DHL Stormers aim big

DHL Stormers will aim to reach the Vodacom Super Rugby semi-finals for the third time in five years when they host the Brumbies at DHL Newlands in the second Qualifier on Saturday June 20.

However, to do that the men from Cape Town will have buck their trend in playoff matches, where they have only managed to record one victory from six deciders.

On the contrary, the Brumbies’ experience of knock-out rugby far overshadow that of their hosts this weekend, while they can also boast the achievement of being the last team to cross the Indian Ocean and win a match in the Finals Series.

The Capetonians will also be looking for their first playoff victory since Vodacom Super Rugby was expanded to 15 teams in 2011 – thus far they’ve played two and lost both, in 2011 against the Crusaders and in 2012 against the Cell C Sharks, both of them at DHL Newlands.

The first Qualifier is an all-New Zealand affair when the Highlanders host the Chiefs in Dunedin on Saturday morning.

DHL Stormers vs Brumbies

The DHL Stormers have picked their strongest available side for this match, with the only change to the starting line-up from their match two weeks ago against the Emirates Lions at No 8, where Nizaam Carr takes over from Duane Vermeulen.

Juan de Jongh will take over the captaincy from Vermeulen with Schalk Burger named vice-captain.
There are three changes on the bench – Scarra Ntubeni and Ali Vermaak come in for Michael Willemse and Oli Kebble respectively, while Michael Rhodes is in for Carr.

The Brumbies have named an unchanged starting line-up from last weekend’s encounter with the Crusaders in Canberra for this match.

The teams are:
DHL Stormers: Cheslin Kolbe, Seabelo Senatla, Juan de Jongh (captain), Damian de Allende, Dillyn Leyds, Demetri Catrakilis, Nic Groom, Nizaam Carr, Siya Kolisi, Schalk Burger (vice-captain), Manuel Carizza, Eben Etzebeth, Frans Malherbe, Bongi Mbonambi, Steven Kitshoff. Replacements: Scarra Ntubeni, Ali Vermaak, Vincent Koch, Jean Kleyn, Michael Rhodes, Louis Schreuder, Kurt Coleman, Jaco Taute.
Brumbies: Jesse Mogg, Henry Speight, Tevita Kuridrani, Robbie Coleman, Joe Tomane, Christian Lealiifano, Nic White, Ita Vaea, David Pocock, Scott Fardy, Blake Enever, Rory Arnold, Ben Alexander, Stephen Moore (captain), Scott Sio. Replacements (from): Josh Mann-Rea, Allan Alaalatoa, Ruan Smith, Jordan Smiler, Jarrad Butler, Michael Dowsett, Matt Toomua, James Dargaville, Les Makin, Nigel Ah Wong.

Highlanders vs Chiefs
Date: Saturday, June 20