Stormers vs Sharks Super rugby preview

Between 2006 and 2010 the Sharks went unbeaten against the Stormers but in 2011 the Cape Based franchise beat the Durban franchise twice.

What is worse for the Sharks is that in 2011 the Sharks played the Stormers twice and on both occasions the Sharks were unable to score a try.

On average when the Stormers and Sharks play each other the Stormers score 23 points and the Sharks score 20 points. In Cape Town the Stormers on average score 25 points and the Sharks still score 20 points.

The teams have played each other 15 times and the Stormers have won 8 times and the Sharks 7 times. As mentioned earlier in 2011 the Sharks lost both their matches (home and away) to the Stormers. In 2010 the Sharks did not play the Stormers in Cape Town but in 2009 the Sharks won 15-20.

The teams have played each other seven times in Cape Town and the Stormers have won 4 times for a 57% success rate.

Last weekend the Sharks started positively but by half time neither team had scored. In the second half Morne Steyn started picking away at the Sharks on the scoreboard and although they only finished five points behind the Bulls at 18-13 the match was beyond them 20 minutes from time.

The Sharks did score a second half try but by that time the Bulls had built a mountain for the Sharks to climb in a relatively low scoring match.

Last week the Stormers put in a solid performance but it was not impressive. A young and inexperienced Hurricanes team pushed them all the way for 60 to 65 minutes. Referee Jaco Peyper was kind to the Stormers and the Hurricanes discipline did not help their cause.

The Sharks will be a lot more experienced and present the Stormers with a much sterner task but they will have to be careful at the line out as they are up against probably the tallest lock-pairing in Super Rugby - Andries Bekker at 2.08m and Eben Etzebeth at 2.03m.

The Sharks' locks are Steven Sykes (1.98m) and the former Stormer Ross Skeate (2.01m).

Bekker is the tallest player in the history of Super Rugby, while only two Aussies and a Kiwi - Greg Peterson (Waratahs), Phoenix Battye (Force) and Brodie Retallick (Chiefs), all at 2.04m - are taller than Etzebeth.

The Bookies have given the Sharks 4 point start for this match - with an offer of Bet 5 and Get 50 in Bets. The Sharks will be hungry after last week's disappointment of losing to the Bulls. We are going against home advantage and the bookies on this one. The Sharks to edge the Stormers by 2 points.

This match will be shown on Sky in NZ, Austar/Fox in Aus, DSTV in SA and in the UK on Sky Sports 4 HD.

Average score: Stormers 23 Sharks 20

Last five results
30 Apr 2011 Stormers v Sharks 32-12 Cape Town
02 Apr 2011 Stormers v Sharks 16-6 Durban
08 May 2010 Stormers v Sharks 14-20 Durban
14 Feb 2009 Stormers v Sharks 15-20 Cape Town
23 Feb 2008 Stormers v Sharks 10-12 Durban

Stormers overall record against the Sharks
Played 15, Wins 8 , Losses 7, Draws 0

Match No.14: Stormers Sharks
Date Saturday 3 March
Venue : Cape Town
Kick Off local: 19:10
Referee: Mark Lawrence
Assistant Ref 1: Jason Jatha
Assistant Ref 2:Christie Du Preez
TMO : Gerrie Coetzee

Teams

Stormers:

15. Joe Pietersen , 14. Gio Aplon , 13. Juan de Jongh , 12. Jean de Villiers (C) , 11. Bryan Habana , 10. Gary van Aswegen , 9. Dewaldt Duvenage , 8. Nick Koster , 7. Duane Vermeulen , 6. Siya Kolisi , 5. Andries Bekker (VC) , 4. Eben Etzebeth , 3. Brok Harris , 2. Tiaan Liebenberg , 1. Steven Kitshoff

Reserves: , 16. Scarra Ntubeni , 17. Frans Malherbe , 18. De Kock Steenkamp , 19. Nizaam Carr , 20. Louis Schreuder , 21. Peter Grant , 22. Gerhard van den Heever

Sharks

15. Riaan Viljoen , 14. Louis Ludik , 13. JP Pietersen , 12. Meyer Bosman , 11. Lwazi Mvovo , 10. Patrick Lambie , 9. Frederic Michalak , 8. Keegan Daniel (C) , 7. Marcell Coetzee , 6. Jacques Botes , 5. Ross Skeate , 4. Steven Sykes , 3. Wiehahn Herbst , 2. Bismarck du Plessis , 1. Dale Chadwick

Replacements , 16. Craig Burden , 17. Jannie du Plessis , 18. Anton Bresler , 19. Lubabalo Mtembu , 20. Charl McLeod , 21. Marius Joubert , 22. Paul Jordaan

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