AnalysisProvincialRugby3653m ago

Six key duels as SA franchises open their Champions Cup accounts

Louw maps six individual battles across the three SA Champions Cup openers this weekend, arguing the Stormers and Bulls carry real pressure to deliver at home while the Lions play without expectation in La Rochelle. Willemse, Giliomee, and Hanekom are tipped to win their respective duels.

Wynona Louw's piece frames this weekend's Champions Cup opener around the individual match-ups that will shape each SA fixture — and the broader point is that the Stormers and Bulls carry genuine expectation given their Bok-heavy rosters and home advantage, while the Lions get something of a free pass on debut against La Rochelle.

The standout battles identified: Willemse vs Bristol's Wilson in the aerial contest (with Louw backing Willemse emphatically on current form), Giliomee on Bulls debut against Monin at fullback (tipped heavily for the youngster), and Hanekom vs Scelzo at the back of the scrum at Loftus. At the Lions-La Rochelle game, the flyhalf duel between Smith and Hastoy and the back-row battle between Mahashe and McFarland are flagged as potential game-shapers. The piece is worth reading for the breakdown of each contest and Louw's form-based verdicts ahead of kick-off.

Read the full piece on Rugby365

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