The red-faced Stormers were kicked out of Bloemfontein in April with a 35-22 loss against the Cheetahs, and coach Allister Coetzee is hoping to avoid being exposed by the same tactics when Western Province jog out for a Currie Cup clash at the Free State Stadium today.
“We all know the Cheetahs are a side that goes from coast to coast, and they like to speed up the tempo of the game,” said Coetzee. “But, as much as we think they run the ball wide-wide, they might come with a strong kicking game.
“That was the case in Super Rugby. They brought a territorial game, and kicked a lot to put us under pressure – a suffocate-and-strangle type of thing – so we have to be aware of that and stay in our systems.”
The Cheetahs were one of seven opponents that shot the Stormers down in a kicking duel as Coetzee’s team started their Super Rugby campaign with a 2-7 record.
The Stormers returned the favour with interest in May, playing the percentages to thrash the Cheetahs 33-0 at Newlands.
Today, much of the onus for countering an aerial bombardment on the highveld rests on Dillyn Leyds, who will make his starting debut for Province less than a week after returning from a season in Australia.
Leyds replaces light-speed fullback Cheslin Kolbe, but shapes up as a player more in the mould of Justin Geduld – a playmaker who creates space for teammates to exploit.
Kolbe is crocked (fractured vertebrae) and Geduld, with finisher Seabelo Senatla, are on SA Sevens duty, while the young and talented second-row combination of Ruan Botha and Jean Kleyn have also been sidelined with injuries.
Despite the potential for such significant changes to derail the log leaders, the Cheetahs expect their rivals to restore normal service today.
“Western Province are a team that has a lot of depth,” said Cheetahs coach Rory Duncan. “They will stick to the same game plan they’ve been playing the whole season.
“I was quite excited when I heard that their locks were out, but then I heard Rynhardt Elstadt was back. I must admit, I enjoy him as a player.”
The 116kg enforcer has served a three-week suspension – for what was deemed to be a reckless clean during a 49-14 win against the EP Kings – and teams up with Manuel Carizza in a new-look lock partnership.
Duncan, 37, retired in 2012 after five seasons with Eastern Province and two Super Rugby campaigns for the Cheetahs. The former lock brought an abrasive edge to both tight fives and this may explain his appreciation for the not-so-subtle nuances of Elstadt’s game.
“You need that physical presence on the field, someone who can make their mark on the game,” he said. “It’s always nice to have one or two enforcers on the field, and we’re fortunate enough to have guys like Coenie Oosthuizen and Werner Lourens, who is also a big piece of meat.”
The 1.99m, 118kg Wonderboom old boy will pack down at lock behind Oosthuizen in a Cheetahs pack built for industrial labour.
“The Cheetahs have got a very efficient driving maul and they’re hard on the ground, with Coenie, (flanker) Tienie Burger and (hooker) Torsten van Jaarsveld very strong at the breakdown,” Coetzee noted.
Scrumhalf Sarel Pretorius has thrived in the vacuum created by such forceful forwards, scoring six tries to emerge as the second-biggest threat to the try-line in the competition.
“He’s their go-to man, without a doubt,” added Coetzee. “Sarel is the spark in their team, a really a special player who gets things going for them.”
“He is a difficult little customer around the fringes and I’ll keep an eye on him. Hopefully all in good spirit,” said Elstadt without any hint of a smile.
Log-leading WP are playing for the luxury of a home semi-final and the possibility of finishing the league phase in first place.
For the Cheetahs, a loss will snuff out the smouldering wick of their play-off hopes.
“We’re fighting for survival at the moment,” said Duncan. “We will throw everything we’ve got into this game.”
Cheetahs:15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 JP du Plessis, 13 Francois Venter, 12 Joubert Engelbrecht, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Willie du Plessis, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Lappies Labuschagne, 7 Neil Claassen, 6 Tienie Burger, 5 Francois Uys, 4 Werner Lourens, 3 George Marich, 2 Torsten van Jaarsveld (captain), 1 Coenie Oosthuizen.` Replacements:16 Hercu Liebenberg, 17 Caylib Oosthuizen, 18 Henco Venter, 19 Vincent Jobo, 20 Shaun Venter, 21 Pieter-Steyn de Wet, 22 AJ Coertzen
Western Province:15 Dillyn Leyds, 14 Kobus van Wyk, 13 Juan de Jongh (captain), 12 Jaco Taute, 11 Pat Howard, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Michael Rhodes, 6 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 5 Manuel Carizza, 4 Rynhardt Elstadt, 3 Pat Cilliers, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Alistair Vermaak. Replacements:16 Neil Rautenbach, 17 Brok Harris, 18 Oli Kebble, 19 Jurie van Vuuren*, 20 Louis Schreuder, 21 Kurt Coleman, 22 Michael van der Spuy
* Currie Cup debut
** First CC start
Referee: Marius Jonker - Weekend Argus