Canes aim to outbash Stormers

Piri Weepu believes the more physical team will win the clash between the Hurricanes and Stormers.

‘Tonight’s going to be a good night!’, The Black Eyed Peas hit plays from the team bus in the background as Weepu prepares for the interview. The song sets the mood for what the Canes will be hoping to achieve at Newlands on Saturday night – victory.

After their disappointing performance against the Cheetahs last weekend, Weepu said they’re looking to make a step up.

‘The more physical side will win. The battle up front will be vital, so we will look to make our mark there,’ Weepu told keo.co.za. ‘We also have [centre] Conrad Smith and [wing] Tamati Ellison back. The young guys [Andrew Taylor and Alapati Leiua] did well last weekend, but it we will be stronger in attack and defence now that we are back to full strength. We are feeling confident.’

The Stormers boast the best defensive record in the competition, only conceding two tries in four games, but the Canes will be a major threat to in their red zone.

With Smith and Ellison added to a backline which already includes All Blacks Ma’a Nonu, Cory Jane and in-form wing David Smith, the Kiwis will look to play an expansive game. Those offload passes and the continuity in play has led to most of their tries this season.

‘The Stormers have been impressive in defence and we do expect a full defensive line when we are on attack on Saturday. I can’t say what areas we will target but we do have our plans in place to expose them,’ said Weepu.

‘We will look to take the points whenever the opportunity comes.’

Weepu’s opposite number will be Dewaldt Duvenage. A big debatable point is whether the Stormers should start Duvenage instead of Springbok No 9 Ricky Januarie.

‘In my opinion, it all depends who suits the game plan. I’ve faced Ricky many times before and he is a world-class halfback, but the coach obviously sees Dewaldt as a more suitable pick,’ said Weepu.

‘I’ve done my homework on Dewaldt and look forward to the battle against him.’

Gareth Duncan, in Cape Town


72 Comments

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  • 1.SamM: Reply to this comment

    going to be a cracker of a game , Stormers should edge it .

  • 2.Alfred E Neuman: Reply to this comment

    weepu will be weeping after the game

  • 3.Storm outta hell: Reply to this comment

    @SamM: It’s gonna be brutal.. especially if it rains :(

  • 4.Alfred E Neuman: Reply to this comment

    watch the bulls game for a surprise result after their layoff weekend

  • 5.SamM: Reply to this comment

    @Alfred E Neuman: no chance the bulls will lose against the Highlanders who is without Thomson, Cowan and Thomson’s drinking buddy . Bulls to violate the landers . ..

  • 6.Alfred E Neuman: Reply to this comment

    no rain predicted all sunshine

  • 7.SamM: Reply to this comment

    this game might wreck my Superbru predictions . . .

  • 8.Blouste: Reply to this comment

    Rain will be to the advantage of the Stormers I believe…

    @Alfred E Neuman:

    Bulls will smash the Landers !!! :evil:

  • 9.Alfred E Neuman: Reply to this comment

    just eliciting a response this blogs far too quiet :)

  • 10.SpringbokSarah: Reply to this comment

    @Storm outta hell: if it rains! Funny

  • 11.Alfred E Neuman: Reply to this comment

    we dont need rain our tight 5 will demolish them expect a huge game from andries and vermeulen

  • 12.Bill Reyts: Reply to this comment

    @Alfred E Neuman: Good Afternoon Mr Neuman. Long time! Like this nic!

  • 13.poppa69: Reply to this comment

    correct me if Im wrong, werent the bulls overwhelming favourites in the game last season? although Ive tipped the Bulls, the Landers do know how to upset the Bulls…

    and although stormers are looking better, think last weeks scoreline may flatter to deceive…

  • 14.Storm outta hell: Reply to this comment

    @SpringbokSarah: :lol: Hey…it’s Newlands under a cold front..!

  • 15.SamM: Reply to this comment

    Next week Cheetahs vs Stormers . . . . going to be a great derby . Would have loved to see Brussow vs Schalk . . . .

  • 16.Bill Reyts: Reply to this comment

    @poppa69: Chiefs by 5. Stormers by 8 – Bulls by 58

  • 17.Bill Reyts: Reply to this comment

    @SamM: First get past this weekend.

  • 18.Blouste: Reply to this comment

    @poppa69:

    Surely you don’t think the Landers might win…

    Last year is exactly that – history…

  • 19.Storm outta hell: Reply to this comment

    @poppa69: Give credit where it’s due dude…best defensive record in comp?..as AC says,when this side comes off theres gonna be no stopping them :D

  • 20.Bill Reyts: Reply to this comment

    @Blouste: You a Blues supporter ;)

  • 21.Blouste: Reply to this comment

    @SamM: @ 15

    That game will be huge and a difficult pick on superbru….

  • 22.Storm outta hell: Reply to this comment

    @SamM: Juan and Schalk is gonna be Massive..!

  • 23.Bill Reyts: Reply to this comment

    @Blouste: That is an easy pick bro! Come on now.

  • 24.Bill Reyts: Reply to this comment

    @Storm outta hell: Fourie and Meyer is going to be huge.

