The Waratahs beat the Hurricanes 32-16 after leading 18-9 at halftime to secure their semi-final spot in the Super 14.  The Crusaders also sent out a warning to fellow semi-finalists by comprehensively beating the Brumbies 40-22 in Christchurch on Friday

The Waratahs scored four tries through fullback Kurtley Beale (2) and wing Drew Mitchell (2). Flyhalf Berrick Barnes landed three conversions and two penalties.

The Hurricanes replied with a try by replacement wing David Smith. Scrumhalf Piri Weepu kicked a conversion and three penalties.

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Fijian Sireli Naqelevuki has payed the highest price for his blunder against the Sharks last week by being left out of the squad for Saturday’s game against the Bulls.

The Stormers wing produced an elementary error when he failed to pick up a ball that had been kicked into the Stormers’ ingoal area by Sharks flyhalf Ruan Pienaar, who came through and pounced on it to score the Durban team’s second try in their upset Super 14 win over the more favoured side.

The score came at a critical time as the outplayed Stormers had done well to limit the Sharks to a lead of just 7-0 up to that point. As a result of the “gift” try, the Sharks had a comfortable buffer at half-time and on a night where their own defensive game was outstanding, John Smit’s men just left the Stormers with too much to do in the second half.

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The return of Bryan Habana and Wicus Blaauw to the training camp of the Stormers should lift their spirits after the defeat to the Sharks over the weekend.

The Stormers defeat started in the scrums, where they were dominated by the Sharks front-row of Beast Mtawarira, John Smit and Jannie du Plessis, and the return of Blaauw after an absence of a month and a half should go a significant way towards recovering the destructive edge that has been missing from the set-piece since then.

Stormers coach Allister Coetzee did not say whether Blaauw would start against the Bulls, but he made it clear on Monday at a press gathering in Bellville that Blaauw would be involved in the final league match.

“Wicus is over his injury and he has been missed during his absence so we will definitely involve him in the match against the Bulls,” said Coetzee.

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Stormers winger Bryan Habana will not be fit for Saturday’s clash against the Sharks in Durban. This is a major blow for the Stormers in their quest to nail down a Super 14 home semi-final.

Habana suffered bruised ribs in the match against the Crusaders last week at Newlands and by Wednesday morning was still experiencing discomfort.

Centre Tim Whitehead, who replaced Habana on the left wing early in the second half at Newlands last week, has been given the nod to fill the boots of the speedy Springbok winger.

Joe Pietersen, the stand-out fullback in early Super 14 matches this season, makes a welcome return after a lay-off as a result of a hip injury.

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Stormers fullback Joe Pietersen has passed a fitness test on the hip injury which prevented him from touring with the Stormers and could be included in the side to face the Sharks in Durban on Saturday.

Pietersen’s return could prove timely for the Stormers with Bryan Habana a doubtful participant due to a rib injury picked up during Friday’s win over the Crusaders

Fullback Pietersen was one of the star performers in the earlier stages of the competition, but injury forced him out of the overseas tour. He was back in training on Monday, and came through what coach Allister Coetzee described as a stiff test to prove his readiness.

“Joe could well be back in the playing squad this week, possibly playing off the bench. He trained this morning and he came through it well,” said Coetzee.

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Vodacom Stormers 42 Crusaders 14
Vodacom Stormers – Tries: Jaque Fourie (2), Sireli Naqelevuki; Conversions: Peter Grant (3); Penalties: Grant (7).
Crusaders – Tries: Daniel Carter, Colin Slade; Conversions: Carter (2).

Vodacom Bulls 27 The Sharks 19
Vodacom Bulls – Tries: Jacques-Louis Potgieter, Gerhard van den Heever; Conversion: Morne Steyn; Penalties: Steyn (5).
The Sharks – Try: Rory Kockott; Conversion: Kockott; Penalties: Andy Goode (4).

Vodacom Cheetahs 36 Blues 32
Vodacom Cheetahs – Tries: Juan Smith, Jongi Nokwe, Bjorn Basson, Phillip van der Merwe, Waltie Vermeulen; Conversions: Naas Olivier (2), Meyer Bosman (2); Penalty: Olivier.
Blues – Tries: Isaia Toeava, Rene Ranger, Alby Mathewson, Anthony Tuitavake; Conversions: Stephen Brett (3); Penalties: Brett (2).

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The South African rugby crowds’ attendance record in the Super 14 campaign have thus far beaten their rivals New Zealand and Australia in 2010.

At a time of concern in Australia and New Zealand over dwindling crowd attendances, which saw the Aussies hail last week’s total of 82,000 spectators at three different venues as a ‘bumper’ weekend, South Africa are about to go into a three-week period of sell-out crowds in the region of 50,000.

It will start at Newlands on Friday, when the second-placed Stormers host the third-placed Crusaders – a stadium with a capacity of 48,000. At last count there were just on 2,000 tickets available and the game is certainly heading for a sell-out.

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