Jake concerned over scrum fiasco on URC final pitch: 'Stormers could suffer most'

Bulls mentor Jake White has renewed fears over the state of the Cape Town Stadium's pitch, warning that even the Stormers might see one of their greatest strengths nullified for Saturday evening's United Rugby Championship (URC) final.

The venue's surface has been under the spotlight ever since it had to host the bulk of last year's British & Irish Lions tour matches, including all three Tests, leading to a choppy grass that's relatively easily dislodged.

Much of this weekend's build-up has focussed on the issue, particularly after substantial rain earlier this week has many parts of the city scrambling.

"I just feel the turf at Cape Town Stadium isn't conducive to scrumming," said White.

"The Stormers have obviously spoken a lot that they have great scrummers, with two World Cup-winning props [in Steven Kitshoff and Frans Malherbe] at the forefront, and that's perfectly fine, but is just don't think the surface gives them the benefits or bonuses that they should get.

"It's a surface that breaks up very quickly and takes the contest of the scrum away."

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That would indeed be a pity if it came to pass, as the battle of the front rows is an intriguing one, with the pedigree and class of Kitshoff and Malherbe contrasting nicely with the burgeoning talents of Gerhard Steenekamp and Mornay Smith.

White and his coaching staff's meticulousness has even unearthed data that will provide even less comfort to their reservations.

In the last 80 scrums at the stadium, 23 have been resets - almost 30% of all those set-pieces.

"I'd hate to lose the match because of a collapsed scrum and the perception is that those two Springbok props couldn't have done