012 at Loftus Versfeld, while three players in action at DHL Newlands, Joe Pietersen, Peter Grant and Elton Jantjies, will have a century of Vodacom Super Rugby points in their sights on Saturday.
Note: For all the South African team announcements, fixtures, results, logs, live score updates, top points and try scorers as well as and match summaries, click here.
DHL Stormers v MTN Lions
The DHL Stormers will be looking to build on their brilliant Vodacom Super Rugby victory in Pretoria before the break when they host the MTN Lions at DHL Newlands in Cape Town on Saturday afternoon.
But the MTN Lions will also be heading into this match on the back of a win, as they beat The Sharks for only their second victory of the 2012 season at Coca-Cola Park during Round 15 early in June.
However, the MTN Lions will have to turn around an unflattering record against the DHL Stormers – the men from Johannesburg have never beaten their Cape counterparts in Vodacom Super Rugby. The closest they got was last year at DHL Newlands when the DHL Stormers won 19-16 despite being outscored by two tries to one.
Peter Grant and Elton Jantjies featured on the score sheet that day and on Saturday the two respective flyhalves can make it to 100 Vodacom Super Rugby series points, along with DHL Stormers fullback Joe Pietersen.
Pietersen is the closest to the century mark on 97 points in 2012, while Grant needs six points (he is on 94) and Jantjies eight (on 92) to pass 100 points for the season.
And even though the MTN Lions are reeling after a turbulent season, DHL Stormers captain Jean de Villiers, who will also lead the Springboks for the remainder of the season, knows where his team’s focus should be as the playoffs loom.
“The Lions have a lot to play for, but we are playing for something bigger,” said De Villiers.
“As long as the hunger and desire is there to win the tournament, we’ll do well. We are playing for something special and that will make Saturday a great challenge.”
Former Springbok lock Johan Ackermann, now the MTN Lions’ acting head coach, realises his team faces a tough trip to Cape Town.
“There is a feeling we need to keep things straight and simple, and that the players are comfortable with the game plan,” said Ackermann.
“On Saturday, it will be more a question of how well we execute our game plan. We know it will take an 80 minute effort. We need to be mentally strong this weekend.”
Head to head (since 2006)
| DHL Stormers | MTN Lions | |
| 8 | Won | 0 |
| 0 | Lost | 8 |
| 0 | Drawn | 0 |
| 233 | Points for | 118 |
| 118 | Points against | 233 |
| 24 | Tries scored | 10 |
| 10 | Tries conceded | 24 |
DHL Stormers v MTN Lions
Date: 30 June
SA Time: 17:05
Venue: DHL Newlands, Cape Town
Referee: Mark Lawrence (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Francisco Pastrana (Argentina), Jason Jaftha (South Africa)
Television match official: Gerrie Coetzee (South Africa)
Vodacom Bulls v Toyota Cheetahs
Wynand Olivier will become the 15th South African player to reach 100 Vodacom Super Rugby caps this weekend when the Vodacom Bulls host the Toyota Cheetahs at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday evening.
Olivier will add his name to those of Bryan Habana, Morné Steyn and Jacques Botes, who have all reached a century of Vodacom Super Rugby in 2012.
Furthermore Steyn, the top points’ scorer in two of the last three seasons, can become the first player in 2012 to reach 200 competition points – he is currently on 193 points for the season and a converted try will push him past the double century (provided he scores and converts it himself).
And while Steyn and Olivier will provide the bulk of the experience for the home team, the visitors will travel to Pretoria with two debutants in their pack – prop Marcel van der Merwe and flank Lappies Labuschagne will both get their first taste of Vodacom Super Rugby at Loftus.
Nine of the Vodacom Bulls’ players played in the recent series against England while four more were part of the squad but never got any game time.
“We are lucky to have all our players back from international duty injury free and ready to go,” said Vodacom Bulls coach Frans Ludeke.
“The series win against England will do wonders for their confidence, while those not involved with the Boks are refreshed and ready to go. Our Springboks are not international players for nothing, they have the mental strength to recover quickly from disappointing performances.”
Thus far, the Toyota Cheetahs have won five of their 13 matches this season – the same as in 2007, 2010 and 2011 – meaning one more win will make 2012 their best ever season.
Naka Drotske, whose Toyota Cheetahs team will be hoping to win their first ever Vodacom Super Rugby match against the Vodacom Bulls this weekend, said his team is ready for the challenge.
“We’re very excited to be going to Pretoria,” said Drotske.
“Only two of our players were involved with the Boks recently and the rest of the squad prepared well and also got some necessary rest. We need one win to make it our best season yet and we’re very motivated to go to Loftus and do well.”
