- Team: 15 Jared Payne, 14 Joe Rokocoko, 13 Benson Stanley, 12 Luke McAlister, 11 Lachie Munro, 10 Stephen Brett, 9 Chris Smylie, 8 Peter Saili, 7 Luke Braid, 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Ali Williams, 4 Anthony Boric, 3 John Afoa, 2 Keven Mealamu (C), 1 Charlie Faumuina.
- Replacements: 16 Tom McCartney, 17 Tevita Mailau, 18 Chris Lowrey, 19 Sean Polwart, 20 Alby Mathewson, 21 Winston Stanley, 22 Sherwin Stowers.
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- Team: 15 Ben Smith, 14 Matt Saunders, 13 Kendrick Lynn, 12 Shaun Treeby, 11 Siale Piutau, 10 Tony Brown, 9 Jimmy Cowan, 8 Nasi Manu, 7 Alando Soakai, 6 Adam Thomson, 5 Tom Donnelly, 4 Jarrad Hoeata, 3 Chris King, 2 Jason Rutledge, 1 Jamie Mackintosh (C).
- Replacements: 16 Mo Schwalger, 17 Bronson Murray, 18 Josh Bekhuis, 19 Nick Croswell, 20 Aaron Smith, 21 Robbie Robinson, 22 Telusa Veainu.
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If the Stormers are almost certain to have “won” what might be termed a major trophy for the first time since 2001, they are decidedly reluctant to shout about it from the rooftops.
The Newlands cupboard has not had anything of significant gravitas in it since the Currie Cup final at the ground almost a decade ago, when Western Province beat the Natal Sharks 29-24 and Corné Krige was hoisted onto team-mates’ shoulders clutching the coveted spoils.
So the SANZAR announcement this week that each of the three conference winners in the new-look Super Rugby competition will earn a trophy, almost certainly means that they’d better rummage about for the key to the display cabinet in the vicinity of Boundary Road, as it will take a minor miracle for the Stormers to be eclipsed to the honours by the Bulls at the weekend.
Asked how it felt to be on the brink of receiving a cup, captain Schalk Burger found it hard to suppress his giggles.
“Uuuh … I’ve been prepped what to say, guys,” said Burger, to similar hilarity from the assembled media on Wednesday.
“Obviously it’s fantastic … (cracking up with laughter now, and barely able to speak further – Sport24) to be lifting a trophy … but there’s bigger things to come later in this year.”
Asked for his own thoughts on the pre-final trophies on offer under the new dispensation, coach Allister Coetzee, ever the realist, said: “Let me put this trophy thing to bed … I think mathematically the Bulls can still win it, am I right? You’re the clever blokes.
“That’s why I don’t want to go here … but it would be great to put your name on this trophy. When you win it, yes, it’ll be an achievement and a tribute to the players.
“But really, we’ve worked for seven months, and definitely not for that trophy (specifically).”
All the team sheets now up except for the Reds and Sharks
Sharks team sheet also now up!
The best thing for SA rugby is that the Stormers win against the Cheetahs. Not that I am supporting the powder puff fairies from the mountain.
VRY STAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AT!
ALL Team sheets are now complete
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