'Calm' Stormers to tackle
Stormers coach Allister Coetzee is backing his team's defensive system to put the Cheetahs under pressure in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
The South African conference leaders have not conceded a four-try bonus point this season, but their defence is set to undergo a stern examination by the Cheetahs who are known for their attacking flair and have little to lose this weekend.
Coetzee is aware of how dangerous the Free State side can be when they are allowed to run free, and added that his side will have to stick to the hard work and determination that has seen them shut out so many teams this season.
He told this website: "There will not be any pressure on them [Cheetahs] so they will come out and play what they see.
"We have just got to make sure that we keep working hard for each other on the field, that has been our success so the execution is very important and we have got to go there and work hard for 80 minutes."
The Stormers coach explained that the key for his team would be to keep their composure, as the Cheetahs are likely to vary their attacking game.
He said: "We can expect anything from them, they can run it wide and use the width of the whole field from their own tryline, they can also come with little chip kicks in behind us.
"They are going to challenge our defence, that is one thing against the Cheetahs - any side's defence will be challenged on the day.
"They have got a good passing game, that is one of their strengths - they try to outflank you and get around you, so we have looked at that.
"We have just got to stay in our systems and build nice rhythm and make sure we execute effectively because it [defence] will be tested," added Coetzee.
However, despite the dangers out wide in Bloemfontein the Stormers coach has faith in a defensive system that has proved to be one of the most effective around.
Coetzee knows that if his team can force the Cheetahs to play too much rugby in their own half by dominating territory, then there could be opportunities to make them pay for their ambition.
"It is about our work-rate, it is not a massive issue for us. These are things that we have done and we have looked at and played against so we will just keep working hard for each other,
"Our defence normally creates opportunities which we can turn into attack, so whoever wants to run at us might get away with it but once or twice we will turn it over and capitalise on that," he explained.
The contrast in approach from both sides should make for an intriguing clash, and it may be worthwhile reflecting on the same fixture last year which reveals quite a lot about the different philosophies.
The last time the Stormers conceded four tries was against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein a week before the play-offs last season, the home side were out of the running and had the support of every neutral thanks to their attractive style but still lost by ten points.
This poses an interesting question. Would you rather support the Cheetahs or the Stormers?
The Stormers have come in for heavy criticism for their conservative defence-based brand, but there is no denying that it is effective as they have been the most consistent and successful South African team this season.
Many have called for them to play a more expansive style and go all-out to score tries and please the crowd, but the Newlands faithful are the ones planning how to get tickets for a home semifinal.
The Stormers may indeed lack the ruthless edge to win the competition but are at least in with a shout of winning some silverware, and have their consistency to thank for being in this position.
The Cheetahs are the ultimate underdogs who have won fans through their willingness to 'have a go', but they play their last game of the season next week and are prone to schizophrenic performances like the one against the Bulls last week which saw them score four great tries after their chances of winning the game had gone.
So, who will you be cheering for on Saturday?
By Michael de Vries