Super Rugby final - players to watch
Jacques van der Westhuyzen highlights a few players from both teams he believes could provide the X-factor in the Super Rugby final.
|||The Lions success this season has been achieved through team-work but there are still a good few individuals who have stood out as match-winners. Jacques van der Westhuyzen highlights a few players from both teams he believes could provide the X-factor in the Super Rugby final in Wellington tomorrow (9.35am SA time kick-off) ...
For the Lions...
Rohan Janse van Rensburg
The 21-year-old midfield powerhouse has been one of the finds of the competition and he’s surely close to making his mark in Test rugby as well. Not only has he scored a whopping 10 tries this season, to put him second on the overall list, he’s also played a role in creating a number of try-scoring chances for his teammates thanks to his barn-storming runs in midfield and even out wide. He’s among the leading players in the clean breaks and defenders beaten categories and will be someone the Hurricanes will want to keep an eye on. Together with Lionel Mapoe, the Lions have a centre pairing that is up there with the best, but Janse van Rensburg’s biggest task in the final, though, may not be with ball in hand but in defence. He’s slipped a few tackles in his last two games and will want to be on the mark this time around.
Elton Jantjies
Is there a better, more influential flyhalf playing Super Rugby this year? Sure, Beauden Barrett has had a good season, but for his all-round contribution no one has been as good as Jantjies. The 26-year-old has been at the heart of the Lions’ impressive attacking play, making 16 try-assists, the most in the competition. It’s one of the reasons why the Lions go into the final having scored the most tries this year. Defensively he’s also stood tall in the last few weeks, while his tactical kicking has been right up there. But where Jantjies will have to step up this weekend is in the goal-kicking department. The weather conditions are expected to be poor but he’ll still be required to knock over the goals and ensure he gets his team into the right areas of the field. If he’s on song, the Lions will be in with a real shout.
Jaco Kriel
The battle of the two openside flankers promises to be one of the highlights. The 26-year-old Kriel is up there with the best of them and goes into the final as one of his team’s most important cogs. If he’s not stealing ball at the breakdown, he’s charging down the field, busting tackles and off-loading for his teammates to score. Or he’s pulling off try-saving tackles, as was seen in his hit on the Highlanders’ Matt Faddes in the corner last Saturday. Kriel is a phenomenal player in all departments and together with the senior players in the side, will also have a big part to play in the decisions that get made over the course of what should be an exhilarating 80 minutes.
Malcolm Marx
His coach once described him as ‘the next Bismarck du Plessis’, a player who ticks every box of what’s required of a hooker, but many will argue the Lions No 2 does that and a whole lot more. He is a hulk of a man at 120kg and 1.88m tall and when he gets into the mix, he’s sure to play a very important role for his team. His line-out throwing has improved tenfold this season and this weekend he’ll have to be on the spot every time to ensure his team get good first-phase ball. But it’s in the other areas that the 22-year-old really shines; he’s a powerful ball-carrier and loves nothing more than to play link-man between forwards and backs, while his ability to steal ball at the breakdown has won his team many turnovers this season. His battle with 'Canes captain Dane Coles, also a versatile and influential player, could go a long way in deciding the outcome of this game.
For the Hurricanes...
Ardie Savea
The younger brother of wing Julian, the 22-year-old is knocking hard on the All Blacks' door thanks to his strong performances for the 'Canes in the last two years. He has been exceptional this season, featuring strongly in a number of categories, like carries, defenders beaten, off-loads and, most significantly maybe, turnovers won, which is 23 in total. He’s also made the second most tackles in the competition - 191. He’s a player the Lions will have to keep in check if they’re to get a fair share of quality phase possession.
Beauden Barrett
The slayer of the Chiefs in the semi-final last weekend goes into the final with all the pressure on his shoulders. He’s at home and he’s been asked to lead his team to victory after the failure in the final against the Highlanders last year. Like Jantjies, he’s a key man at flyhalf, being the decision-maker and, boy, can he make an impact. He’s an excellent passer of the ball but it’s his instincts and ability to intercept passes that will give the Lions the most concern. And let’s not forget, he’s a pretty good kicker of the ball as well. - The Star