DHL Stormers v MTN Lions Preview

The DHL Stormers will be looking to build on their brilliant Vodacom Super Rugby victory in Pretoria before the break when they host the MTN Lions at DHL Newlands in Cape Town on Saturday afternoon.

But the MTN Lions will also be heading into this match on the back of a win, as they beat The Sharks for only their second victory of the 2012 season at Coca-Cola Park during Round 15 early in June.

However, the MTN Lions will have to turn around an unflattering record against the DHL Stormers – the men from Johannesburg have never beaten their Cape counterparts in Vodacom Super Rugby. The closest they got was last year at DHL Newlands when the DHL Stormers won 19-16 despite being outscored by two tries to one.

Peter Grant and Elton Jantjies featured on the score sheet that day and on Saturday the two respective flyhalves can make it to 100 Vodacom Super Rugby series points, along with DHL Stormers fullback Joe Pietersen.

Pietersen is the closest to the century mark on 97 points in 2012, while Grant needs six points (he is on 94) and Jantjies eight (on 92) to pass 100 points for the season.

And even though the MTN Lions are reeling after a turbulent season, DHL Stormers captain Jean de Villiers, who will also lead the Springboks for the remainder of the season, knows where his team’s focus should be as the playoffs loom.

“The Lions have a lot to play for, but we are playing for something bigger,” said De Villiers.

“As long as the hunger and desire is there to win the tournament, we’ll do well. We are playing for something special and that will make Saturday a great challenge.”

Former Springbok lock Johan Ackermann, now the MTN Lions’ acting head coach, realises his team faces a tough trip to Cape Town.

“There is a feeling we need to keep things straight and simple, and that the players are comfortable with the game plan,” said Ackermann.

“On Saturday, it will be more a question of how well we execute our game plan. We know it will take an 80 minute effort. We need to be mentally strong this weekend.”

Head to head (since 2006)

DHL Stormers v MTN Lions

Date: 30 June

SA Time: 17:05

Venue: DHL Newlands, Cape Town

Referee: Mark Lawrence (South Africa)

Assistant referees: Francisco Pastrana (Argentina), Jason Jaftha (South Africa)

Television match official: Gerrie Coetzee (South Africa)