Preview: Super Rugby, Round Eight - Part One
FRIDAY FRENZY: Desperation is not a word you would have heard from the cliche-driven media briefings this week.
However, the first two matches of the round feature four teams who are hell-bent on ending their losing streaks.
The Highlanders, who have not won a match in more than a month, host the Hurricanes, who will be bitterly disappointed with last week's hammering they suffered at the hands of the Crusaders.
The Reds looked to have bounced back from three successive defeats in the opening round, winning back-to-back against the Sunwolves and Brumbies, only to suffer a heavy (13-32) loss to the Rebels last week. They host a Stormers team looking for their first win on their Australasian tour.
The day concludes with an all-South African derby between the Lions, on a three-match winning streak, and the Sharks, also coming off a disappointing loss.
We look at all Friday's matches!
Friday, April 5:
Highlanders v Hurricanes
(Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin - Kick-off: 19.35; 06.35 GMT)
This is going to brutal, but also very exciting.
As most derbies do, winning the collisions and the gainline battle will be key.
However, these are also two teams that can entertain if they get it right on the day.
The Highlanders won their first two games - against the Chiefs (away) 30-27 and the Reds 36-31 - but have not won since, losing to the Rebels (19-24 away), the Hurricanes (22-25 away) and the Blues (26-33 away) - while taking a draw from their cancelled game with the Crusaders.
They are likely to be more desperate.
However, the Hurricanes will be keen to atone for the disappointing loss to the Crusaders last week. They have four wins, two losses and a draw. They beat the Waratahs (20-19 away), the Brumbies (43-13 home), the Highlanders (25-22 home) and the Stormers (34-28 home), but lost to the Crusaders both away (22-38) and at home (8-32). They also drew with the Chiefs (23-23 away).
"While we were disappointed with the result against the Crusaders the coaching group still found some positives in how we played, especially the way we performed up front," Hurricanes coach John Plumtree said.
"The challenge for us now is to get the rest of our game to where it needs to be against what will be a really motivated Highlanders team who will be desperate to play well in front of their home fans."
The Highlanders will look to play with more freedom, despite the loss of two key strike weapons - the injured All Black duo of Waisake Naholo and Aaron Smith.
Highlanders coach Aaron Mauger suggested his side had not put enough trust in the game plan, so would look to play with more freedom this week.
''That means we can move the ball around and you'll see a few more smiles on the faces of our lads out there,'' he told the Otago Daily Times.
The loss of Smith will influence their ability to play with expansive intent.
''He certainly has some unique skills, namely around his speed and his pass," Mauger said.
"But Kayne [Hammington, replacement No.9] is a great little competitor as well and he has performed for us every time. We expect him to do that from minute one this week."
The coach admitted his team needs to produce a "big performance".
"We've had five games this year and they've all looked pretty similar. We've been pretty close in all of them.
''We could easily be five from five, but the fact that we're not, means we've had a couple of things to work on and address, but they've only been small.''
Recent results:
2019: Hurricanes won 25-22, Wellington
2018: Highlanders won 30-14, Dunedin
2018: Hurricanes won 29-12, Wellington
2017: Hurricanes won 41-15, Wellington
2016: Hurricanes won 27-20, Wellington
2016: Highlanders won 17-16, Dunedin
Prediction: The last six Super Rugby clashes between the Highlanders and Hurricanes have been won by the home side on the day and the side leading at half-time. The Highlanders have won 14 of their last 15 home games in Super Rugby, four of those victories coming despite trailing at the interval. The Highlanders have won only one of their last five completed all-New Zealand Super Rugby derbies. The Hurricanes have tallied 194 defenders beaten this season so far, 28 more than any other side, the Highlanders have beaten the fewest (89). Three of the top 10 metre-makers in Super Rugby this season are Hurricanes players (Ben Lam 383, Ngani Laumape 371, Jordie Barrett 328), no other side has more than two representatives in this list (Blues).
Prediction: Hurricanes
Margin: Two
Teams:
Highlanders: 15 Ben Smith (co-captain), 14 Matt Faddes, 13 Richard Buckman, 12 Teihorangi Walden, 11 Tevita Li, 10 Marty Banks, 9 Kayne Hammington, 8 Luke Whitelock (co-captain), 7 James Lentjes, 6 Shannon Frizell, 5 Tom Franklin, 4 Josh Dickson, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Liam Coltman, 1 Ayden Johnstone.