  • 25.Blouste: Reply to this comment

    If the Stormers lose this game they can realisticly start kissing any semi-hopes koebaai… :shock:

    They should take it though…

  • 26.poppa69: Reply to this comment

    @Blouste: agreed, but love all the 3-0 calls I see all the time, wasnt that last year too :lol:

    @Bill Reyts: Crusaders by 12, Canes by 9 and Bulls by 17…

    @Storm outta hell: of course, they have been very miserly, but when they met a team that was just as committed, they stumbled and lost a lot of their structure… Landers game may have them too confident is all Im saying :D

  • 27.Storm outta hell: Reply to this comment

    @Bill Reyts: Oh Yeah..!! Bring on the Derby…gonna be Huge for both teams…just gotta concentrate on ‘Canes for now…they wanna get physical..we gotta be harder..!!

  • 28.SamM: Reply to this comment

    @Blouste: Viljoen , Smith, Johnson vs Bugger , Louw , Vermeulen- sheesh going to be a cracker – alot will depend on the tight 5 . . . .

  • 29.Blouste: Reply to this comment

    @Bill Reyts:

    Just as easy as the Canes/Cheetahs match hey…

  • 30.Storm outta hell: Reply to this comment

    @poppa69: Also agree with Blouste,but I’m repeating myself…we started with January against Brumbies and it backfired,coach now knows who his best halfback pairing is…this team is going forward :mrgreen:

  • 31.Bill Reyts: Reply to this comment

    @Blouste: Cheetahs by 9.

  • 32.SamM: Reply to this comment

    Wouldn’t mind seeing Lionel Cronje getting some gametime maybe not against the Canes though . .

  • 33.Bill Reyts: Reply to this comment

    @poppa69: Two wrong one right. 33% not too bad.

  • 34.vasteses: Reply to this comment

    @poppa69:

    The fact that the landers beat the bulls last year does not in essence mean that they al of a sudden know how to beat them , it merely means that they beat them last year.

    Crusaders by 12, canses by 4, bulls by 23, reds by 9, brumbies by 8, tahs by 12

  • 35.poppa69: Reply to this comment

    @Storm outta hell: the battle between the halfbacks will be very interesting… plus Smith vs Fourie alone is worth the admission price…

  • 36.Karen: Reply to this comment

    @Alfred E Neuman: Geez you blogging here today – now it will rain on Saturday lol.

  • 37.Bill Reyts: Reply to this comment

    @Karen: Said something similar earlier. Jeez it has been a long time. Still had his other nic.

  • 38.Bill Reyts: Reply to this comment

    Chiefs going to bring their A game this weekend. Home advantage and will take this one too.

  • 39.vasteses: Reply to this comment

    @Storm outta hell:
    i still feel that you need a better flyhalf, main guys in team 1,8,9,10,12,15 i think you lack at 10. Grant struggles to get your backline going and at 12 de jong is good as a individual but as a 12 in team context he has not impressed yet

  • 40.Storm outta hell: Reply to this comment

    @SamM: I’m sure we’ll see him in the last 20…if the Stormers are comfortably ahead…

  • 41.Karen: Reply to this comment

    @Bill Reyts: Hahaha – geez I know I don’t blog here often anymore but for Alfred to blog today was like a damn lightning bolt :-D

  • 42.poppa69: Reply to this comment

    @Bill Reyts: so youre happy you have 33% correct ? :wink:

    Saders have the better forward pack, hence why I think they will win… Bulls have 4 SA refs, so highlanders have no realistic chance… *twisted*

    Stormer/Canes, think the canes backline is much much better this week, and with parity from the forwards the backline edges it in favour of the Canes IMO plus they havent had to travel lmfao

    @vasteses: can you then apply that same logic to the Boks? because many a fan on here now believes that very thing in regards the ABs… me personally, Im always on edge when our two nations play a test match..

  • 43.Bill Reyts: Reply to this comment

    @Karen: I also almost fell off my chair. I haven’t been here for a while either.

  • 44.Storm outta hell: Reply to this comment

    @vasteses: I hear you..we all got our crosses to bear…right now it’s all about defence fronting up and scoring tries when the game opens up,this team is evolving,expect more from Bash against ‘Canes…

  • 45.Bill Reyts: Reply to this comment

    @poppa69: What’s this travel theory of yours lately? Stop blaming travel – you sound like a true Kiwi now! ;)

  • 46.Karen: Reply to this comment

    @Bill Reyts: Ok so some of the old crowd should start blogging again today – then we will have a major thunder storm in Cape Town this weekend :-D

  • 47.Bill Reyts: Reply to this comment

    @Karen: Well you back too :shock:

  • 48.poppa69: Reply to this comment

    @Bill Reyts: was just trying to make use of my understanding of a SA euphemism for a poor performance hahaha :mrgreen:

  • 49.Bill Reyts: Reply to this comment

    @poppa69: I know you! I only come on to stur when things get quiet.

  • 50.vasteses: Reply to this comment

    @poppa69:
    Well as al supposed rugby gurus on this blog should know what happened in the past is history, stupidity can be mistaken for arrogance.

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