SATURDAY AND SUNDAY PREVIEW: The Stormers and Bulls return to Europe this weekend for their do-or-die Round of 16 matches in the Investec Champions Cup, where spots in the quarterfinals will be at stake.
The Stormers will line up against Toulon in France in the first Champions Cup play-off match for the domestic franchises on Saturday, while the Bulls will battle it out with the Glasgow Warriors in Scotland.
With both teams playing away in vastly different conditions to those to which they are used in SA, where they have played their last few United Rugby Championship matches, they will have a mountain to climb.
The Stormers are high on confidence after three wins in a row in the URC, which has seen them occupy second position on the standings with four pool matches remaining. They will brace themselves for a desperate showing by Toulon, who may have won their last three Champions Cup matches but have suffered defeats in four of their last five Top 14 matches, two of which have been at home. This has seen them languishing at the bottom end of the French table.
A victory will see the Capetonians extend their impressive run to four out of four in both competitions, helping them regain the momentum that saw them win their first 10 matches of the season.
They will, however, be mindful of the fact that Toulon defeated them in Cape Town last season in the Champions Cup, which will inspire the Frenchmen to replicate that result and bounce back from their disappointing results in recent weeks.
“This is Toulon’s road to redemption,” Dobson said as he braces for a massive onslaught in France.
“They’re not having the best Top 14, and will be desperate.
“They made it clear, it’s the biggest game of the season. So we know they’re putting all their eggs in.”
The Stormers ‘ Director of Rugby stated that the French media and Ben Youngs expect Toulon to win by 20 points.
“We are under no illusions as to what people think the outcome’s going to be, but we’ll be giving a pleasant surprise tomorrow, I’ve got no doubt.”
Stormers captain Ruhan Nel said they are not shying away from the hostile Stade Félix Mayol crowd and environment.
“I felt we’ve been really good with picking up away wins over the season, whether that was at Munster, which is also a pretty hostile environment with those fans there. Bayonne, same thing,” Nel said.
“I felt the boys have been really good with keeping problems internally and actually finding solutions for that as well.
“We’re very aware of the fact that the crowd is going to be very passionate, but it’s something that we actually embrace and are looking forward to. We want to experience everything that playing at Toulon has to offer for us.”
He added: “We want the flags waving and the flares going and the whistles going. That’s part of it.
“So we know it’s coming, and I think once you know it’s coming, it’s actually easier to embrace.”
The clash between URC log leaders, the Glasgow Warriors, and the Bulls will be particularly spicy given that both teams occupy positions in the top half of the log, and even more so with the men from Pretoria looking to avenge their 12-21 defeat against the Scots earlier this season.
Fueling the South Africans’ motivation, they will be charged up for the clash, knowing that should they register a victory, it would bring Glasgow’s unbeaten run in the Champions Cup to an abrupt halt. It would be particularly satisfying as they have won only one of their four pool matches in the competition.
While the Bulls boast a better attacking record than their opponents in the URC, Glasgow’s defence has been far superior, which is an area the visitors will pay particular attention to going into the match.
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“We’ve got a strong side, and we know we have to be at our best, because Glasgow is, in the URC and in Europe, one of the best sides in the competition,” Bulls head coach Johan Ackermann said.
“They’ve got a lot of internationals. Scotland had a good Six Nations, so there are a lot of players with confidence. They play an exciting brand, score a lot of tries, have a good set-piece, and they’ve got a very strong home record.
“So it’s a big challenge for us, but it’s a great opportunity as well. When I played, you played the game to go up against the best players in the world and constantly test yourself, and that’s what we’ll get on Saturday — an opportunity to test ourselves.”
Ackermann said the plan is to progress as far as possible in the Champions Cup.
“It’s a privilege to play in a play-off game in the EPCR – it’s one of the world’s best competitions. It includes teams from across Europe: France, England, Ireland, Scotland, and all the URC sides.
“It probably could have been easier if we played at home, but so be it. Now we play Glasgow away, and that makes it a great occasion.
“For me personally, in my first year with the Bulls across different competitions, we respect both competitions and want to treat them fairly. We’ll give it a go this weekend and then reassess where we are after the game.”
