Stormers vs Crusaders Round number 7

[PaarlBok]

Stormers:
15. Joe Pietersen, 14. Gio Aplon, 13. Juan de Jongh, 12. Jean de Villiers (captain), 11. Gerhard van den Heever, 10. Elton Jantjies, 9. Dewaldt Duvenage, 8. Duane Vermeulen, 7. Rynhardt Elstadt, 6. Siya Kolisi, 5. Andries Bekker, 4. De Kock Steenkamp, 3. Frans Malherbe, 2. Deon Fourie, 1. Pat Cilliers

Substitutes: 16. Martin Bezuidenhout, 17. Brok Harris, 18. Don Armand, 19. Nizaam Carr, 20. Nic Groom, 21. Damian de Allende, 22. Jaco Taute

 

[PaarlBok]

Liebenberg out injured, Ginga cited for a week the only changes. Must win match for the Stormers and only a few weeks more Ysterbethloos. Stormers will need to step up in the forwards, if they can do this another bonus point win coming up, cant afford to slip this double point home matches.

 

[Ruggo]

Hard to pick this one. Stormers need to carry on with last weeks momentum. Saders won't be phased by the travel and they will handle their injury woes. The replacements won't be high profile but in that set up they will deliver the goods.

 

[whatty]

No Read, no Carter, certainly need to win this if we are to be considered the real deal.

 

[Blue]

Without Read, MacCaw and Carter, a win for the Saders in Cape Town has to be considered an upset.

Worried a bit about Stormers scrum though. I don't know how much loosehead Cilliers has played at this level. Saders scrum has been mighty. They'll also miss Ginga in the loose. He moves a lot of bodies around.

 

[Bairdy]

Looking forward to seeing Jordan Taufua of the Crusaders come on late in the second half of this match, as it will no doubt be a baptism under fire for him. However, I think home ground advantage might just be enough for the Stormers to scrap in ahead, but it's so close to call, so much so, that I can see the Crusaders winning by 7 points if the Stormers play like they did in the Brumbies match.

That is, very physical and confrontational, and willing to chance their arm in the first half, but went into their shells and played with no reckless abandon as the Brumbies came back to within a sniff.

If Stormers bring their A game, a win by 8 points, but if they both bring it, Crusaders by 7.

 

[The Red Baron]

Dagg has been ruled out. Guildford will start and Tom Marshall will move to fullback.

 

[Rassie]

Without Read, MacCaw and Carter, a win for the Saders in Cape Town has to be considered an upset.

Worried a bit about Stormers scrum though. I don't know how much loosehead Cilliers has played at this level. Saders scrum has been mighty. They'll also miss Ginga in the loose. He moves a lot of bodies around.

What about the Stormers missing Habana, Burger, Etzebeth, Kitshoff? Think its level playing ground now no excuses.

However, I think home ground advantage might just be enough for the Stormers to scrap in ahead, but it's so close to call, so much so, that I can see the Crusaders winning by 7 points if the Stormers play like they did in the Brumbies match.

Home ground advantage? The Crusaders are called the Cape Crusaders here. Do you know why? Cause they almost got more support here than the Stormers

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Should be a cracker of a game. Can't wait.

So much depth in the Crusaders that missing a few stars seldom impacts, as the young guns step up to try and prove their worth.

Stormers will not be relaxing and taking it easy.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Oh and Congratulations to the Carter's on the healthy arrival of their son.

Buy him a hockey stick.

"We're thrilled to announce the birth of our son, Marco James Carter, born 28th March, happy, healthy & handsome ".

 

[kiap]

Saders got rumbled there.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

All 4 Whitelocks on the Oval for the Saders, George, Sam, Luke joined by Adam.

Is this the first time that all 4 have been on the field in Super Rugby at the same time?

It is like listening to a mid 90's Welsh Game, instead of hearing Jones to Jones to Jones...., it's Whitelock to Whilelock to Whitelock....

EDIT: Happened against the Bulls the other week, according to George in the post match interview.

 

[kiap]

And those Whitesaders are doing well. 13 unanswered to take the HT lead.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Stormers will need to fix their lineout if they want to win this game.

 

[kiap]

Saders getting the upper hand, I reckon.

Stormers will need to fix their lineout if they want to win this game.

Yep. Bekker hasn't done much. Fourie's throws either.

 

[kiap]

Big yellow card

11 - 16 and

14 - 16

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Another YC for a lifting tackle.

Sooner or later the players and coaches must twig to the fact that the referees will YC anything that looks like a lifting tackle if the player is not safely brought back to Earth,

 

[kiap]

Must be a Ref's memo to card anything resembling lifting.

Stormers lineout is still kak.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

2nd half possession: Canterbury - 79%.

Massive defensive performance from Stormers to keep scoring to bugger all, especially given that they were 14 vs 15 for 10 minutes,

 

[kiap]

Here we go. Driving maul.