Replacements: 16 Ash Dixon, 17 Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18 Siate Tokolahi, 19 Jackson Hemopo, 20 Elliot Dixon, 21 Folau Fakatava, 22 Josh Ioane, 23 Rob Thompson.
Hurricanes: 15 Chase Tiatia, 14 Wes Goosen, 13 Jordie Barrett, 12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Ben Lam, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Thomas Perenara (captain), 8 Reed Prinsep, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Vaea Fifita, 5 Kane Le'aupepe. 4 James Blackwell, 3 Ben May, 2 Ricky Riccitelli, 1 Fraser Armstrong.
Replacements: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 Chris Eves, 18 Jeff To'omaga-Allen, 19 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 20 Liam Mitchell, 21 Du'Plessis Kirifi, 22 Finlay Christie, 23 Matt Proctor.
Referee: Glen Jackson
Assistant referees: Nick Briant, Paul Williams
TMO: Ben Skeen
Reds v Stormers
(Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane - Kick-off: 19.00; 11.00 SA time; 09.00 GMT)
Sometimes you wonder if coaches think before they talk.
Stormers coach Robbie Fleck suggested this week that not scoring tries is not an issue and that his team is heading in the 'right' direction.
The Stormers are, by some distance, the worst team in terms of scoring tries - the only team yet to hit double figures.
In their 9-24 loss to the Blues last week they could not score a single try, despite having 65 percent of the possession.
The Blues outscored them three tries to one.
Some would suggest he lives in cloud-cuckoo-land.
He gets another chance to prove his detractors wrong when they face the equally desperate Reds in Brisbane.
"We have had a good week of preparations here and the players are looking forward to the opportunity this weekend," Fleck said.
However, they are up against a Reds team that loaded their midfield with two bruisers - captain Samu Kerevi at inside centre and Sefa Naivalu at outside centre.
"This year, we've seemed to play our best rugby when we've had two more strong, direct carriers [in the midfield]," Reds assistant coach Jim McKay said ahead of the Stormers clash.
"But Samu can provide us with that ability to go wide as well.
"We believe he's played his best rugby for us this season at No.12.
"Then you've got Sefa on his outside shoulder, we're excited about that opportunity as well."
The Reds' fourth loss last week leaves them sharing last place with the Jaguares and Sunwolves.
"We were disappointed with our performance against the Rebels," Reds head coach Brad Thorn said of the 13-32 loss in Brisbane last week.
"Our focus remains on growing our game and improving as a group every week."
Recent results:
2018: Stormers won 25-19, Cape Town
2016: Stormers won 40-22, Cape Town
2014: Reds won 22-17, Brisbane
2013: Stormers won 20-15, Cape Town
2012: Stormers won 23-13, Brisbane
Prediction: The Stormers have won 10 of their last 13 Super Rugby games against the Reds, although they did lose on their most recent trip to Suncorp Stadium (March 2014). The last South African side to beat the Reds in Australia were the Sharks back in 2015, since when the Queensland side has won five such Super Rugby games on the spin. The Stormers have won four of their last five Super Rugby games in Australia; however, their last victory in the country came in July 2016. The Reds have scored eight tries in the final quarter of games this season, the joint-most of any team in the competition. Only Rahboni Warren-Vosayaco (76) has made more carries than Reds centre Samu Kerevi (74) this season in Super Rugby, Kerevi playing one game fewer than the Sunwolves back row forward.
Prediction: Stormers
Margin: Three
Teams:
Reds: 15 Hamish Stewart, 14 Filipo Daugunu, 13 Sefa Naivalu, 12 Samu Kerevi (captain), 11 Jack Hardy, 10 Bryce Hegarty, 9 Tate McDermott, 8 Scott Higginbotham, 7 Liam Wright, 6 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 5 Harry Hockings, 4 Izack Rodda, 3 Ruan Smith, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1 JP Smith.
Replacements: 16 Alex Mafi, 17 Harry Hoopert, 18 Taniela Tupou, 19 Angus Blyth, 20 Fraser McReight, 21 Moses Sorovi, 22 Duncan Paia'aua, 23 Isaac Lucas.
Stormers: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Dillyn Leyds, 10 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 9 Justin Phillips, 8 Jaco Coetzee, 7 Kobus van Dyk, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Chris van Zyl, 4 Cobus Wiese, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Siyabonga Ntubeni, 1 Corne Fourie.