The other fixtures on Saturday will see Premiership holders Bath take on three-time winners Saracens in an all-English affair. Record six-time Champions Cup winners Toulouse face Bristol, while the Premiership derby between Harlequins and Sale Sharks will conclude the day.
On Sunday, there are two fixtures: Bordeaux-Bègles v Leicester and Leinster v Edinburgh.
French club Bordeaux-Bègles marched to their first major trophy last May and reached this season’s knockouts as top seeds with a perfect run in the group stages.
However, Bordeaux-Bègles’ powerhouse South African centre, Rohan Janse van Rensburg, is refusing to think about back-to-back Champions Cup titles before they host Leicester Tigers in the Round of 16 on Sunday.
Only five other teams have won consecutive titles in the previous 30 finals in the history of the tournament and its earlier incarnations.
“When you start getting into these play-off games, you’re in a position where you really want to go all the way,” Van Rensburg told AFP.
“But you can’t go all the way if you don’t win this weekend’s game, and I think that’s the mentality for us.
“Because if Sunday doesn’t happen, then next week won’t happen.
“We’re not thinking about the double,” the 31-year-old added.
Saturday, April 4
Bath v Saracens
(The Rec, Bath – Kick-off: 15.00; 14.00 GMT)
Prediction:
Rugby365: Bath by 15 points
Bath: 15 Santiago Carreras, 14 Joe Cokanasiga, 13 Ollie Lawrence, 12 Max Ojomoh, 11 Henry Arundell, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ben Spencer (c), 8 Alfie Barbeary, 7 Guy Pepper, 6 Josh Bayliss, 5 Charlie Ewels, 4 Quinn Roux, 3 Archie Griffin, 2 Tom Dunn, 1 Beno Obano
Replacements: 16 Kepu Tuipulotu, 17 Francois van Wyk, 18 Thomas du Toit, 19 Ted Hill, 20 Sam Underhill, 21 Bernard van der Linde, 22 Cameron Redpath, 23 Miles Reid
Saracens: 15 Elliot Daly, 14 Noah Caluori, 13 Nick Tompkins, 12 Owen Farrell, 11 Tobias Elliott, 10 Fergus Burke, 9 Charlie Bracken, 8 Tom Willis, 7 Andy Onyeama-Christie, 6 Theo McFarland, 5 Hugh Tizard, 4 Maro Itoje (c), 3 Marcus Street, 2 Jamie George, 1 Rhys Carre
Replacements: 16 Theo Dan, 17 Eroni Mawi, 18 Marco Riccioni, 19 Harry Wilson, 20 Nathan Michelow, 21 Ivan van Zyl, 22 Alex Lozowski, 23 Max Malins
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia)
Assistant Referees: Ben Connor (Wales), Shota Tevzadze (Georgia)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)
Toulon v Stormers
(Stade Félix Mayol – Kick-off: 16.00; 16.00 SAST, 14.00 GMT)
Prediction:
Rugby365: Stormers by five points
Toulon: 15 Marius Domon, 14 Gaël Drean, 13 Nacho Brex, 12 Antoine Frisch, 11 Setariki Tuicuvu, 10 Tomas Albornoz, 9 Ben White, 8 Mikheil Shioshvili, 7 Charles Ollivon (c), 6 Junior Kpoku, 5 David Ribbans (c), 4 Corentin Mezou, 3 Kyle Sinckler, 2 Teddy Baubigny, 1 Jean-Baptiste Gros
Replacements: 16 Gianmarco Lucchesi, 17 Dany Priso, 18 Beka Gigashvili, 19 Giorgi Javakhia, 20 Matthias Halagahu, 21 Zach Mercer, 22 Mathis Ferte, 23 Ma’a Nonu
Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Damian Willemse, 13 Ruhan Nel (c), 12 Dan du Plessis, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Jurie Matthee, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Hacjivah Dayimani, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 Connor Evans, 4 Adré Smith, 3 Neethling Fouché, 2 André-Hugo Venter, 1 Oli Kebble.
