Super 15: Chiefs - Stormers in Hamilton (14-05-2011)

[TRF_Ezequiel]

In Hamilton the 2 latest losing finalists will meet. While the Stormers had a small chance of winning it in 2010, the Chiefs recorded the biggest loss ever in a Super Rugby final a year before. While the Chiefs have fallen back, the Stormers managed to develop even further, making them a serious contender this year again. Leading the South African conference, the Cape Town side has managed to beat the Sharks and Bulls but they seem to lack the experience to beat the foreign contenders with losses against the Reds and Crusaders (both at home). Now they travel overseas for the first time and with the Sharks coming up behind them, they have to win on their tour to stay top of the log. with Habana, de Villiers, Aplon, Jantjes, Fourie, Vermeulen, Burger, Bekker and Grant they have a bunch of talent.

The Chiefs, a side that also managed to beat the Sharks this year, are a team difficult to predict. They beat the Highlanders, lost to the Brumbies. Nobody can say what they will do in a match. A massive backline with Sivivatu, Muliaina, the ever popular Stephen Donald and of course Lelia Masaga is a threat in any match but it doesn't seem to get them anywhere this season. At home they are much stronger and that is where it gets tricky for the opponent. Can they beat the Stormers?

Last year the stormers crashed the Chiefs 15-49, while 2 years earlier they won 26-35. The win in 2008 was their first in Hamilton since 2002. The Chiefs are already eyeing next season while the stormers want to win the cup. What will that bring?



2010 Chiefs 15-49 Stormers
2009 Stormers 14-28 Chiefs
2008 Chiefs 26-35 Stormers
2007 Stormers 21-16 Chiefs
2006 Chiefs 30-20 Stormers
2005 Stormers 34-37 Chiefs
2004 Chiefs 29-14 Stormers
2003 Stormers 24-23 Chiefs
2002 Chiefs 33-45 Stormers

 

[Amobokoboko]

Chiefs have the home advantage, altho this doesn't mean anything. They can win it.
P.S. would you be so kind not to mention the big big loss in the S14 final in every chiefs topic you start ;-)

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

haha, it's part of the story between them and the opponents in the recent games (Bulls and Stormers)

 

[Amobokoboko]

Then you should also mention that the Sharks lost 3 finals when they play the Blues, Bulls and Brumbies

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Nooo, too painful for the writer

 

[Amobokoboko]

Hahaha, blame wikipedia mate.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

You do realise that I filled in most of those pages right? It's my moral obligation that keeps me from forging the Sharks losses into wins

 

[Darwin]

I would expect the Stormers to take it, but we don't really know how this Stormers team will play away from South Africa. I'd expect the Chiefs will put out a similar team to the one that beat the Highlanders last week, though Scott Waldrom has apparently suffered a season ending shoulder injury, so will likely be replaced by Latimer (assuming he's fit, otherwise Sam cane may get his first start). Waldrom is a huge loss for the Chiefs, as he's been in great form all year, and the loose trio of Messem, Waldrom, and Lee has been particularly impressive. Nathan White is expected back this week, though whether he starts at tighthead or is eased back from the bench is yet to be seen. I feel the Chiefs lineout will be severely tested by the Stormers, so it will be a big game for Clarke and Graham (or Ross if he is selected).

Stephen Donald will be wanting to have a much better game than last week, but apart from him (and possibly Dwayne Sweeney), the rest of the Chiefs backline all looked to be firing last week. I still think they need to get rid of Sweeney (I'd prefer Willison), as his distribution is still very poor, but the Chiefs coaches keep picking him. The Chiefs best chance will be to get the ball to there outside backs, as Kahui, Muliaina, and particularly Masaga and Siviavtu looked very dangerous last week.

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

Eh, Chiefs didn't lose to the Rebels!

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Sorry, Brumbies

 

[Larksea]

Acid is about to go on the stormers. They haven't played outside SA so far after having it pretty sweet at home. But this will be the start of their 4 week road trip. Add a bit of rain to the mix and in the waikato and the stormers could be well out of their comfort zone.

For the chiefs
I also believe Sweany is not the right option at 12 but fingers crossed Tana Umaga will be back this week. I'd rather have Willison at 12 or move Kahui to 12 and start Save Tokula.
IMO Donald just hasn't been 100% recovered from his back injury. He's looked a bit laboured kicking for goal, hasn't been running as much or commiting as hard as he usally does on defence. Also that odd pass he tossed was symtomatic of what may happen if you try and throw a hard pass with a stiff back. Hopefully he improves this week. Hope he shaves that mostache of at the very least.
Waldrum will be a loss for the chiefs. The chiefs Loosie trio led by Messam has been one of the best around and they have really helped makup for injuries and inexperience in the tight5. Hopefully Lat's will be back but he's not as good as waldrum. Heat will be on messam & co to contain Lowe & Burger at the breakdown.

 

[Amobokoboko]

Should be a good game. Hopefully we can win it.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Acid is about to go on the stormers. They haven't played outside SA so far after having it pretty sweet at home. But this will be the start of their 4 week road trip. Add a bit of rain to the mix and in the waikato and the stormers could be well out of their comfort zone.

