Preview: Sharks v Stormers

Editor

The Sharks take on the Stormers in what promises to be a highly entertaining South African derby in Durban on Saturday.

Both sides head into this match on the back of impressive wins last weekend with the Sharks beating the Sunwolves in Singapore while the Stormers got the better of the Blues in Cape Town.

The two sides are on course to reach the qualifiers with the Stormers sitting pretty at the top of the Africa 1 Conference table while the Sharks are in second spot – behind the Lions – in the Africa 2 Conference standings.

The Sharks have won six of their last nine games against the Stormers, though three of the last five iterations of this fixture have been won by the away team on the day.

The home side are undefeated in their last nine games on home turf – winning eight and drawing one – having conceded an average of just 13 points per game across that period.

The Stormers have won five of their last six South African derbies, though they dropped a five-game winning streak in Round 8 with a 29-16 home loss to the Lions in their last such fixture.

Rookie Sharks wing S’busiso Nkosi, who scored two tries against the Sunwolves, is bracing himself for a thrilling encounter against the men from the Cape who have fine attacking players in their ranks.

“The Stormers have some quality players and they have good counter-attacking abilities,” he said

However, they are not the only ones boasting the players with ability and intent to score tries.

“Quality and counter-attack is something we can also bring to the party, because we also have some very exciting players,” he added.

“This should be a very exciting game.”

After facing New Zealand sides for four successive weeks, Stormers head coach Robbie Fleck expects a tough challenge against the Sharks.

“It is always tough going to Kings Park and we know that we will be seriously tested over there, but our focus is on developing our own game,” he said.

“The team would like to build on our win against the Blues, so our focus this week has been on backing up on that performance.”

The last time the teams met: The Sharks headed to Cape Town and grinded out a hard-fought 18-13 win in Round 3 of last year’s tournament. They sealed their win thanks to a 78th minute try from Joe Pietersen and they were also awarded a penalty try. The Stormers’ only five-pointer was scored by Leolin Zas.

Players to watch: After several impressive performances in 2016, fly-half Garth April found himself behind Pat Lambie and Curwin Bosch in the pecking order at the Sharks at the start of this campaign. If April’s playmaking skills, goalkicking and game management is at its best, then the home side stand an excellent chance of winning this match.

Springbok centre Damian de Allende returned from injury when the Stormers beat the Blues last weekend and he looked hungry for action during a brief cameo in the second half of that match. De Allende’s superb ball carrying ability is expected to get his side over the advantage line and when he builds up a head of steam he could prove a handful to the Sharks.

Team news: Sharks head coach Robert du Preez has made just one change to his starting line-up for this encounter. That change is in the forwards where Springbok front-row Coenie Oosthuizen returns after being rested for last week’s match in Singapore against the Sunwolves, with Lourens Adriaanse named on the bench. Lock Etienne Oosthuizen plays in his 50th Super Rugby match for the Sharks while there is a recall for veteran wing Odwa Ndungane to the replacements bench.

Stormers head coach Robbie Fleck has made some key changes to his back-line for this fixture. There is a new half-back pairing as scrum-half as Jano Vermaak links up with fit-again fly-half Kurt Coleman who starts his first match this season. This means that Dillyn Leyds is back on the left wing, with Seabelo Senatla on the replacements bench alongside Juan de Jongh, who makes his return from injury having played for Western Province in the SuperSport Rugby Challenge last week. In the midfield, experienced centre Damian de Allende starts at inside centre after making an impact as a replacement last week. The forward which started the 30-22 victory against the Blues at Newlands has been retained, with lock Pieter-Steph du Toit set to earn his 50th Super Rugby cap. The only change up front comes on the replacements bench as Chris van Zyl provides lock cover this week.

Form: The Sharks have already played 12 matches and won eight of those and of their other four fixtures, they lost three and drew one. They beat the Sunwolves in Singapore last weekend but suffered a shock loss to the Kings in Port Elizabeth in Round 12. That result ended a four-match unbeaten run after they beat the Jaguares – at home and away – the Force and claimed a draw against the Rebels.

The Stormers ended a four-match losing streak – after defeats against the Lions, Crusaders, Highlanders and Hurricanes – by beating the Blues in Cape Town last weekend. Their overall record for the season is played 11 with seven victories and four losses.

Prediction: Although these sides are evenly matched, home ground advantage will swing things in the Sharks’ favour. Sharks to win by four points.

Previous results:

2016: Sharks won 18-13 in Cape Town
2015: Sharks won 34-12 in Durban
2015: Stormers won 29-13 in Cape Town
2014: Sharks won 34-10 in Cape Town
2014: Stormers won 21-19 in Durban
2013: Stormers won 22-15 in Cape Town
2013: Sharks won 12-6 in Durban
2012: Sharks won 26-19 in Cape Town

The teams:

Sharks: 15 Lwazi Mvovo, 14 Kobus van Wyk, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Johan Deysel, 11 Sbu Nkosi, 10 Garth April, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Daniel du Preez, 7 Jean-Luc du Preez, 6 Philip van der Walt (c), 5 Stephan Lewies, 4 Ruan Botha, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1 Thomas du Toit
Replacements: 16 Franco Marais, 17 Beast Mtawarira, 18 Lourens Adriaanse, 19 Etienne Oosthuizen, 20 Tera Mtembu, 21 Michael Claassens, 22 Benhard Janse van Rensburg, 23 Odwa Ndungane

Stormers: 15 SP Marais, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 EW Viljoen, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Dillyn Leyds, 10 Kurt Coleman, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Siya Kolisi (c), 6 Kobus van Dyk, 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Oli Kebble
Replacements: 16 Ramone Samuels, 17 Ali Vermaak, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Chris van Zyl, 20 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 21 Dewaldt Duvenage, 22 Juan de Jongh, 23 Seabelo Senatla

Date: Saturday, May 27
Venue: Growthpoint Kings Park
Kick-off: 17:15 local (15:15 GMT)
Referee: Marius ven der Westhuizen
Assistant Referees: AJ Jacobs, Archie Sehlako
TMO: Marius Jonker