Replacements: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Michael Kumbirai, 19 Salmaan Moerat, 20 Juarno Augustus, 21 Herschel Jantjies, 22 Joshua Stander, 23 SP Marais.
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen
Assistant referees: AJ Jacobs, Nic Berry
TMO: James Leckie
Lions v Sharks
(Ellis Park, Johannesburg - Kick-off: 19.10; 17.10 GMT)
The Lions have a chance to cement their spot at the top of the South African conference, but it will require a special effort to upstage a very good Sharks team.
Fresh off a bye, they will be up against a determined Sharks team.
The Johannesburg-based side head into their Round Eight match on the back of some impressive form - having beaten the Jaguares (47-39), Rebels (36-33) and Sunwolves (37-24) in their last three matches.
However, coach Swys de Bruin has warned his team that the Springbok-laden Sharks team will be present a formidable challenge.
"It's going to be a very tough game," he said, adding: "It will be an arm wrestle right till the end.
"Their entire backline has played for the Springboks and then I think most of there pack as well.
"You look at their loose forwards and Beast [prop Tendai Mtawarira], the number of caps he has [151 Super Rugby matches and 107 Test caps].
"[Prop] Coenie [Oosthuizen] and the Du Preez brothers [No.8 Daniel and flyhalf Robert].
"[Andre] Esterhuizen is a mammoth No.12. He is huge and he runs hard.
They are an excellent team and they well coached.
"It is going to be really tough," De Bruin added.
The Sharks will look to make amends for their 16-19 loss to the Bulls in a bruising encounter in Durban last week.
"We're always chasing performances with the aim of winning the next game, regardless of what has gone on before," Sharks assistant coach David Williams said.
"The performances have been there, it's just the execution, that final moment to get over the chalk.
"The possession statistics - off-loads, line breaks, tackles - we're getting those, it's just the finishing."
Recent results:
2018: Sharks won 31-24, Durban
2018: Lions won 26-19, Johannesburg
2017: Lions won 23-21, Johannesburg (quarterfinal)
2017: Lions won 27-10, Durban
2017: Lions won 34-29, Johannesburg
Prediction: The Sharks beat the Lions in their most recent Super Rugby encounter (Round 17, 2018), ending a run of seven defeats against them. The Lions are on a three-game winning run in Super Rugby, the last time they enjoyed a longer streak was their record 14-game run on their way to the 2017 Final. The Sharks have lost their last seven away games in Super Rugby against fellow South African sides, their last such win coming against the Cheetahs in March 2017. The Lions have scored 10 tries in the 20 minutes immediately after half-time in Super Rugby 2019, more than any other team in the competition. Elton Jantjies (Lions) has missed more tackles (20) than any other player in Super Rugby so far this season, completing just 67 percent of his attempts.
Prediction: Lions
Margin: Nine
Teams:
Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Tyrone Green, 13 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 12 Lionel Mapoe, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Ruan Vermaak, 7 Cyle Brink, 6 Marnus Schoeman, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Rhyno Herbst, 3 Carlu Sadie, 2 Malcolm Marx (captain), 1 Sithembiso Sithole.
Replacements: 16 Jan-Henning Campher, 17 Nathan McBeth, 18 Frans van Wyk, 19 Wilhelm van der Sluys, 20 Stephan Lewies, 21 Nic Groom, 22 Hacjivah Dayimani, 23 Sylvian Mahuza/Wandisile Simelane.
Sharks: 15 Curwin Bosch, 14 Lwazi Mvovo, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Robert du Preez, 9 Louis Schreuder (captain), 8 Daniel du Preez, 7 Jacques Vermeulen, 6 Luke Stringer, 5 Hyron Andrews, 4 Ruben van Heerden, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Kerron van Vuuren, 1 Tendai Mtawarira
Replacements: 16 Fez Mbatha, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 Thomas du Toit, 19 JJ van der Mescht, 20 Philip van der Walt, 21 Grant Williams, 22 Kobus van Wyk, 23 Aphelele Fassi.
Referee: Mike Fraser (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Rasta Rasivhenge (South Africa), Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand)
TMO: Willie Vos (South Africa)
Compiled by Jan de Koning, with additional reporting by Josh Isaacson
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* Stats courtesy of Opta Sports