The Vodacom Bulls will have the weekend off following their local derby victory over the Cheetahs last time out. A first win over a South African team in this seasons competition has given them a faint glimpse of the play-off spots but with a mouth-watering set of fixtures to look forward to elsewhere, the rest of the sides in the African Conference will be looking to pile the pressure back on the boys from Pretoria.
Eben Etzebeth of the Stormers wins a lineout ball[/caption]
The Chiefs take on the Sunwolves in Friday mornings early kick-off while at the same time The Stormers will tackle the Highlanders in Dunedin. The Western Cape side got their overseas tour underway in the worst possible fashion last week. They were humbled in Christchurch, 57-24 by the Crusaders and although they remain well clear off the Bulls to retain a play-off place, they will certainly look to this fixture to get back to winning ways. The Highlanders have had a mixed season and despite their 25-point drubbing of the Sunwolves, remain 4th in the New Zealand conference. Stormers Lock, Springbok Eben Etzebeth with play his 50th game for the Cape franchise who also welcome back scrum-half Jano Vermaak to their starting line-up.
Faf de Klerk of the Lions during the Super Rugby match between Toyota Cheetahs and Emirates Lions[/caption]
Last season’s beaten finalists and may people’s tip for the title this season, The Lions, begin their overseas tour with a trip to Perth to play the Western Force. Johan Ackerman’s men are looking to extend their lead at the top of the South African Log and potentially top spot overall, depending on the Cheetahs result against the Crusaders later in the day. The Force turned in a spirited performance against the Chiefs a week ago but it was not enough as they slipped to their 5th defeat in 7 outings this season. Four of those have been by margins of 10 points or less and the Lions will have to be at their best to come away with a full complement of points. Jesse Kriel is injured and has not travelled with the squad with Faf de Klerk returns to the run-on XV.
Jordan Taufua, Owen Franks, Codie Taylor and Joe Moody of the Crusaders (L-R) look on during the round nine Super Rugby match between the Crusaders and the Stormers at AMI Stadium[/caption]
After coming away unscathed against The Jaguares last week, The Lions will be looking to fellow felines, The Cheetahs, to do them a favour on Friday afternoon. They have it all to do in Bloemfontein against the only remaining unbeaten side left in the competition, The Crusaders. Coach Franco Smith has warned his players, following their defeat to The Bulls “If we wait until Friday or Saturday before we recover from this, we’re going to get a big klap (smack).” They have conceded 25+ in all but one of their games thus far and the free scoring Crusaders also boast the best defence in Super Rugby this season with a forward line containing All Black trio Owen Franks, Sam Whitelock and Kieran Read.
Southern Kings player Micheal Willemse (C) celebrates after scoring a try against the Waratahs during the Super15 rugby match between Waratahs and South Africa's Southern Kings[/caption]
With two South African franchises to be cut from Super Rugby ahead of the 2018 season, along with the Cheetahs, the Kings are in real trouble of falling away. They are not going down without a fight though, and shocked the Waratahs 26-24 in a thrilling game for only their second win of the season. Three of the four sides below them on the combined log are all Australian, and in the Rebels, the side from Port Elizabeth have a real chance to make it three in their first game since returning from their overseas duties. They are full of confidence and Captain Lionel Cronje said of his team following their victory in Sydney “It has been an emotional few weeks for us… We have been improving week in and week out and I can tell you that this will not be our last win. We have plenty more games left in this competition, and we will win a few of those.”
Philip van der Walt and Jean-Luc du Preez of the Cell C Sharks tackling Rodrigo Baez of the Jaguares during the Super Rugby match between Cell C Sharks and Jaguares[/caption]
Finally, the Jaguares, with 100% record at home this season, play host to the Sharks on Saturday evening where a win for the Argentinians would left them above their South African counterparts and into a play-off spot for the quarter-finals. They are coming off the back of a winless tour in South Africa which began with an 18-13 defeat to this weekends’ opponents just three weeks ago. The Durban based side have rung the changes, eight in total, following their disappointing 9-9 draw against the Melbourne Rebels last week.