CAPE TOWN – The Stormers will of course have their work cut out for them when they host the Chiefs in today's Super Rugby quarter-final showdown at Newlands, and their focus (and performance) will have to be right up there for the full 80 minutes if they want to come out on top.
But three men who will require some special attention from the Stormers are loose forward Sam Cane, flyhalf Aaron Cruden and fullback Damian McKenzie. And here’s why
Sam Cane
Whether it’s at the breakdown or in open play, he is a dominant force. The Chiefs co-captain is tireless and his work-rate is incredible. He is more than capable of putting in a technical masterclass at the breakdowns, which is always a crucial area and today will be no different, and it wouldn’t be wrong to say he does the “work that is not always seen”. Cane is great in the loose and when it comes to making tackles, he very often puts a halt to teams’ attack with his behind-the-gain line dominant hits, and those traits of the 25-year-old will certainly make an impact.
Aaron Cruden
We all know that Aaron Cruden is a class player and we all know his attacking ability. His tactical flair has seen the flyhalf produce huge performances over the years, but that’s not all that he’s about. He is capable of way more than just that. His offloading game is just one part of his exciting skillset, and we’ve seen that many times - his quicker-than-a-blink tip pass to James Lowe that set him up to score against the Blues earlier this year is a perfect example thereof.
But it’s his ability to attack the line and his footwork (and those offloads, of course) that stress opposition defences the most. Cruden knows how to apply pressure, and the team who handles pressure the best today will probably be the victorious one.
Oh yes, did I mention his kicking ability, be it tactical or kicking for posts? Because that is something that, just like his other skills, make him the player that he is.
Aaron Cruden of the Chiefs lines up a kick during the 2017 Super Rugby game between the Stormers and the Chiefs at Newlands Stadium in Cape Town. Photo: Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix
Damian McKenzie
From pin-point tactical kicks to cutting runs and beating defenders at close quarters, Damian McKenzie is a full attacking package. The Smiling Assassin can probably unseal any Super Rugby team’s defence, or any defence in general, and when he does, his electric acceleration makes whatever he does after ripping defences to shreds look just too easy.
And let’s not forget about what he can do on the counter-attack. In the Chiefs’ match against the Brumbies last weekend, he proved to be the difference yet again as he scored a superb try and set up two others in brilliant style. But for McKenzie, that was nothing new, nothing out of the box.
In fact, those kind of McKenzie shows have kind of become standard. He has been one of the most consistent performers for the Chiefs, so his performance today will probably be no different. He is definitely a chief to watch.