Super Rugby Round 18 Preview Part 2

The Waratahs look to secure a home semi-final, and the Bulls and Cheetahs meet in a clash of SA underperforming, also-ran teams. The Sharks play a vastly weakened Stormers team, the latter having already won the SA conference, looking ahead to the qualifiers, and deciding to leave out 14 of their 15 starting XV from last week.

Waratahs v Reds

The Waratahs want a Sydney semi-final, which they will ensure with a win over the Reds. Their season has ranged between sublime and dismal, but their quest to win back-to-back Super Rugby trophies remains on track. For the visitors, beating the defending champions at Allianz Stadium would be a season-ending fillip after a haphazard campaign in which they have delivered so much less than expected. This may be coach Richard Graham’s last game in charge of the Reds, since the correlation between rich player talent and poor results has been an anomaly.

Key players:
Reds backs Will Genia, Quade Cooper, Karmichael Hunt, and James O’Connor will be keen to show Michael Cheika they deserve Wallaby selection.  Will Skelton and Tatafu Polota-Nau are back for the Waratahs, from suspension and injury respectively. As always, attacking maestros Israel Folau and Taqele Naiyaravoro.

The big match-ups:
Two of the most skilful players in the world, Folau and O’Connor at 15. At 13, potential Wallaby Hunt vs Wallaby stalwart Adam Ashley-Cooper. At openside, Michael Hooper vs Liam Gill. At 8, Wycliff Palu vs Jake Schatz.

Bulls v Cheetahs

Bulls coach Frans Ludeke’s position is under scrutiny because a combination of big player budget, masses of talent, excellent resources, and exceptional support structures has not translated into a top-six qualification. Losing four out of four on tour was dismal. Beating the Cheetahs will not provide much light at the end of an unsuccessful campaign for the Bulls, as the Cheetahs already have a competition-worst 187 points deficit, and scoring a four-try bonus-point win against them is no great achievement. It’ll be interesting to see how full or empty Loftus Versfeld is for this game.

Key players:
For the Cheetahs, Willie le Roux back in the starting XV, Francois Venter, a standout player in a struggling team, and flyhalf Niel Marais, wanting to show he can take the big step-up from Varsity Cup to Super Rugby. For the Bulls, Bok-in-waiting Jesse Kriel, Arno Botha – a Bok trying to make a comeback to big-time rugby – and Francois Hougaard, still banished from scrumhalf, where he could have major impact on the Bulls performance, and stuck on the wing, from where he has less influence.

The big match-ups:
Marais vs Jacques-Louis Potgieter, Le Roux vs Kriel, Sarel Pretorius vs Rudy Paige.

Sharks v Stormers

The Stormers have little to play for in Durban, with a home semi-final possible only if the Brumbies and Waratahs both lose, which is unlikely, and players wanting a rest before they enter the play-offs, and not wanting to pick up injuries before the competition enters its climax phase. Only one player from last week’s Stormers starting team is in this week’s starting team. The Sharks are playing for pride – and individual players for future contracts – but beating this Stormers second-string team won’t gain them anything after a campaign of sad underachievement.

Key players:
For the Sharks, their three departing Springboks, Bismarck du Plessis, Jannie du Plessis, and Willem Alberts. JP Pietersen needs to show he is still worthy of a Springbok jersey. For the Stormers, struggling flyhalf Kurt Coleman, Springbok Jaco Taute, who is on the comeback trail – and watch out for Robert du Preez, playing at 15 rather than his usual 10, but a versatile player and an exceptionally exciting young talent.

The big match-ups:
Props Beast Mtawarira vs Vincent Koch and Jannie du Plessis vs Oli Kebble, and at hooker Bismarck du Plessis vs Michael Willemse, who couldn’t face a tougher Super Rugby starting debut.