How the South African sides will line up in Super Rugby this weekend!!!

The less said about the half-centurion Stormers and their New Zealand tribulations‚ the better.

At least they’re at an end with their date with defending champions the Hurricanes at the Westpac Stadium on Friday morning.

At best it could be ugly but Super Rugby has thrown up stranger results.

FRIDAY Hurricanes vs Stormers (9.35am‚ Westpac Stadium‚ Wellington)

After their win against the Chiefs three weeks ago‚ no one would have predicted that the Stormers’ New Zealand tour would be an unmitigated disaster.

They’ve fallen off tackles like kids falling off tries and conceded first-phase and counter-attacking tries like they’re going out of fashion.

Whether they’ve learnt any lessons remains to be seen but should their season taper off badly‚ this tour would have provided the shaky foundations for their collapse.

• Faf gets a breather 

The Stormers were pretty before they were tested but at the time of asking‚ they were found wanting badly.

Hurricanes: 15 Jordie Barrett‚ 14 Cory Jane‚ 13 Vince Aso‚ 12 Ngani Laumape‚ 11 Julian Savea‚ 10 Beauden Barrett‚ 9 Thomas Perenara‚ 8 Ardie Savea‚ 7 Callum Gibbins‚ 6 Brad Shields‚ 5 Vaea Fifita‚ 4 Mark Abbott‚ 3 Jeff Toomaga-Allen‚ 2 Ricky Riccitelli‚ 1 Ben May.

Replacements: 16 Leni Apisai‚ 17 Chris Eves‚ 18 Michael Kainga‚ 19 James Blackwell‚ 20 Reed Prinsep‚ 21 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi‚ 22 Otere Black‚ 23 Ben Lam.

Stormers: 15 Sarel Marais‚ 14 Cheslin Kolbe‚ 13 EW Viljoen‚ 12 Shaun Treeby‚ 11 Dillyn Leyds‚ 10 Robert du Preez‚ 9 Dewaldt Duvenage‚ 8 Nizaam Carr‚ 7 Siya Kolisi (captain)‚ 6 Kobus van Dyk‚ 5 Chris van Zyl‚ 4 Jan de Klerk‚ 3 Wilco Louw‚ 2 Bongi Mbonambi‚ 1 Alistair Vermaak.

Replacements: 16 Ramone Samuels‚ 17 Caylib Oosthuizen‚ 18 Oliver Kebble‚ 19 John Schickerling‚ 20 Sikhumbuzo Notshe‚ 21 Jano Vermaak‚ 22 Dan Kriel‚ 23 Bjorn Basson.

Cheetahs vs Highlanders (7.10pm‚ Free State Stadium‚ Bloemfontein)

Cheetahs coach Franco Smith said his team is not in a slump but six consecutive defeats tell another story.

It could be a seventh consecutive loss should the 2015 champions decide to enjoy Bloemfontein as they did in the past.

The Cheetahs must hope the television match official will be on their side after two dubious and match-turning calls in their 48-21 loss to the Crusaders last week.

• Crusaders still a handful without two stars 

With this game being their last before their difficult tour of New Zealand‚ it’s imperative the Cheetahs get out of their rut.

Cheetahs: 15 Clayton Blommetjies‚ 14 Sergeal Petersen‚ 13 Francois Venter (captain)‚ 12 William Small-Smith‚ 11 Raymond Rhule‚ 10 Fred Zeilinga‚ 9 Tian Meyer‚ 8 Henco Venter‚ 7 Teboho Mohoje‚ 6 Paul Schoeman‚ 5 Francois Uys‚ 4 Carl Wegner‚ 3 Johan Coetzee‚ 2 Torsten van Jaarsveld‚ 1 Retshegofaditswe Nche.

Replacements: 16 Elandré Huggett‚ 17 Charles Marais‚ 18 Tom Botha‚ 19 Armandt Koster‚ 20 Uzair Cassiem‚ 21 Niell Jordaan‚ 22 Shaun Venter‚ 23 Niel Marais.

Highlanders: 15 Matt Faddes‚ 14 Waisake Naholo‚ 13 Malakai Fekitoa‚ 12 Rob Thompson‚ 11 Patrick Osborne‚ 10 Marty Banks‚ 9 Aaron Smith‚ 8 Luke Whitelock (captain)‚ 7 Dillon Hunt‚ 6 Liam Squire‚ 5 Tom Franklin‚ 4 Joe Wheeler‚ 3 Siosuia Halanukonuka‚ 2 Liam Coltman‚ 1 Daniel Lienert-Brown.

Replacements: 16 Ash Dixon‚ 17 Aki Seiuli‚ 18 Siate Tokolahi‚ 19 Elliot Dixon‚ 20 Gareth Evans‚ 21 Kayne Hammington‚ 22 Fletcher Smith‚ 23 Richard Buckman.

SATURDAY Rebels vs Lions (11.40am‚ AAMI Park‚ Melbourne)

Having shown their ability to scrap when it’s required‚ the Lions should be expected to dispatch this rabble Rebels outfit.

They were put to the sword by the energised Southern Kings and the Lions are a far better unit in terms of defensive organisation and attacking structure.

The Lions also have the added carrot of beating all five Australian teams and a big win here could send some shivers down the spines of Stephen Larkham’s men in Canberra.

Rebels: 15 Reece Hodge‚ 14 Sefa Naivalu‚ 13 Tom English‚ 12 Mitch Inman‚ 11 Marika Koroibete‚ 10 Ben Volavola‚ 9 Ben Meehan‚ 8 Amanaki Mafi‚ 7 Colby Fainga’a (captain)‚ 6 Hugh Sinclair‚ 5 Dominic Day‚ 4 Steve Cummins‚ 3 Laurie Weeks‚ 2 James Hanson‚ 1 Toby Smith.

