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Johannesburg - With the Bulls getting the first bye of the 2010 Super 14 season with the Western Force, the South African focus in the competition this weekend will be on the four losing teams of last week.
In Cape Town there will be high hopes for a Stormers win against the Highlanders at Newlands on Saturday. Another loss at home will be a severe setback for a home side that has not quite looked like title winners, their defence apart.
They should however have the beating of the Highlanders who have some talent but not good balance in the squad.
The Kiwis are bound to find out that the Cheetahs, as they played last Saturday, are not a benchmark of South African rugby and are well below the Stormers' standard.
It will be interesting to see whether the Stormers can deliver under captain Schalk Burger who is back from injury - and especially whether the return at scrumhalf of Dewald Duvenage will be an improvement on the slower service of Ricky January. The Springbok's tactical kicking squandered possession and gave his impressive backline - on paper, as they seldom get the ball - too few opportunities.
** The Sharks, so close to last year's semifinal when the wheels first start coming off, are seemingly still without direction with three losses from three matches - and what's more, have only a single try to show for their efforts.
They have to turn things around this weekend when they play the Waratahs in Sydney on Saturday. It's not only the win that is important, but also their performance. Four losses from four would be a new low for the proud side brimming with national talent and a good coach.
Not much has changed from last year, and the reason for their early struggling performances could well be outside the team environment.
Whatever it is, it has to be found and quelled.
The Sharks will have to improve their scrummaging which by their own admission was not good enough last week, although they had the full Springbok front row, and a Bok and Bok reserve as locks.
Rory Kockott apart, their inside backs were poor although Ruan Pienaar, Adi Jacobs and Waylon Murray all have Test experience.
Whether the changes made by coach John Plumtree will bring relief against a side that is also reeling after two losses in South Africa only time will tell.
The Waratahs, however, have shown in their outings against the Stormers and the Bulls that they will fight to the bitter end -- and that is something the Sharks cannot pride themselves on after their 35-6 loss to Crusaders last weekend.
And history has a warning for the Sharks: It's been 10 years since the Sharks won in Sydney following their 26-19 win over the hosts back in 2000.
The Durban franchise have also won only two of their eight previous games in Sydney.
Springbok winger JP Pietersen will earn his 50th Super Rugby cap on Saturday - and The Sharks are also three tries away from scoring 500 tries in Super Rugby history. The question is: can they still score three tries in a game?
** The Cheetahs' senior players must start taking responsibility, or another under-performance in the Super 14 campaign is on its way. They are at home to the very difficult Hurricanes on Saturday and will not have too much confidence after a listless performance cost them victory against the rather average Highlanders last Saturday.
The talent is undoubtedly there, but the Cheetahs have again deceived after promising so much the previous week. Their coach Naka Drotske blames their loss against the Highlanders last weekend on a deviation from the game plan.
If so, it is unacceptable. The Cheetahs have experienced leaders throughout the side, and experienced players where it matters: at halfback, inside centre and among the loose forwards.
** The Lions will be first South African side to kick off when they play the Brumbies in Canberra at 10.40 on Friday.
The positive vibe since before their first match is still there and they now also have the realisation that they are as good as the opposition.
"I'm happy with where we're at," coach Dick Muir said this week, and although the first aim will be to beat the Brumbies at home, there is also the important goal of taking another step up. This is something that has happened with every outing.
With three matches where the Lions have each time produced the superior performance in a single half as a confidence booster, the way in which the eight new faces in the run-on team find one another on the playing field will be important.
It should not be difficult. With the exception of hooker Charles Emslie, all the other players roped in for Friday's clash are relatively experienced campaigners at this level. At loose forward the Lions should hold their own although they will be up against the great George Smith in the hunt to the breakdown, captain Stephen Hoiles and the imposing Rocky Elsom.
Behind the pack, the defence on which Muir has been working and where there was a huge improvement last weekend will have to stand firm against players of the calibre of halfbacks Matt Giteau and Josh Valentine, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Stirling Mortlock, Christian Lealiifano and the likes.
** The Chiefs, at full-strength after the return of their All Blacks who were rested, are at home to the Reds on Friday.
The Reds have promised to deceive on two occasions, and it will come as a surprise if Chiefs relinquish their unbeaten record at home in Hamilton.
** Likewise Crusaders, despite that lapse and a 41-20 loss to the Reds two weeks ago, should have the beating of the Blues in Christchurch. The Crusaders are getting back to their best and have a full complement of players available.
Weekend's fixtures (home teams first, SA times):
Friday:
Chiefs v Reds, 8.35am
Brumbies v Lions, 10.40am.
Saturday:
Crusaders v Blues, 8.35am
Waratahs v The Sharks, 10.40am
Stormers v Highlanders, 5.05pm
Cheetahs v Hurricanes, 7.10pm
