With three home games to come, the Stormers are in pole position to win the SA Conference and qualify for the Super Rugby play-offs, but with just three points separating them and the Lions, there’s still a possibility Johan Ackermann’s team can sneak in and qualify for the knock-out rounds.
It’s a long shot, but if the Lions are able to win all three their remaining games, including their last one against the Stormers at Newlands, the Capetonians will head to Durban on the final weekend of action possibly needing to beat the Sharks to take the conference.
The team with their backs to the wall though, and unlikely to be in the running on the final weekend, are the Bulls. The Sharks and Cheetahs have been out of the race for some time.
Ackermann’s Lions missed a golden opportunity to be in prime position when they lost to the Brumbies last weekend and with just three games to play – to the four for the Stormers and Bulls – have it all to do to reach the final stages of the competition for the first time. What Ackermann will be stressing to his players in the build-up to Saturday’s clash against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein, is that they simply have to win their remaining games. Do so and they will end with 43 points (they’re currently on 31), and that doesn’t include any bonus points. After this weekend’s match they host the Waratahs and finish away to the Stormers.
The Capetonians currently have 34 points and should pick up four or five more this weekend against the Rebels, but nothing is guaranteed against the Cheetahs next week and the Lions after that.
The Bulls, with 35 points, have three more games on tour – against the Chiefs, Brumbies and Rebels – and then in their last game, they host the Cheetahs.
Ackermann’s men will be hurting after going down to the Brumbies the way they did last Saturday and they’re sure to be a desperate bunch this weekend. They’ll know a strong finish will pile the pressure on the likes of the Stormers. The Lions team for the trip to Bloemfontein will be named today, with Warwick Tecklenburg set to return to the starting team, while at the back Lionel Mapoe may move back to outside centre, with Harold Vorster shifting to his favoured No12 position. On the bench, Marnitz Boshoff could be back in place of Jaco van der Walt.
Meanwhile, out-going Cheetahs boss Naka Drotske’s team have been boosted by the return to health of Springbok wing Cornal Hendricks and captain and lock Francois Uys for the match.
Hendricks is back in the side after recovering from tonsillitis while Uys was a late withdrawal against the Highlanders last week after picking up a stomach bug.
In other changes to the side that ran out last weekend, Raymond Rhule is back in the starting team after playing off the bench, while Griquas stalwart Carel Greeff gets a chance on the side of the scrum in place of the injured Tienie Burger.
On the bench, Shimlas star Henco Venter could make his Super Rugby debut.
The match will be Drotske’s last before he calls it quits next week against the Stormers in Cape Town. Forwards coach Os du Randt will also call it a day next weekend.