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FEROCIOUS rugby from the Vodacom Stormers down under has put them in a prime position to fight for a semi-final place in the Super 14.

The Stormers have had the best overseas tour in the Super 14 by a South African team so far this season, having accomplished three wins out of four matches, which is something no other SA team has accomplished in the competition thus far.

They may have felt a little unlucky with their loss to the Blues, though: on the brink of a draw, the result was snatched away from them with a tremendous penalty kick from the Blues at the full-time siren. After last weekend's action, the Stormers are sitting in eighth place with a game in hand. That game is against the Free State Cheetahs, at Newlands this Saturday.

The Cheetahs scored their first win of the season against the Reds in Bloemfontein last week after a string of very narrow losses, which has seen them secure a bonus point in seven of the eight games they have played.

Both teams seem to be coming into form and this weekend's match-up will be crucial in the Stormers' attempt at a semi-final place. If the Stormers can secure a win and a bonus point in the match, they could catapult themselves into fourth place ahead of the Western Force and the Chiefs on points difference. This depends on the results of the Waratahs and the Hurricanes, who will take on the Western Force and the Blue Bulls respectively.

A win over the Cheetahs could also give the Stormers the confidence needed to go into a tough clash against the Hurricanes the following week.

Stormers coach, Rassie Erasmus, has a long history with the Cheetahs, having coached them from 2005 to 2007 and steered them to Currie Cup success for three years in a row - having won against the Bulls in Pretoria in 2005, drawn with the Bulls in 2006, and won a nail-biting victory over the Lions in 2007. Erasmus spent most of his rugby career playing for the Cheetahs, the Cats and the Springboks, between 1996 and 2004.

The Stormers started training yesterday after a well deserved break and will face off against the Cheetahs this Saturday, 12 April, at 15:00.

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