Johannesburg – The Brumbies will start as favourites in the Super Rugby play-off on Sunday, but the Cheetahs have an excellent chance of causing a major upset. Here, rugby writer Jacques van der Westhuyzen analyses the key battles that could determine who comes out on top this weekend.
Joe Tomane v Willie le Roux
Before Waratahs player Israel Folau burst on the scene this season, Tomane was hailed as Australia’s most successful league convert since Lote Tuqiri joined the ’Tahs in 2002. A sensational schoolboy player alongside James O’Connor, the 23-year-old has been in superb form for the Brumbies this season.
Skilful, powerful and quick off the mark he’ll have to be closely watched by the Cheetahs, and especially Le Roux.
The Cheetahs man has shown he can defend strongly, but like Tomane, Le Roux’s great strength is his attacking play.
He’s a great passer of the ball, often creating space for the men around him, but it’s his unpredictability with ball in hand that makes him such an attacking threat.
Christian Leali’ifano v Robert Ebersohn
Both men shot to prominence this season with Leali’ifano playing a big role in the Wallabies’ series against the Lions, while Ebersohn was kept out of the Springbok team only because of captain Jean de Villiers’ experience.
The inside centre channel will again play a big role, with the No12s having to do plenty of tackling – of their opposite numbers and the forwards running at them. Both men are sound defenders, but Leali’ifano’s strong ball-carrying ability, quick step and vision makes him a huge threat on attack. Added to that he’s a deadly accurate goal-kicker. Ebersohn’s big strength is his defence and ability to win turn-over ball at the breakdown ... a key battle.
George Smith v Heinrich Brüssow
Bar Richie McCaw, many will argue Smith and Brüssow are the two best openside flanks in the world game and this could be the showdown that determines who comes out on top.
With over 100 Tests to his name there is nothing Smith doesn’t know about the breakdown and getting under the skin of the opposition. He’s skilful and extremely crafty in his trade and he’s obviously got tons of experience.
Brüssow is considered just as important in winning ball at the breakdowns, even if the national selectors don’t believe he’s good enough for Test rugby right now.
The Cheetahs man, like Smith, is always in the heart of the battle and if he manages to starve the Brumbies of quick ball the Cheetahs may just have a chance of causing a big upset.
Stephen Moore v Adriaan Strauss
The Brumbies and Australia’s first choice hooker for many years now, Moore brings a wealth of experience to the scrum and line-out.
He’s a leader up front who regularly finds his jumpers in the line-out and he’ll look to inspire those around him by getting the Brumbies over the gain line.
In Strauss, though, he’ll come up against South Africa’s best hooker, a man who was on the verge of captaining the Boks this season.
The Cheetahs leader is a very strong scrummager and one of the best ball carriers who boasts power and pace.
He’s the man his players look to for guidance and inspiration when the going gets tough and much will depend on him as to whether the Cheetahs can get on top of the Brumbies.
And what about the coaches ...
Jake White v Naka Drotske
The former Boks boss White has turned the Brumbies into genuine title-contenders after a few lean years of not making the play-offs.
He’s experienced, smart and very enthusiastic and knows how to go about squeezing the life out of opposition teams.
He’ll also know what to expect of the Cheetahs, having watched them closely for many, many years.
Drotske, on the other hand, backs his players to think for themselves on the field, to play the situation as it unfolds and he has less to lose than White.
Knowing when to use their replacements could be the biggest test for the two coaches, but so, too, the way they go about firing up their charges in the moments before the game.
TEAMS
Brumbies (probable): Jesse Mogg, Henry Speight, Tevita Kuridrani, Christian Leali’ifano, Joe Tomane, Matt Toomua, Nic White, Ben Mowen (capt), George Smith, Peter Kimlin, Sam Carter, Scott Fardy, Ben Alexander, Stephen Moore, Scott Sio. Replacements: Siliva Siliva, Ruan Smith, Colby Fainga’a, Fotu Auelua, Ian Prior, Robbie Coleman, Clyde Rathbone
Cheetahs: Hennie Daniller, Willie le Roux, Johann Sadie, Robert Ebersohn, Raymond Rhule, Riaan Smit, Piet van Zyl, Phillip van der Walt, Lappies Labuschagne, Heinrich Brüssow, Rynard Landman, Lodewyk de Jager, Lourens Adriaanse, Adriaan Strauss, Coenie Oosthuizen. Replacements: Rayno Barnes, Trevor Nyakane, Waltie Vermeulen, Boom Prinsloo, Sarel Pretorius, Elgar Watts, Ryno Benjamin. – The Star