Replacements: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Zachary Porthen, 19 JD Schickerling, 20 Marcel Theunissen, 21 Imad Khan, 22 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 23 Wandisile Simelane
Referee: Christophe Ridley (England)
Assistant Referees: Karl Dickson (England), John Meredith (England)
TMO: Ian Tempest (England)
Glasgow Warriors v Bulls
(Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow – Kick-off: 17.30; 18.30 SAST; 16.30 GMT)
Prediction:
Rugby365: Glasgow by five points
Glasgow Warriors: 15 Josh McKay, 14 Kyle Steyn (c), 13 Stafford McDowall, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 11 Ollie Smith, 10 Dan Lancaster, 9 George Horne, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Rory Darge, 6 Matt Fagerson, 5 Alex Samuel, 4 Max Williamson, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 Gregor Hiddleston, 1 Patrick Schickerling
Replacements: 16 Seb Stephen, 17 Jamie Bhatti, 18 Sam Talakai, 19 Olujare Oguntibeju, 20 Euan Ferrie, 21 Angus Fraser, 22 Ben Afshar, 23 Adam Hastings
Bulls: 15 David Kriel, 14 Cheswill Jooste, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Marcell Coetzee (c), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Francois Klopper, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp
Replacements: 16 Marco van Staden, 17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Cobus Wiese, 20 Jeandre Rudolph, 21 Zak Burger, 22 Stedman Gans, 23 Willie le Roux
Referee: Pierre Brousset (France)
Assistant Referees: Vincent Blasco Baque (France), Julien Caulier (France)
TMO: Tual Trainini (France)
Toulouse v Bristol Bears
(Stadium de Toulouse – Kick-off: 18.30; 18.30 SAST; 16.30 GMT)
Prediction:
Rugby365: Toulouse by 20 points
Toulouse: 15 Thomas Ramos, 14 Teddy Thomas, 13 Kalvin Gourgues, 12 Pierre-Louis Barassi, 11 Matthis Lebel, 10 Romain Ntamack, 9 Antoine Dupont (c), 8 Anthony Jelonch, 7 Jack Willis, 6 François Cros, 5 Emmanuel Meafou, 4 Thibaud Flament, 3 Dorian Aldegheri, 2 Peato Mauvaka, 1 David Ainu’u
Replacements: 16 Thomas Lacombre, 17 Paul Mallez, 18 Joel Merkler, 19 Joshua Brennan, 20 Leo Banos, 21 Paul Graou, 22 Santiago Chocobares, 23 Blair Kinghorn
Bristol Bears: 15 Louis Rees-Zammit, 14 Kalaveti Ravouvou, 13 Benhard Janse van Rensburg, 12 James Williams, 11 Gabriel Ibitoye, 10 Tom Jordan, 9 Harry Randall, 8 Benjamin Grondona, 7 Fitz Harding (c), 6 Steven Luatua, 5 Joe Owen, 4 James Dun, 3 George Kloska, 2 Gabriel Oghre, 1 Ellis Genge
Replacements: 16 Harry Thacker, 17 Jake Woolmore, 18 Max Lahiff, 19 George Taylor, 20 Luka Ivanishvili, 21 Kieran Marmion, 22 Matias Moroni, 23 Noah Heward
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy)
Assistant Referees: Federico Vedovelli (Italy), Alberto Favaro (Italy)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (Italy)
Harlequins v Sale Sharks
(Twickenham Stoop, London – Kick-off: 20.00; 19.00 GMT)
Prediction:
Rugby365: Harlequins by five points
Harlequins: 15 Nick David, 14 Rodrigo Isgró, 13 Luke Northmore, 12 Bryn Bradley, 11 Cadan Murley, 10 Marcus Smith, 9 Stu Townsend, 8 Alex Dombrandt (c), 7 Will Evans, 6 Guido Petti Pagadizábal, 5 Elliot Williams, 4 Kieran Treadwell, 3 Pedro Delgado, 2 Jack Walker, 1 Simon Kerrod
