Only six of the eight sides in the South African group will have Super Rugby action to look forward to as the Stormers and Japanese outfit the Sunwolves are given the weekend off after returning home following gruelling overseas legs which saw both teams fail to pick up a single point on tour.
Cheetahs frustrated after a loss in Bloemfontein[/caption]
The Cheetahs will spend the month of May away from home and will kick off their overseas tour with a crunching clash against the Blues in Auckland. While the Blues may sit bottom of the New Zealand conference, they are still eight points better off than the top-team in Australia, the Brumbies. The Cheetahs once again turned in another high-spirited home performance against a top side in the Highlanders but unfortunately spirit alone, while it may win you suitors, it won’t win you rugby matches. The Bloemfontein-based side threw away a 17-point lead in the final five minutes in one of the most thrilling finishes to a Super Rugby match as they succumbed to defeat from a winning position for the third time in four weeks. Neil Jordaan comes in for the injured Paul Schoeman at flank in one of Cheetahs’ coach Franco Smith’s three changes while the Blues will be without All-Black ace Sonny Bill Williams.
Lions coach Johan Ackermann[/caption]
The Lions will be looking to make it three wins from three on tour when they face the Brumbies in Friday’s only other fixture. They made light work of the Force and the Rebels picking up maximum points in their opening two games but will face a sterner test of their credentials this time out. Stephen Larkham’s men are holding onto a qualifying berth by the skin of their teeth by virtue of being the best Australian side but that feat is far from flattering. They do, however, boast the league’s third tightest defence, conceding on average less than 22 points per game and Lions coach Johan Ackerman is well aware of what lies ahead for his side. Speaking ahead of their clash he said “With it being such a late kick-off, close to 8pm, it’s expected that it’s going to be very cold and slippery, with a lot of dew. We’re just going to have to adjust as best we can, as is the case with the one less day to prepare this week, with the match being on a Friday.”
PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA - APRIL 22: Hanro Liebenberg of the Bulls hands off by Henco Venter[/caption]
The Bulls will be doing all they can to recover from a bruising defeat to the Crusaders at home last weekend. The Christchurch-based side walked away with a 62-24 victory – their first win at Loftus in nine years. Hanro Liebenberg will become the Bulls 19th ever captain when the Number 8 leads his side out in place of the injured Adriaan Strauss. The Highlanders have rung the changes for their second game on tour following their outstanding come-from-behind triumph in Bloemfontein, welcoming back their captain and hooker, Ash Dixon as part of five changes to their formidable forward pack.
EP Kings celebrate after a win against the Waratahs[/caption]
The Kings have had two weeks to prepare for their coastal clash with the Sharks in Port Elizabeth on Saturday and will be eager to return to the field following back-to-back wins for the first time this season against the Waratahs and Rebels respectively. With the threat of being axed from Super Rugby looming, the Kings have reared their heads at the perfect time to leapfrog both the Bulls and the Cheetahs into 5th place on the South African log and franchise officials are expecting “between 20 000 and 30 000 fans” to fill the stands. The Sharks will have to be weary of this weekend’s opponents following underwhelming performances against lesser opposition in the tournaments bottom sides the Rebels and Western Force in recent weeks.