S14 Final: Head to Head
May 28 2009
With the 2009 Super 14 Final only days away, Planet Rugby takes a look at the two quality line-ups set to grace the Loftus Versfeld turf as they prepare to go head to head with the same goal in mind: win at all costs!
Ever felt like you had a point to prove? The Bulls and the Chiefs certainly will in this winner-takes-all encounter when 30 players attempt to go one better than the other in a bid to raise the coveted Super 14 trophy.
Full-back: Zane Kirchner v Mils Muliaina. The Bulls' tall and rangy full-back could be a wild card selection at the back in the Bok line-up to tackle the British and Irish Lions next month. Kirchner runs clever angles, has a varied kicking game and can break the line repeatedly. His Kiwi counterpart is, in our opinion anyway, the leading full-back in the game - nevermind the tournament! The Chiefs are renowned for their attacking rugby, and the All Blacks star is often the catalyst.
Wing: Akona Ndungane v Dwayne Sweeney. Since falling off the Bok radar following South Africa's World Cup win, Ndungane gains confidence with every game he plays and it's no wonder he is one of the leading try-scorers for the Bulls this season. What he lacks in pace, is made up ten fold in commitment. Sweeney has played the last two matches at centre in the absence of the injured Richard Kahui. His value to the team means he starts on the wing and no doubt will cause as much damage along the sideline as he did in the midfield.
Outside centre: Jaco Pretorius v Richard Kahui. Both are focal points of their back-lines, and each will be tasked with shutting the other down. They'll have their defence tested, as both like to run the ball with Pretorius being a former Sevens player and Kahui making his Test debut on the wing. Having passed a late fitness test to play this match, it remains to be seen whether Kahui can go the distance. One thing is for sure, Pretorius won't be hanging back to find out.
Inside centre: Wynand Olivier v Callum Bruce. Big defence, vision, like-breaking ability and a knack for scoring tries - it's no wonder the Bulls are desperate to have their star centre starting on Saturday. Like Kahui, Olivier has been sidelined with injury but provided he can stand up to Callum's barn-storming runs, the discarded Bok's contribution to this match will be decisive as the match wears on.
Wing: Bryan Habana v Lelia Masaga. Both have similar strengths and weaknesses, so their battle will be decided by who's given the most ball. Habana's straight-line speed and brawny tackling are a major threat on the wing. Masaga has size, speed as well as strength and he was by far the most threatening wing in the 2009 competition. He has left countless would-be defenders for dead with his hybrid of blistering pace and brutal physicality.
Fly-half: Morne Steyn v Stephen Donald. If the final ends up to be a tight affair, the winning result rests on the pivot's shoulders -no pressure then! Drop-goal extraordinaire Steyn has proved throughout the Bulls' campaign how lethal he is with the boot and nobody needs reminding of last week's semi-final against the Crusaders. In the previous two matches before the semi-final against the Hurricanes, Donald scored all of his side's points which means he ain't no slouch with the boot either and can run the ball better than Steyn. He has plenty of time on the ball, a true indicator of class, and often controls play seemingly unhurried.
Scrum-half: Fourie du Preez v Toby Morland. Rated as the world's finest scrum-half, Du Preez has acute tactical awareness and a pinpoint kicking game. In the context of the Bulls' forward orientated game plan, Du Preez's performance behind the scrum is often key to victory. Morland had big boots to fill in the absence of Brendon Leonard and credit must be given when due: he has not let his team down by any means. A feisty half-back, there's no denying that Morland will be up for the challenge.
Number eight: Pierre Spies v Sione Lauaki. Much has been made of the duel between the two sides' wrecking balls. Undoubtedly, whoever slices the advantage line more will give his side an edge. Spies has achieved god-like status in South Africa this season. 'Explosive' is the perennial term used to describe this multi-talented back-rower, however frightening upper body strength and a ferocious competitive spirit make Lauaki one of the most formidable foes to encounter at the base of a scrum.
Flank: Dewald Potgieter and Deon Stegmann v Tanerau Latimer and Liam Messam. The Chiefs are a very good loose trio collectively. Latimer and Messam work well together as Messam is a great ball runner with Latimer playing towards the ball, freeing up Lauaki to play looser. As a unit they are formidable. The Bulls' loose triumvirate have been outstanding to date, and have displayed the type of balance the championship winning side of 2007 boasted. More famous for their breakdown skills, Potgieter's speed and Stegmann's big hits are often deployed as an offensive weapon against opposing teams.
Lock: Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha v Kevin O'Neill and Craig Clarke. Many have tried to nullify Matfield and Botha's influence, but few have succeeded. The vastly experienced Bulls' duo are never intimidated, usually effective in the tight-loose, and always impossible to match at line-out time. These two have redefined the lock position... it's that simple, and they are that good. O'Neill and Clarke have been consistent in the second row for the Chiefs and while they may not match the Bok pair's line-out ability, they can certainly make their presence felt elsewhere.
Prop: Werner Kruger and Guthro Steenkamp v James McGougan and Sona Taumalolo. This encounter will be a watershed test for the Chiefs' heavies. Both McGougan and Taumalolo are reliable ball carriers and defend solidly around the fringes of a ruck, however their mettle will be tested in the scrum. Kruger and Steenkamp have been the corner-stone of the Bulls' assault in the eight-man shove and will be relied upon once again to disrupt their visitors... so expect vintage scrums.
Hooker: Derick Kuün v Aled de Malmanche. Two of the form hookers in the competition go head to head - literally. Both are mobile and tough, have a good arm in the line-out and like to get in the thick of things. Accurate in the line-out, strong in the tight and devastating in the loose, the two hookers also bring that mongrel characteristic that most coaches prize. It's a quality that makes the difference in the forward-orientated matches.