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Preview: Chiefs v Stormers
Sportal.co.nz - (15/04/2010)
Hometown advantage has not applied to the Chiefs this year and will undergo a huge test on Friday in the Rebel Sport Super 14 match against the Stormers at Waikato Stadium.
HEAD TO HEAD: Played 13 - Chiefs 6, Western Province/Stormers 7.
LAST TIME: May 2, 2009 (Cape Town) - Stormers 14-28 Chiefs.
LAST TIME AT VENUE: March 14, 2008 - Chiefs 26-35 Stormers.
WALKING WOUNDED: Chiefs prop Faka'anua Taumalolo has sustained a shoulder injury that is being tested by medical staff at present and Toby Smith moves into the starting lineup, while utility forward Jarrad Hoeata was cited for punching last week and given a two-week suspension for his troubles. The Stormers named the same starting XV and made one change on the bench, where JC Kritzinger has recovered from a leg strain to take his place.
FORM:
PAST FIVE Chiefs:
Round 5: Lost to Crusaders 19-26
Round 6: Bye
Round 7: Lost to Brumbies 23-30
Round 8: Beat Highlanders 26-21
Round 9: Lost to Bulls 19-33
PAST FIVE Stormers:
Round 5: Beat Hurricanes 37-13
Round 6: Beat Cheetahs 21-8
Round 7: Bye
Round 8: Lost to Force 15-16
Round 9: Beat Blues 33-21
Injuries and indifferent form have led to the Chiefs falling into a netherworld in the table's middle reaches where their season could perish without too many people noticing. After a good start they have collapsed in recent weeks and that win over the Highlanders is the only bright spot. As yet they have not won on their home Hamilton track and this week sees another particularly difficult task ahead. The Stormers recovered from a shock loss at Perth two weeks ago to clean the Blues up in the first 20 minutes and then hold on comfortably enough. It might be argued that the Stormers didn't create much and most of their points came off Blues errors, but good teams make the opposition pay and the Stormers are definitely a good side.
WHO'S HOT: Brendon Leonard played another good game for the Chiefs last week and his try was the result of a never-say-die attitude to chasing kicks. Tim Nanai-Williams had his moments at fullback but is sure to be tested again this week and needs to remain calm under pressure. Up front the Chiefs battled for much of the game and the set pieces had their problems, which tended to eliminate the possibility that Liam Messam could make much impact with the ball in hand. The Stormers got a colossal performance from Andries Bekker at Eden Park, where he was involved in a tremendous amount of play. Dewaldt Duvenage will have a good battle with Leonard and flyhalf Peter Grant presents a major threat with his kicking; in the last two weeks he has been a perfect 12 from 12 off the tee and currently has a 93 percent success rate on the season.
WE THINK: The Chiefs look to be on the slide now as injuries take their toll while the Stormers have clearly recovered from that shock loss at Perth a couple of weeks back. We think the visitors will prove too strong in this one and, if they continue last week's powerful form, should take it out by 10-15 points.
TEAMS:
Chiefs: 1. Toby Smith, 2.Hika Elliot, 3. Ben Afeaki, 4.Craig Clarke, 5. Culum Retallick, 6.Liam Messam (captain), 7. Tanerau Latimer, 8.Sione Lauaki, 9.Brendon Leonard, 10. Mike Delany, 11. Dwayne Sweeney, 12. Stephen Donald, 13.Richard Kahui, 14.Lelia Masaga, 15. Tim Nanai-Williams.
Reserves: 16.Vern Kamo, 17.Nathan White, 18.Romana Graham, 19. Colin Bourke, 20.Junior Pololeuligaga, 21.Callum Bruce, 22. Jackson Willison.
Stormers: 1.JD Moller, 2.Tiaan Liebenberg, 3.Brok Harris, 4.Adriaan Fondse, 5.Andries Bekker, 6.Schalk Burger (captain), 7.Francois Louw, 8.Duane Vermeulen, 9.Dewaldt Duvenhage, 10.Peter Grant, 11.Bryan Habana, 12.Juan de Jongh, 13.Jaque Fourie, 14. Sireli Naqelevuki, 15. Gio Aplon.
Reserves: 16.Deon Fourie, 17.JC Kritzinger, 18. Anton Van Zyl, 19.Pieter Louw, 20.Ricky Januarie, 21.Willem de Waal, 22. Tim Whitehead.
REFEREE: Steve Walsh
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