Replacements: 16 George Turner, 17 Will Hobson, 18 Ollie Streeter, 19 Chandler Cunningham-South, 20 Zach Carr, 21 Jack Kenningham, 22 Lucas Friday, 23 Jarrod Evans
Sale Sharks: 15 Joe Carpenter, 14 Tom Roebuck, 13 Marius Louw, 12 Rekeiti Ma’asi-White, 11 Tom O’Flaherty, 10 George Ford, 9 Raffi Quirke, 8 Dan du Preez, 7 Sam Dugdale, 6 Jacques Vermeulen, 5 Ben Bamber, 4 Ernst van Rhyn (c), 3 Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 1 Bevan Rodd
Replacements: 16 Ethan Caine, 17 Si McIntyre, 18 James Harper, 19 Reuben Logan, 20 Jos Gilmore, 21 Gus Warr, 22 Ollie Davies, 23 Alex Wills
Referee: Luc Ramos (France)
Assistant Referees: Thomas Charabas (France), Jonathan Gasnier (France)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (France)
Sunday, April 5
Bordeaux-Begles v Leicester Tigers
(Stade Chaban-Delmas, Bordeaux – Kick-off: 16.00; 15.00 UK Time; 14.00 GMT)
Prediction:
Rugby365: Bordeaux-Begles by 10 points
Bordeaux-Bègles: 15 Salesi Rayasi, 14 Pablo Uberti, 13 Damian Penaud, 12 Yoram Moefana, 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 10 Matthieu Jalibert, 9 Maxime Lucu (c), 8 Marko Gazzotti, 7 Cameron Woki, 6 Bastien Vergnes-Taillefer, 5 Adam Coleman, 4 Boris Palu, 3 Carlü Sadie, 2 Maxime Lamothe, 1 Jefferson Poirot
Replacements: 16 Gaetan Barlot, 17 Matis Perchaud, 18 Ben Tameifuna, 19 Pierre Bochaton, 20 Temo Matiu, 21 Arthur Retiere, 22 Hugo Reus, 23 Rohan Janse van Rensburg
Leicester Tigers: 15 Freddie Steward, 14 Adam Radwan, 13 Izaia Perese, 12 Joseph Woodward, 11 Ollie Hassell-Collins, 10 James O’Connor, 9 Jack van Poortvliet, 8 Olly Cracknell, 7 Joshua Manz, 6 Joaquin Moro, 5 Harry Wells, 4 Hanro Liebenberg (c), 3 Will Hurd, 2 Jamie Blamire, 1 Archie van der Flier
Replacements: 16 Charlie Clare, 17 Tarek Haffar, 18 Ale Loman, 19 Cameron Henderson, 20 Harry Palmer, 21 Tom Whiteley, 22 Billy Searle, 23 Will Wand
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
Assistant Referees: Peter Martin (Ireland), Padraic Reidy (Ireland)
TMO: Olly Hodges (Ireland)
Leinster v Edinburgh
(Aviva Stadium – Kick-off: 17.30; 16.30 GMT)
Prediction:
Rugby365: Leinster by 10 points
Leinster: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Tommy O’Brien, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Jamie Osborne, 11 Jimmy O’Brien, 10 Harry Byrne, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Caelan Doris (c), 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Jack Conan, 5 Ryan Baird, 4 Joe McCarthy, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Dan Sheehan, 1 Andrew Porter
Replacements: 16 Gus McCarthy, 17 Alex Usanov, 18 Thomas Clarkson, 19 Brian Deeny, 20 Max Deegan, 21 Luke McGrath, 22 Ciarán Frawley, 23 Robbie Henshaw
Edinburgh: 15 Piers O’Conor, 14 Darcy Graham, 13 Matt Currie, 12 James Lang, 11 Malelili Satala, 10 Ross Thompson, 9 Charlie Shiel, 8 Ben Muncaster, 7 Dylan Richardson, 6 Liam McConnell, 5 Grant Gilchrist (c), 4 Marshall Sykes, 3 D’arcy Rae, 2 Ewan Ashman, 1 Pierre Schoeman
Replacements: 16 Jerry Blyth-Lafferty, 17 Boan Venter, 18 Paul Hill, 19 Glen Young, 20 Freddy Douglas, 21 Ben Vellacott, 22 Mosese Tuipulotu, 23 Jack Brown
Referee: Luke Pearce (England)
Assistant Referees: Hamish Smales (England), Joe James (England)
TMO: Andrew Jackson (England)
*Additional sources: AFP & SA Rugby
