The Super 14 final pits the 2 best sides in the competition together!

Most critics believe the Stormers will win as they have the greater momentum, and the most outstanding defence in the competition.

However it is foolish to write off the Bulls. I believe they’ll win for 2 reasons:

1. They are very experienced. To win a final you usually have to have been in a final recently.
The Bulls possess Currie Cup winners, Super 14 winners and World Cup winners. The Stormers by comparison have just 1 Currie Cup and Super 14 winner in Bryan Habana, an ex-Bull.

It’ll ensure the Bulls are not overawed by the occasion, and make better decisions under pressure. The Bulls also have the experience of having played a game at Orlando stadium, with its most unique atmosphere.

2. The Bulls will test the Stormers defence with their kicking game.

We all know the Stormers defence is outstanding. So far this season very few sides have been able to breach it, but then again few sides have had the nous to vary their tactics and create a way through this Stormers wall.

The Bulls have the best kicking game on the planet. In Fourie du Preez, Morne Steyn and Zane Kirchner, they’ll use the tactics that have served them well, the high bombs. The Stormers back three of Gio Aplon, Bryan Habana and Joe Pietersen are not big men, and neither are they the most secure under the high ball. Few sides have tested them this season, but on Saturday I believe they’ll come off second best against an outstanding kick and chase side.

The kick-chase should also open the Stormers defence up the middle as they’ll drop men back and be kept guessing by the Bulls tactics.

The Stormers meanwhile can be oustanding on attack, but they’re more one-dimensional on attack and as long as the Bulls defence can man up, they can be kept at bay if they are unable to gain any forward momentum.

It promises to be a mouth watering all South African clash, played with immense intensity. Whatever the result it’ll be a win for South African rugby and a momentous occassion, but i’m picking the Bulls by 10.

Go Bulle Go!

Vodacom Bulls:

1. Gurtho Steenkamp
2. Gary Botha
3. Werner Kruger
4. Danie Rossouw
5. Victor Matfield (c)
6. Deon Stegmann
7. Dewald Potgieter
8. Pierre Spies
9. Fourie du Preez
10. Morne Steyn
11. Francois Hougaard
12. Wynand Olivier
13. Jaco Pretorious
14. Gerhard van den Heever
15. Zane Kirchner

16. Bandise Maku
17. Bees Roux
18. Flip van der Merwe
19. Derick Kuun
20. Heini Adams
21. Jacques-Louis Potgieter
22. Pedrie Wannenburg

Stormers:

1. Wicus Blaauw
2. Tiaan Liebenberg
3. Brok Harris
4. Adriaan Fondse
5. Andries Bekker
6. Schalk Burger (c)
7. Francois Louw
8. Duane Vermeulen
9. Dewaldt Duvenhage
10. Peter Grant
11. Bryan Habana
12. Juan de Jongh
13. Jaque Fourie
14. Gio Aplon
15. Joe Pietersen

16. Deon Fourie
17. Eusebio Guinazu
18. Anton van Zyl
19. Pieter Louw
20. Ricky Januarie
21. Willem de Waal
22. Tim Whitehead

Previous Super 14 results:

2006: Bulls 43, Stormers 10 (Cape Town)
2007: Bulls 49, Stormers 12 (Pretoria)
2008: Bulls 16, Stormers 9 (Cape Town)
2009: Bulls 14, Stormers 10 (Pretoria)
2010: Bulls 10, Stormers 38 (Cape Town)