This match is the Super Rugby match of the weekend in South Africa as in 2012 the Sharks reached the Super Rugby final but the Stormers won the South African Conference.
Out of the last five matches between the Sharks and the Stormers the Sharks have won two and the Stormers three.
The Sharks are on a two match winning streak against the Stormers but before that streak started the Stormers enjoyed a three match winning streak against the Sharks.
Since 1998 the Sharks and Stormers have played each other 18 times and both teams have won 9 matches each so it's a 50% win/loss record for both teams.
The average score when the Sharks play the Stormers slightly favours the Stormers as it is Sharks 20 Stormers 22.
This match will be played in Durban where the team have played each other 9 times. The Sharks have won five of those 9 matches so they have a 56% winning record against the Stormers at home.
In Durban however the average score slightly favours the Sharks as it is Sharks 21 Stormers 20.
Last week the Sharks beat the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein 22-29 however the final score does not tell the whole story. The Sharks went out to a 5-26 lead but lost concentration and allowed the Cheetahs to come back and 12 minutes from time the score was 22-26.
If the Sharks take their eye off the ball this week as they did against the Cheetahs the Stormers have the skills to punish them.
In terms of selection the Sharks have made one change and rotated Jean Deysel with Jacques Botes who drops down to the bench.
Last week Elton Jantjies had a shocker of a match as far as his goal kicking is concerned. The Stormers have stuck with him for this week but they have named Joe Pietersen at fullback and Peter Grant is on the bench.
The Stormers were well off their usual form last week and will need to take a big step up if they are to beat the Sharks let alone win a third South African Conference title.
Even though the Sharks allowed the Cheetahs to score 17 unanswered points last week they will be at home and having beaten the Stormers in their last two matches they must be the favourites.
Average score: Sharks 20 Stormers 22
Last five results
28 Jul 2012 (Semi-final) Sharks v Stormers 26-19 Cape Town
26 May 2012 Sharks v Stormers 25-20 Durban
03 Mar 2012Sharks v Stormers 12-15 Cape Town
30 Apr 2011 Sharks v Stormers 12-32 Cape Town
02 Apr 2011 Sharks v Stormers 6-16 Durban
Sharks overall record against the Stormers
Played 18 , Wins 9, Losses 9, Draws 0
Match No.15 : Sharks v Stormers
Date : Saturday 2 March
Venue : Kings Park, Durban
Kick Off local: 19:10
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan
Assistant Ref 1:Jaco Peyper
Assistant Ref 2:Cobus Wessels
TMO : Shaun Veldsman
Teams
Sharks
15. Louis Ludik, 14. JP Pietersen, 13. Paul Jordaan, 12. Francois Steyn (C), 11. Lwazi Mvovo, 10. Patrick Lambie , 9. Cobus Reinach, 8. Ryan Kankowski , 7. Jean Deysel, 6. Marcell Coetzee, 5. Franco van der Merwe , 4. Anton Bresler, 3. Jannie du Plessis, 2. Craig Burden , 1. Tendai Mtawarira
Replacements: 16. Kyle Cooper, 17. Wiehahn Herbst, 18. Pieter-Steph du Toit , 19. Jacques Botes, 20. Charl McLeod, 21. Meyer Bosman , 22. Odwa Ndungane
Stormers
15. Joe Pietersen,14. Gio Aplon,13. Jean de Villiers (captain),12. Damian de Allende,11. Bryan Habana,10. Elton Jantjies,9. Nic Groom,8. Duane Vermeulen (vice-captain),7. Rynhardt Elstadt,6. Siya Kolisi,5. Andries Bekker,4. De Kock Steenkamp,3. Frans Malherbe,2. Deon Fourie,1. Steven Kitshoff
Replacements : 16. Martin Bezuidenhout,17. Pat Cilliers,18. Don Armand,19. Nizaam Carr,20. Louis Schreuder,21. Peter Grant,22. Gerhard van den Heever
SuperXV
