Rugby
Kirwan steps down as Blues coach─── 09:32 Fri, 19 Jun 2015
The Super Rugby play-offs kick-off this weekend with four teams looking to secure their spot in next weeks’ semi-finals against the top of the log Hurricanes and the defending champions the Waratahs.
Tomorrow morning the action gets underway with the first play-off with the resurgent Highlanders hosting the two-time champions the Chiefs in the New Zealand derby.
The match at the Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin kicks-off at 9:35.
South African conference winners, the Stormers will be without the services of their captain Duane Vermeulen for their match against the Brumbies.
The Springbok eighth-man who is still carrying an injury is currently in France where he has signed a contract with French Top 14 club, Toulon.
Pundits believe that the Stormers pack will be too powerful for the Brumbies and should secure a semi-final against the Tahs.
The Stormers will aim to reach the Super Rugby semi-finals for the third time in five years, however the Brumbies’ experience of knock-out rugby far overshadows that of their men from Cape Town.
Allister Coetzee’s chargers will also be looking for their first play-off victory since the competition was expanded to 15 teams in 2011.
Coetzee expects a tough battle from the team from the Australian capital city.
"Knockout matches are different to league matches. You only get one shot at it, you have to be on your game and you have to ensure you dominate physically from the outset. To ask players to be physical in the quarters is to express an understatement," said the departing coach.
"The Brumbies are a tough team, a physical team, and will rely on their well-drilled consistent set-piece. We know they have got line speed and we know they attack the breakdown. We are certainly bracing ourselves for a physical battle," Coetzee added ahead of what come be his last game in charge of the Stormers before heading to Japan.
In their two previous knockout matches they lost to the Sharks and Crusaders will both games played at Newlands.
Tomorrow’s match at Newlands in Cape Town kicks-off at 17:05.
Meanwhile, on the eve of the play-offs, All Blacks great, Sir John Kirwan has stepped down as the coach of the Blues.
The long-time servant of Auckland rugby says it was the right thing to do.
"I had a chance to take a breath and reflect about the situation, my future and above all my love for this Blues club and players," Kirwan earlier today.
"People who know me well know that I do not walk away from a challenge and that was what was driving me because I know what has been set-up in terms of organisational structure in the last two years," he added.
The Blues experienced another torrid season with just three wins from their 16 matches.
Morgan Piek / OFM News