For the chiefs
I also believe Sweany is not the right option at 12 but fingers crossed Tana Umaga will be back this week. I'd rather have Willison at 12 or move Kahui to 12 and start Save Tokula.
IMO Donald just hasn't been 100% recovered from his back injury. He's looked a bit laboured kicking for goal, hasn't been running as much or commiting as hard as he usally does on defence. Also that odd pass he tossed was symtomatic of what may happen if you try and throw a hard pass with a stiff back. Hopefully he improves this week. Hope he shaves that mostache of at the very least.
Waldrum will be a loss for the chiefs. The chiefs Loosie trio led by Messam has been one of the best around and they have really helped makup for injuries and inexperience in the tight5. Hopefully Lat's will be back but he's not as good as waldrum. Heat will be on messam & co to contain Lowe & Burger at the breakdown.

I actually think its 50/50 in good weather and 70/30 in the Stormers' favor if it rains heavily. Stormers aren't the most expansive team and some heavy rain will suit our style just fine.

 

[Cassie]

Have to agree with the weather factor that it will favour the Stormers if it does rain. They are very well organized in defence. If they do play the kind of attacking game we saw in the last 10 minutes of the crusaders game this one will have to go to the Stromers. I know that they did not score in those last minutes but they sure looked the part and if they did that earlier it might have been a different ball game. The chiefs on the other hand really surprised me when they won against the Highlanders last week. Mills playing in his 100<SUP>th</SUP> match will probably want to celebrate it with a win. The Stormers did tour well last year and showed that they can play overseas, will be interesting to see how they fair this year around.

Stormers at full strength for the chiefs clash read more http://www.supersport.com/rugby/super-rugby/news/110511/Stormers_at_fullstrength_for_Chiefs with january at nine .

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Stormers team
15. Conrad Jantjes,14. Gio Aplon ,13. Jaque Fourie,12. Jean De Villiers,11. Bryan Habana ,10. Peter Grant,9. Ricky Januarie,8. Duane Vermeulen,7. Francois Louw,6. Schalk Burger (C),5. Andries Bekker,4. Rynhardt Elstadt ,3. Brok Harris,2. Deon Fourie,1. Wicus Blaauw
Reserves: 16. Tiaan Liebenberg,17. Steven Kitshoff,18. De Kock Steenkamp,19. Anton Van Zyl,20. Dewaldt Duvenage,21. Lionel Cronje,22. Juan De Jongh

Stormers team announced (www.sarugby.com)

Only backline changes being at 9,10 and 11 where we welcome back Grant and Habana while Januarie gets a start. Cj van der Linde being the only casualty in the forwards with a great young prospect in Steven Kitshoff coming into the picture on the bench. Changes on the bench sees Nick Koster dropped for Anton van Zyl which might indicate we are expecting heavy weather and a tighter battle.

I have to admit I'm not too confident with the changes made; Sadie had a decent game last week and I would have liked to see him get another chance. That said Habana did have a much improved game before the Crusaders and I'd take a confident Habana over any other winger. Grant back is great as we lost last week due to silly errors which I'm sure Grant will keep to a minimum. What we lose in distance on kicks going from Cronje to Grant we make up for in accuracy and experience which might be the deciding factor against the dangerous Chiefs outbacks. I'm not as concerned about distance on return kicks as Jantjes is there at the back. Januarie is my biggest concern as we've seen numerous times how much quicker we get the ball away with Duvenhage on the pitch. Oh, well, I guess the guy has to get a rest at some stage.

One thing that has me confident of a Stormers win is that I can't remember them losing 2 in a row over the last 2 seasons. I'm sure they will be hurting from the Crusaders loss at home and will be looking to make amends against the Chiefs.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Liebenberg finally back? I thought he was out for the rest of the year

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Liebenberg finally back? I thought he was out for the rest of the year

He was back against the Crusaedrs as well and played the last 10 minutes or so. Only thing I saw from him was a wayward through-in to the line-out. He'll have to play himself back as Deon Fourie has taken his chances and impressed more often than not. It's great to have 2 quality hookers in the 22 again.

The reports I heard was always that he'd be back towards the end of the season. Guess we are approaching it fast with 2/3rds of the tournament gone. Still, he's back earlier than i expected as well. Good to see Anton van Zyl back as well. Stormers have actually welcomed more players back from injury than siad good bye over the last couple of weeks.

 

[Larksea]

I actually think its 50/50 in good weather and 70/30 in the Stormers' favor if it rains heavily. Stormers aren't the most expansive team and some heavy rain will suit our style just fine.

I don't believe that having a style of play that may suit the wet is going to help as much compared to a team that plays in the wet on a regular basis, chiefs have always been able to punch above their weight in the wet. For example making the 2009 final was in a big way thanks to being able to play critical late season games in the wet at home.

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

Habana to get an intercept, do nothing for the rest of the night.

 

[Draggs]

Habana to get an intercept, do nothing for the rest of the night.

Which, for de Villiers, is enough to merit selection.