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Rugby 365 gives us a great preview with all the facts of the season so far
Sharks coach John Plumtree has never been shy to speak his mind and when he talks, it is always worth listening.

He uttered a few truisms this week, in the build-up to his team’s Currie Cup semifinal showdown with the Free State Cheetahs, but none more meaningful that when he pointed out that the playing field is level.

“This is finals time and they [the Cheetahs] know as well as we do that it doesn’t matter how you got there, it’s down to who wants it most on the day,” the Sharks’ Kiwi coach said.

The significance of this is that the two teams took vastly different routes to get to the play-offs.

The home team won 12 of their 14 league matches and both their defeats were against Western Province. The Sharks, deservedly, topped the table at the completion of the league stages.

The Cheetahs lost their first four matches, before regaining their momentum and going on a six-match victory run. They sneaked into the semifinals courtesy of the Sharks beating Griquas in the last round and then only on points difference.

But, as Plumtree said, that matters nothing.

Both teams are on level terms when the game gets underway at 14.30 in Durban on Saturday.

It is what they will bring to the game this Saturday that will matter most.

Sharks replacement hooker Craig Burden said the Cheetahs are one of the sides that can be very unpredictable.

“They may well bring a couple of surprises to the game,” Burden said, adding that the visitors’ set pieces are their strength.

“However, the Sharks’ set pieces have been fairly successful throughout the Currie Cup and the guys are looking forward to the challenge.

“The [Sharks’] scrums are looking good and our line-outs are pretty solid as well.

“We will definitely confront them at their strengths,” Burden said of what is expected to be a force battle among the forwards.

Cheetahs coach Naka Drotské has selected a very strong and powerful team, boosted by the return of Sevens Springbok Lionel Mapoe and flyhalf Jacques-Louis Potgieter.

However, Drotské hinted that he may well change his line-up at short notice, depending on the weather.

He also did not waste the opportunity to try and get a psychological edge.

“There’s enormous pressure on the Sharks,” said Drotské.

“They are the champions and they are playing in front of their home crowd, which will bring huge expectation. We don’t have pressure, because nobody gave us a chance to get to the semis after we started with four consecutive losses. We go to Durban as the underdogs.”

Players to watch:

For the Sharks: You will look to captain and fullback Stefan Terblanche to steady the ship, with the experience of Springbok backs Adrian Jacobs and JP Pietersen to support him. There is the Argentinean magician Juan Hernandez at flyhalf, along with the undoubted talent of Ruan Pienaar at scrumhalf. You have a season second row in Johann Muller and Steven Sykes, not to forget the all-Springbok front row of John Smit, Bismarck du Plessis and Tendai Mtawarira.

For the Free State Cheetahs: Top of the list, without doubt, is one of the international finds of the year, Springbok flank Heinrich Brüssow, who will be ably supported by Frans Viljoen and Ashley Johnson. The sometimes blistering bursts of energy by fullback Hennie Daniller could be very exciting, Lionel Mapoe on the wing is always worth watching, as is Jongi Nokwe on the other wing. The Cheetahs front row of WP Nel, Richardt Strauss and Wian du Preez have also built up a big reputation this year.

Head to heads: You can virtually list both teams, but the key battles will be along the respective spines of the team – at fullback there is Stefan Terblanche (Sharks) against Hennie Daniller (Cheetahs), at flyhalf you have Juan Hernandez (Sharks) against Jacques-Louis Potgieter (Cheetahs), you have Jacques Botes (Sharks) against Heinrich Brussow (Cheetahs) in the crucial breakdown battle and the two front rows – John Smit, Bismarck du Plessis and Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks) against WP Nel, Richardt Strauss and Wian du Preez (Cheetahs).

Most recent head-to-head Currie Cup results:
2009: Sharks won 21-12, Bloemfontein
2009: Sharks won 24-13, Durban
2008: Sharks won 22-10, Durban
2008: Cheetahs won 31-9, Bloemfontein
2007: Cheetahs won 25-23, Bloemfontein
2007: Cheetahs win 42-22, Durban

Road to the play-offs:

Sharks:
Lost to Western Province 15-29
Beat Boland 46-10
Beat Blue Bulls 19-13
Beat Cheetahs 21-12
Beat Leopards 44-14
Beat Lions 30-19
Beat Griquas 41-6
Lost to Western Province 9-21
Beat Boland 48-3
Beat Blue Bulls 29-23
Beat Cheetahs 24-13
Beat Leopards 34-20
Beat Lions 19-17
Beat Griquas 45-30

Free State Cheetahs:
Lost to Griquas 18-28
Lost to Lions 22-31
Lost to Western Province 13-19
Lost to Sharks 12-21
Beat Blue Bulls 24-15
Beat Leopards 71-17
Beat Boland 59-8
Beat Griquas 58-13
Beat Lions 20-16
Beat Western Province 33-31
Lost to Sharks 13-24
Lost to Blue Bulls 27-30
Beat Leopards 60-17
Beat Boland 55-10

rugby365 Prediction: The playing field may be level and a desperate Cheetahs team is indeed dangerous. In fact they have often proved to be the nemeses of the Sharks. However, the Sharks look to have the class and experience required to win games of this nature. It won’t be a walk in the park and the Cheetahs may well be in the hunt right to the end. But we are backing the Sharks to sneak into the Final. The Sharks by less than 10 points.

Teams:

The Sharks: 15 Stefan Terblanche (captain), 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Adrian Jacobs, 12 Riaan Swanepoel, 11 JP Pietersen, 10 Juan Hernandez, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Jean Deysel, 6 Jacques Botes, 5 Johann Muller, 4 Steven Sykes, 3 John Smit, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Craig Burden, 17 Jannie du Plessis, 18 Albert van den Berg, 19 Keegan Daniel, 20 Rory Kockott, 21 Monty Dumond, 22 Andries Strauss.

Cheetahs: 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Lionel Mapoe, 13 Corné Uys, 12 Meyer Bosman, 11 Jongi Nokwe, 10 Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 9 JP Joubert, 8 Ashley Johnson, 7 Frans Viljoen, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 David de Villiers, 4 Nico Breedt (captain), 3 WP Nel, 2 Richardt Strauss, 1 Wian du Preez.
Replacements: 16 Coenie Oosthuizen, 17 Izak van der Westhuizen, 18 Hendro Scholtz, 19 Lukas Floors, 20 Tewis de Bruyn, 21 Louis Strydom, 22 Fabian Juries.

Date: Saturday, October 17
Venue: Absa Stadium, Durban
Kick-off: 14.30 (12.30 GMT)
Expected weather: Light rain, with clearing skies. Cool. High 21°C, low 18°C, wind 25km/h S
Referee: Marius Jonker
Assistant referees: Pro Legoete, Christie du Preez
TMO: Johann Meuwesen

By Jan de Koning