SupeRugby Qualifier 2 - Brumbies vs Cheetahs

This Sunday South Africa's Cheetahs make their inaugural appearance in the qualifiers. They are searching for their first victory in five trips to Canberra when they take on the Brumbies.

It will be the Australian Conference winning Brumbies' first playoff game since 2004 when they downed the Crusaders in the final.

News from the Australian Capital Territories side is that George Smith will start as he is fully recovered from the knock he received against the British and Irish Lions and after coming off the bench last weekend against the Force he will be fit and ready to start.

"George has all that experience, has played in play-offs and won the competition before so any bit of advantage we can get going into this knockout stage of the competition is going to be vital." Brumbies World Cup-winning Springbok coach Jake White said.

The Bloemfontein-based Cheetahs are the only team of the remaining six teams in this years competition yet to win this tournament and coach Naka Drotske can boast the best season in the franchise history winning 10 out of 16. His team are without a doubt the under dogs but they have been for most of this campaign and can be proud of their achievement thus far. I tend to agree with their coach Drotske: "We have a confident atmosphere in the team and we know if we play well, we can beat any team on the day,".

Prediction
My money is on the Cheetahs not just because they have an expansive game plan and play attractive running rugby but because the Brumbies current squad are just as inexperienced in this stage of the competition. It will be close let's say Cheetahs to win by less than 10.

Brumbies:
1. Scott Sio,2. Stephen Moore,3. Ben Alexander,4. Scott Fardy ,5. Sam Carter,6. Peter Kimlin,7. George Smith,8. Ben Mowen (c),9. Nic White,10. Matt Toomua,11. Clyde Rathbone,12. Christian Lealiifano,13. Tevita Kuridrani,14. Henry Speight,15. Jesse Mogg

Replacements : 16. Siliva Siliva,17. Ruan Smith,18. Fotu Auelua,19. Colby Faingaa,20. Ian Prior,21. Andrew Smith,22. Joe Tomane

Cheetahs:
15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Willie le Roux, 13 Johann Sadie, 12 Robert Ebersohn, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Riaan Smit, 9 Piet van Zyl, 8 Philip van der Walt, 7 Lappies Labuschagne, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Rynhardt Landman, 4 Lodewyk de Jager, 3 Lourens Adriaanse, 2 Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1 Coenie Oosthuizen

Substitutes: 16 Ryno Barnes, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Waltie Vermeulen, 19 Boom Prinsloo, 20 Sarel Pretorius, 21 Elgar Watts, 22 Rayno Benjamin

Jade Christopher Bentley Adams (@jcba)

Comments

Arsene Wenger v Jose Mourinho: The history of their rivalry in quotes

A must read by Adams Bate of Skysports news, The war of words between Jose Mourinho and Arsene Wenger goes on and on. While the Manchester United boss has generally had the upper hand on the pitch over the years, both managers have had stern words for each other in the press room. Here we recall their rivalry in quotes, dating back to Mourinho's first season in English football... "I don't see especially that Chelsea play more English players than we do. Who have they produced, homegrown? Just one, John Terry." - Wenger in 2005 when quizzed on Arsenal's all-foreign line-up. At the beginning of the following season in August 2005, Wenger also expressed concerns over Chelsea's tactics: "I know we live in a world where we have only winners and losers, but once a sport encourages teams who refuse to take the initiative, the sport is in danger." Mourinho was unimpressed. "Wenger has a real problem with us and I think he is what you ca...

Liverpool's Klopp host Jose's United

WHAT THE MANAGERS SAY Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp : "Apart from the table, it's a very important game. I know about the history, I like the special stories. The whole world will watch this game, it's a big honour to be part of it. "At the end, it's up to us to perform to our best. You cannot and should not ignore the special circumstance of a game like this. You have to be ready. "They have big quality and we have to respect this, as we do. But this is Anfield. We have to show this. We have had a few nice atmospheres but I'm open for the best atmosphere. We need everybody in a Liverpool shirt in this game." Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho on concerns over disrespectful chanting at the game: "In football we have some football tragedies, if you can say that, which is a big match that you lost, the mistake that some player did, this kind of thing, and you can make fun of it in a positive way. "But the human tragedy i...

Moyes leaves Manchester United

Manchester United has announced that David Moyes has left the Club. (www.manutd.com) The Club would like to place on record its thanks for the hard work, honesty and integrity he brought to the role. Giggs in temporary charge Following the departure of David Moyes as manager , Manchester United has announced that Ryan Giggs, the club’s most decorated player, will assume responsibility for the first team until a permanent appointment can be made. The club will make no further comment on this process until it is concluded Jade Christopher Bentley Adams signing off (@jcba)

Search This Blog