Pumas v Boland - who's best-placed to win SRC semifinal?

The SuperSport Rugby Challenge semifinal between the Pumas and the Boland Cavaliers is a case of the best attacking side (Pumas, 50 tries scored) remaining in the competition against the best defensive side (Cavaliers, 14 tries conceded).

It's also an unbeaten side against a team that's beaten a previously unbeaten side. So who will win? Two opposition coaches tell us.

PUMAS V BOLAND CAVALIERS

CHUMANI BOOI (EP Elephants Coach)

Who do you think will win?

Knowing the Pumas and the physicality they bring to a game, Boland have done well in the competition by bringing some form of physicality to their own pack. They've got a big pack which brings physicality but I don't think that's enough to match the Pumas. The Pumas will definitely have an edge on Boland up front but if Boland can match them up front then I might give them a chance. But knowing the reputation of the Pumas it’s going to be difficult for Boland.

It's the best defence v the best attack, who will win that game within a game?

Boland have worked very hard on their defence and if you look at the scorelines in their games they have been low. When we played against them we didn't manage to score a single try. They've worked very hard on their defence and it's very well organised. The Pumas are going to have to be a lot more creative and do something special to break that defence down. So it should be interesting because the two teams play roughly the same game, with the Pumas being a bigger version of Boland.

What areas should the Pumas target in Boland's game?

They've got a good tight-five and all three of their loosies are good because they also bring some physicality and mobility. So the forward pack as a whole is something they have to neutralise because if they can't they'll be in trouble. That's where it all starts for Boland because they've got decent backs and a flyhalf that gives good direction with a good kicking game. The Boland pack is the reason Garrick Mattheus is finding it easy to navigate space at the back, and he distributes the ball quite well. If they get good go-forward ball Mattheus will make life difficult for the Pumas.

DAVID MANUEL (Vodacom Blue Bulls assistant Coach)

Who do you think will win?

What makes the Pumas a dangerous side is the continuity they've had over the last two years of the competition. Their team is settled in terms of their defensive and attacking systems and their kicking game. That player continuity and understanding of every individual of their role in the system makes them a dangerous team. We played Boland in a warm-up game in the Cape and they were actually quite good as well: they've got a good running game, quite a physical pack, ask good questions in attack and kept us out well defensively. So it should be an interesting game to watch because this is a competition both teams prepare for, so it'll depend on who executes the best on the day. But at the moment I'm leaning towards the Pumas because of that player continuity I spoke about and the fact that they have a very simple but effective game plan that is still difficult to stop.

It's the best defence v the best attack, who will win that game within a game?

If Boland can, with their defence, put pressure on the Pumas in terms of forcing them to make errors when it comes to their individual skills and capitalise on those errors that would mentally frustrate the Pumas and give Boland a mental edge in the game. If the defensive team is good, they can upset the rhythm of the attacking team.

What areas should Boland target in Pumas' game?

The important thing against the Pumas is to play in the right areas, they need to feel the territorial disadvantage so they can get into a mental space where they feel they have to start forcing things and start playing out of the wrong areas. Boland have to get the scoreboard ticking by making sure they convert whenever in the Pumas' danger area. They also have to neutralise their maul, which is a strong strength of theirs, then make sure you put their skills sets under pressure so you can capitalise on them.