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Cape Town - The Rebels are a difficult side to gauge. They may be coming off the back of a thrashing at the hands of the lowly Reds last weekend, but they have knocked over some big names this season.
And, perhaps more significantly given that the Rebels are at Newlands on Saturday, half of their wins in 2015 have come on the road. The Crusaders, the Brumbies and the Force have all lost at home to the Rebels while, in Melbourne, the Rebels have beaten the Reds, Blues and Chiefs in a season that has seen them win six and lose six.
Stormers coach Allister Coetzee spoke earlier in the week about what a quality side the Rebels were, while forwards coach Matthew Proudfoot also admires many aspects of their game.
"I think defensively they've been outstanding, very physical in defence. Not quite as hard at the breakdown as what the Brumbies were but really, really physical," said Proudfoot.
"Their scrum, on your ball, I've been really impressed with that. Their patience and discipline has been very good."
Proudfoot says that despite recent criticism, the Stormers lineout had functioned well for most of the season. He highlighted three games - "The Lions game in Joburg, the Cheetahs game and then the Bulls game at home " in which it had been particularly poor, but was confident that the work put in at training would rectify those mistakes.
The Rebels, according to Proudfoot, are a dangerous team from the lineout themselves.
"They've been quite and effective mauling team, so i think it will be a similar game up front against the Rebels as what it was against the Brumbies. We respect their pack highly," he said.
"They're a team that likes to play. They play phase rugby - set up a lot of phases - and they can defend it all the time. So I think that will be the type of game.
"If they don't get dominance then they've got a big kicking flyhalf with a big boot on him."
Saturday's match will kick off at 19:10.
