The Cell C Sharks and DHL Stormers will take centre stage in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship this weekend as they battle it out in the only match on Saturday in a postponed fixture from the opening round of the competition.
The coastal derby, which kicks off 14:00 (SA Time) at Hollywoodbets Kings Park in Durban, will be important for both teams to solidify their places in the top eight on the log with an eye on quarter-final spots in the next few weeks.
The DHL Stormers are currently in second place on the standings after 12 matches and find themselves 16 points behind log-leading Leinster, while the Cell C Sharks played their way into the top eight last weekend with a 22-19 victory against Edinburgh in Scotland, with the KZN side now on 33 points after 11 matches.
A victory for the Durbanites, in particular, could catapult them into the top six on the table, with five rounds of matches remaining in the regular round-robin stages.
The teams have been fairly closely matched in terms of victories, but the but the KwaZulu-Natalians will be wary of the fact that the Capetonians have a better record on attack and defence this season.
However, the Cell C Sharks have won four of their five home games so far in the competition, which will give them confidence going into the clash, but given the intense rivalry between the teams, the match is sure to be a humdinger.
Last season, the corresponding fixture ended in an unlikely 22-22 draw after the DHL Stormers launched a strong second-half surge and were awarded two penalty tries – one of them after the hooter had sounded – to salvage some points in Durban.
A week later though, playing at home, the Capetonians won by 20-10 and they will be looking to replicate that victory this weekend in the only match in the competition.
Loose forwards Phepsi Buthelezi and Deon Fourie will captain the Cell C Sharks and DHL Stormers when they clash in an eagerly awaited Vodacom United Rugby Championship clash in Durban on Saturday.
Prediction: DHL Stormers by 7
Cell C Sharks Director of Rugby Neil Powell has made two changes to the front row, where Ntuthuko Mchunu replaces Ox Nche and Carlü Sadie comes in for Thomas du Toit, with the rest of the pack that served the team so well last week in their victory over Edinburgh remaining in place.
Cell C Sharks fullback Aphelele Fassi acknowledged that his team can expect a huge challenge against the defending champs.
"Coastal derbies are always special, we know the style of play they want to play, we know the threats they bring in terms of the breakdown, the set-piece and going forward in terms of our plan is to just match that and take the opportunities we’ve identified. And being clinical in converting those into points," said the Springbok fullback.
DHL Stormers head coach John Dobson, who named Seabelo Senatla, Clayton Blommetjies, Dan du Plessis, Manie Libbok and Herschel Jantjies in the backline, said that the returning players are all keen to make their mark in the coastal clash.
"The players we rested last week have all played a prominent role in our preparations this week, which is very encouraging. Any South African derby away from home is a tough assignment, so we will have to be as sharp as ever," said Dobson.
“Any South African derby away from home is a tough assignment, so we will have to be as sharp as ever,” he added.
Teams:
Cell C Sharks: 15. Aphelele Fassi, 14. Marnus Potgieter, 13. Ben Tapuai, 12. Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 11. Thaakir Abrahams, 10. Curwin Bosch, 9. Cameron Wright, 8. Phepsi Buthelezi (c), 7. Henco Venter, 6. James Venter, 5. Gerbrandt Grobler, 4. Hyron Andrews, 3. Carlü Sadie, 2. Kerron van Vuuren, 1. Ntuthuko Mchunu. Replacements: 16. Dan Jooste, 17. Dian Bleuler, 18. Hanro Jacobs, 19. Reniel Hugo, 20. Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 21. Bradley Davids, 22. Lionel Cronje, 23. Yaw Penxe.
DHL Stormers: 15. Clayton Blommetjies, 14. Suleiman Hartzenberg, 13. Ruhan Nel, 12. Dan du Plessis, 11. Seabelo Senatla, 10. Manie Libbok, 9. Herschel Jantjies, 8. Marcel Theunissen, 7. Junior Pokomela, 6. Deon Fourie (c), 5. Gary Porter, 4. Ruben van Heerden, 3. Neethling Fouche, 2. Joseph Dweba, 1. Brok Harris. Replacements: 16. Andre-Hugo Venter, 17. Ali Vermaak, 18. Sazi Sandi, 19. Ben-Jason Dixon, 20. Willie Engelbrecht, 21. Keke Morabe, 22. Paul de Wet, 23.Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