Head to head (since 2006)
|
Vodacom Bulls |
Toyota Cheetahs | |
| 8 | Won | 0 |
| 0 | Lost | 8 |
| 0 | Drawn | 0 |
| 302 | Points for | 175 |
| 175 | Points against | 302 |
| 38 | Tries scored | 20 |
| 20 | Tries conceded | 38 |
Vodacom Bulls v Toyota Cheetahs
Date: 30 June
SA Time: 19:10
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Referee: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Sindile Mayende (South Africa), Cobus Wessels (South Africa)
Television match official: Johann Meuwesen (South Africa)
Other fixtures (SA times):
Friday, June 29
09:35: Highlanders v Chiefs (Dunedin)
11:40: Rebels v Reds (Melbourne)
Saturday, June 30
09:35: Crusaders v Hurricanes (Christchurch)
11:40: Force v Brumbies (Perth)
Byes: The Sharks, Blues, Waratahs
Vodacom Super Rugby Logs:
Combined Log
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | BPts | Pts |
| 1 | Chiefs (NS leader) | 13 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 371 | 281 | 90 | 40 | 22 | 6 | 58 |
| 2 | DHL Stormers (SA leader) | 13 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 284 | 210 | 74 | 22 | 16 | 2 | 54 |
| 3 | Brumbies (Aus leader) | 13 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 341 | 269 | 72 | 35 | 23 | 9 | 49 |
| 4 | Crusaders (Wild card) | 13 | 9 | 0 | 4 | 397 | 275 | 122 | 39 | 27 | 7 | 51 |
| 5 | Vodacom Bulls (Wild card) | 13 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 385 | 293 | 92 | 39 | 28 | 9 | 49 |
| 6 | Hurricanes (Wild card) | 14 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 438 | 382 | 56 | 53 | 35 | 9 | 45 |
| 7 | The Sharks | 14 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 370 | 323 | 47 | 39 | 30 | 9 | 45 |
| 8 | Highlanders | 14 | 9 | 0 | 5 | 325 | 339 | -14 | 32 | 28 | 4 | 44 |
| 9 | Reds | 13 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 276 | 301 | -25 | 28 | 30 | 4 | 44 |
| 10 | Toyota Cheetahs | 13 | 5 | 0 | 8 | 346 | 371 | -25 | 31 | 36 | 8 | 36 |
| 11 | Waratahs | 14 | 4 | 0 | 10 | 315 | 356 | -41 | 29 | 37 | 10 | 30 |
| 12 | Rebels | 13 | 4 | 0 | 9 | 292 | 425 | -133 | 28 | 49 | 5 | 29 |
| 13 | Force | 13 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 256 | 342 | -86 | 24 | 37 | 7 | 27 |
| 14 | MTN Lions | 13 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 243 | 364 | -121 | 22 | 41 | 4 | 20 |
| 15 | Blues | 14 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 297 | 405 | -108 | 27 | 49 | 7 | 19 |
South African Conference
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | BPts | Pts |
| 1 | DHL Stormers | 13 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 284 | 210 | 74 | 22 | 16 | 2 | 54 |
| 2 | Vodacom Bulls | 13 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 385 | 293 | 92 | 39 | 28 | 9 | 49 |
| 3 | The Sharks | 14 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 370 | 323 | 47 | 39 | 30 | 9 | 45 |
| 4 | Toyota Cheetahs | 13 | 5 | 0 | 8 | 346 | 371 | -25 | 31 | 36 | 8 | 36 |
| 5 | MTN Lions | 13 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 243 | 364 | -121 | 22 | 41 | 4 | 20 |
New Zealand Conference
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | BPts | Pts |
| 1 | Chiefs | 13 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 371 | 281 | 90 | 40 | 22 | 6 | 58 |
| 2 | Crusaders | 13 | 9 | 0 | 4 | 397 | 275 | 122 | 39 | 27 | 7 | 51 |
| 3 | Hurricanes | 14 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 438 | 382 | 56 | 53 | 35 | 9 | 45 |
| 4 | Highlanders | 14 | 9 | 0 | 5 | 325 | 339 | -14 | 32 | 28 | 4 | 44 |
| 5 | Blues | 14 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 297 | 405 | -108 | 27 | 49 | 7 | 19 |
Australian Conference
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | BPts | Pts |
| 1 | Brumbies | 13 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 341 | 269 | 72 | 35 | 23 | 9 | 49 |
| 2 | Reds | 13 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 276 | 301 | -25 | 28 | 30 | 4 | 44 |
| 3 | Waratahs | 14 | 4 | 0 | 10 | 315 | 356 | -41 | 29 | 37 | 10 | 30 |
| 4 | Rebels | 13 | 4 | 0 | 9 | 292 | 425 | -133 | 28 | 49 | 5 | 29 |
| 5 | Force | 13 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 256 | 342 | -86 | 24 | 37 | 7 | 27 |
Top points’ scorers:
| Player | Team | Tries | Conv | Pen | Drops | Tot |
| Morné Steyn | Vodacom Bulls | 1 | 28 | 41 | 3 | 193 |
| Aaron Cruden | Chiefs | 2 | 33 | 35 | 0 | 181 |
| Beauden Barrett | Hurricanes | 2 | 31 | 33 | 0 | 171 |
| Johan Goosen | Toyota Cheetahs | 3 | 17 | 31 | 1 | 145 |
| Patrick Lambie | Sharks | 1 | 20 | 32 | 0 | 141 |
| Tom Taylor | Crusaders | 1 | 14 | 30 | 0 | 123 |
| Mike Harris | Reds | 0 | 15 | 26 | 1 | 111 |
| Christian Lealiifano | Brumbies | 0 | 17 | 25 | 0 | 109 |
| Gareth Anscombe | Blues | 2 | 13 | 21 | 1 | 102 |
| Joe Pietersen | DHL Stormers | 2 | 6 | 25 | 0 | 97 |
| Peter Grant | DHL Stormers | 2 | 9 | 22 | 0 | 94 |
| Brendan McKibbin | Waratahs | 1 | 16 | 19 | 0 | 94 |
| Elton Jantjies | MTN Lions | 0 | 13 | 22 | 0 | 92 |
| David Harvey | Force | 1 | 11 | 20 | 0 | 87 |
| James O`Connor | Rebels | 2 | 6 | 20 | 0 | 82 |
| Chris Noakes | Highlanders | 2 | 14 | 13 | 0 | 77 |
| Lachie Munro | Blues | 3 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 56 |
| André Taylor | Hurricanes | 10 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 55 |
| Mike Delany | Highlanders | 0 | 3 | 16 | 0 | 54 |
| James Stannard | Force | 3 | 3 | 10 | 0 | 51 |
