super rugby standings most tries points

Curwin Boschv of the Sharks during the 2020 Super Rugby match between Sharks and Jaguares at the Jonsson Kings Park,Durban on the 07 March 2020 ©Gerhard Duraan/BackpagePix

Super Rugby 2020 fixtures: Sharks vs Stormers – prediction, teams, score and result

The Sharks and the Stormers face off in Durban on Saturday with first place in the South African Super Rugby conference at stake. Here’s what you need to know.

super rugby standings most tries points

Curwin Boschv of the Sharks during the 2020 Super Rugby match between Sharks and Jaguares at the Jonsson Kings Park,Durban on the 07 March 2020 ©Gerhard Duraan/BackpagePix

The Stormers look to repeat last year’s upset win over the Sharks at Kings Park as they travel to Durban to visit the team which has snatched top spot in the South African conference off them.

The Sharks moved above the Stormers with a 33-19 home win over the Jaguares in their last game. John Dobson’s men have a game in hand, but the Sharks have already been on tour, so their record is arguably the more impressive of the two sides.

Sharks coach Sean Everitt deserves credit for bringing the best out of his players — a notable face amongst them being flyhalf Curwin Bosch, who struggled under Robert du Preez snr.

Du Preez snr often preferred his son and namesake at flyhalf above Bosch, who spent much of last season playing at fullback.

“It was very satisfying to succeed against a quality team like the Jaguares,” Bosch was quoted as saying by AFP after the win over the Argentine side. The Sharks flyhalf impressed in this game.

“Our forwards deserve special praise as they performed well against a Jaguares pack full of internationals.

“Thanks to my coach for giving me an extended run at flyhalf, which is my favourite position, after being moved around the backline last year.”

The Stormers are impressing under their new coach, Dobson, after struggling under Robbie Fleck last season. However, they need to bounce back from a 33-14 defeat to the Blues in their last game.

Kick-off: 14 March, 15:05

Team news: Consistency is key for the Sharks, as they head into this game with an unchanged 23 from the one which beat the Jaguares.

Meanwhile, the Stormers have opted for a different formula, bringing prop Frans Malherbe and lock Salmaan Moerat back into the starting XV. Ernst van Rhyn starts in the no6 jersey alongside fellow flanker Johan du Toit, who replaces brother Pieter-Steph.

Jean-Luc du Plessis makes his first start of the season at flyhalf with Damian Willemse shifted to fullback and Dillyn Leyds getting the nod on the right wing.

Sharks XV: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Sbu Nkosi, 13 Lukhanyo Am (c), 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Louis Schreuder, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Tyler Paul, 6 James Venter, 5 Hyron Andrews, 4 Ruben van Heerden, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Kerron van Vuuren, 1 Ox Nche

Replacements: 16 Craig Burden, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 John-Hubert Meyer, 19 Le Roux Roets, 20 Henco Venter, 21 Sanele Nohamba, 22 Jeremy Ward, 23 Madosh Tambwe

Stormers XV: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Dillyn Leyds, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Seabelo Senatla, 10 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Juarno Augustus, 7 Johan du Toit, 6 Ernst van Rhyn, 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Salmaan Moerat, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Steven Kitshoff (c)

Replacements: 16 Chad Solomon, 17 Kwenzo Blose, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Cobus Wiese, 20 Jaco Coetzee, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 Rikus Pretorius, 23 Sergeal Petersen

Prediction: Sharks by seven.   You can find all the predictions for Round 7 of Super Rugby here.

Super Rugby 2020 as it happens: Sharks vs Stormers

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