Replacements: 16 Siliva Siliva‚ 17 Fereti Sa’aga‚ 18 Tyrel Lomax‚ 19 Culum Retallick‚ 20 Will Miller‚ 21 Harrison Goddard‚ 22 Jackson Garden-Bachop‚ 23 Jack Maddocks.

Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee‚ 14 Sylvian Mahuza‚ 13 Lionel Mapoe‚ 12 Harold Vorster‚ 11 Courtnall Skosan‚ 10 Elton Jantjies‚ 9 Ross Cronjé‚ 8 Warren Whiteley (captain)‚ 7 Cyle Brink‚ 6 Albertus Smith‚ 5 Franco Mostert‚ 4 Lourens Erasmus‚ 3 Ruan Dreyer‚ 2 Malcolm Marx‚ 1 Jacques van Rooyen.

Replacements: 16 Armand van der Merwe‚ 17 Corne Fourie‚ 18 Hencus van Wyk‚ 19 Ruan Ackermann‚ 20 Robert Kruger‚ 21 Dillon Smit‚ 22 Jacques Nel‚ 23 Anthony Volmink.

Sharks vs Force (3.05pm‚ King’s Park‚ Durban)

Having subjected their fans to a snore draw in their last home game‚ the Sharks need to repay their faithful with a handsome win against one of Super Rugby’s bottom feeders.

Robert du Preez’s side showed excellent character and skill to win against the Jaguares while the Forces came away with nothing despite their best attempts to frustrate the Lions.

A golden bonus point opportunity lies in wait for the Durban side if Dave Wessels’s charges decide to play rugby.

There’s also the significant matter of Patrick Lambie making his comeback from injury.

Sharks: 15 Rhyno Smith‚ 14 Kobus van Wyk‚ 13 Lukhanyo Am‚ 12 Jeremy Ward‚ 11 Sibusiso Nkosi‚ 10 Curwin Bosch‚ 9 Michael Claassens‚ 8 Daniel du Preez‚ 7 Jean-Luc du Preez‚ 6 Philip van der Walt (captain)‚ 5 Ruan Botha‚ 4 Etienne Oosthuizen‚ 3 Coenie Oosthuizen‚ 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle‚ 1 Thomas du Toit.

Replacements: 16 Franco Marais‚ 17 Tendai Mtawarira‚ 18 Lourens Adriaanse‚ 19 Stephan Lewies‚ 20 Lubabalo Mtembu‚ 21 Cobus Reinach‚ 22 Patrick Lambie‚ 23 Johan Deysel

Force: 15 Marcel Brache‚ 14 James Verity-Amm‚ 13 Curtis Rona‚ 12 Billy Meakes‚ 11 Alex Newsome‚ 10 Jono Lance‚ 9 Ian Prior‚ 8 Isireli Naisarani‚ 7 Matt Hodgson (captain)‚ 6 Brynard Stander‚ 5 Adam Coleman‚ 4 Ross Haylett-Petty‚ 3 Tetara Faulkner‚ 2 Tatafu Polata-Nau‚ 1 Pek Cowan.

Replacements: 16 Heath Tessmann‚ 17 Francois van Wyk‚ 18 Shambeckler Vui‚ 19 Lewis Carmichael‚ 20 Richard Hardwick‚ 21 Mitchell Short‚ 22 Luke Burton‚ 23 Peter Grant

Bulls vs Crusaders (5.05pm‚ Loftus Versfeld‚ Pretoria)

The Crusaders haven’t won in Tshwane in over nine years but under Scott Robertson’s tutelage‚ they’ve morphed into an all-round blockbusting team who either specialise in powerful first halves or rousing second half comebacks.

The Bulls have been abysmal despite their consecutive home wins against the Jaguares and the Crusaders. Those sides were makeweights.

The seven-time champions are the real deal with an axe to grind.

Bulls: 15 Warrick Gelant‚ 14 Travis Ismaiel‚ 13 Jesse Kriel‚ 12 Burger Odendaal‚ 11 Jamba Ulengo‚ 10 Tian Schoeman‚ 9 Piet van Zyl‚ 8 Hanro Liebenberg‚ 7 Jacques Potgieter‚ 6 Nick de Jager‚ 5 Lodewyk de Jager‚ 4 Jason Jenkins‚ 3 Trevor Nyakane‚ 2 Adriaan Strauss (captain)‚ 1 Pierre Schoeman.

Replacements: 16 Jaco Visagie‚ 17 Lizo Gqoboka‚ 18 Jacobie Adriaanse‚ 19 Rudolph Snyman‚ 20 Jannes Kirsten‚ 21 Rudy Paige‚ 22 Francois Brummer‚ 23 Jan Serfontein.

Crusaders: 15 David Havili‚ 14 Seta Tamanivalu‚ 13 Jack Goodhue‚ 12 Tim Bateman‚ 11 George Bridge‚ 10 Richie Mo’unga‚ 9 Mitchell Drummond‚ 8 Jordan Taufua‚ 7 Matt Todd (captain)‚ 6 Pete Samu‚ 5 Scott Barrett‚ 4 Luke Romano‚ 3 Owen Franks‚ 2 Codie Taylor‚ 1 Wyatt Crockett.

Replacements: 16 Andrew Makalio‚ 17 Joe Moody‚ 18 Michael Alaalatoa‚ 19 Quinten Strange‚ 20 Heiden Bedwell-Curtis‚ 21 Bryn Hall‚ 22 Mitchell Hunt‚ 23 Ryan Crotty. – TMG Digital/TMG Sport