The Stormers and the Brumbies go head to head at Newlands, Cape Town Friday evening at 19:10 SA Time. The Stormers are 2 wins from 2 outings whereas the Brumbies are 1 win from 2.

The Stormers, having purchased Bryan Habana and Jacque Fourie, have played well enough to win their 2 matches but yet they have not scored a 4-try bonus point in any of the matches, showing some wonderful defensive capabilities, yet lacking somewhat on the attacking front.

One senses though that they are a confident side and that they could easily click on into overdrive once they are able to get going.

Led by Andries Bekker, who has really played well thus far, and with the 2 new acquisitions fitting in well and scoring most of the tries to date they are dangerous.

The Brumbies, although they lost against the Champoin Bulls, still look like possible semi-final contenders. They play an all-round type of rugby and one struggles to find weaknesses in their armour. The possible exception is probably that they tend to be ill-diciplined for periods in a match, as was seen last week. They know that this is their frailty, so expect them to have worked on these issues.

They have excellent game breakers in Rocky Elsom, George Smith, Matt Giteau and Stirling Mortlock.

Out of pure South African loyalty as well as the fact that the game will be officiated by an all SA team of officials, I would like to predict a win for the Stormers…. Stormers by 5.

Previous Super 14 results:
2009: Brumbies won 17-10 (Canberra)
2008: Stormers won 20-10 (Cape Town)
2007: Brumbies won 26-13 (Canberra)
2006: Stormers and Brumbies drew 15-15 (Cape Town)

Teams:

Stormers: 15 Joe Pietersen, 14 Gio Aplon, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Juan de Jongh, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Peter Grant, 9 Ricky Januarie, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Francois Louw, 6 Pieter Louw, 5 Andries Bekker (captain), 4 De Kock Steenkamp, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 JC Kritzinger.
Replacements: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Eusebio Guinazu, 18 Anton van Zyl, 19 Pieter Myburgh, 20 Dewaldt Duvenage, 21 Lionel Cronje, 22 Sireli Naqelevuki.

Brumbies: 15 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14 Pat McCabe, 13 Stirling Mortlock, 12 Christian Lealiifano, 11 Francis Fainifo, 10 Matt Giteau, 9 Josh Valentine, 8 Stephen Hoiles (captain), 7 George Smith, 6 Rocky Elsom, 5 Mark Chisholm, 4 Ben Hand, 3 Salesi Ma’afu, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Ben Alexander.
Replacements: 16 Huia Edmonds, 17 Guy Shepherdson, 18 Justin Harrison, 19 Mitchell Chapman, 20 Patrick Phibbs, 21 Matt Toomua, 22 Tyrone Smith.

Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Pro Legoete (South Africa), Cobus Wessels (South Africa)
TMO: Johann Meuwesen (South Africa)