‘Tahs target Boland duo
14 Feb 2006
Lote Tuqiri single-handedly destroyed Tonderai Chavhanga when the Waratahs blitzed the Stormers in Sydney last year. Now Ewan McKenzie wants to account for Jongi Nokwe and Rayno Benjamin.
The Sydney Morning Herald’s Ben Kimber, travelling journalist with the team, reported that Tuqiri is preparing to shift back to the wing after starting as outside centre against the Reds.
The move would mean that both Nokwe and Benjamin will be up against two massive wingers in Tuqiri and Wendell Sailor, and with neither renowned for their defensive capability, could be in for a frightful Saturday evening.
The ‘Tahs will set the trap by naming Peter Hewat at fullback, whose liability under the high ball is well known and who positionally is not the most solid 15, in an attempt to lure the Stormers into kicking on their back three – enabling Tuqiri and Sailor to run riot.
The move will be accomodated by naming Shaun Berne at inside centre. Berne is more suited to flyhalf, and provides an additional kicking option outside new 10 Tim Donnelly.
The thinking from McKenzie is clear. Dominate with the boot, and take what he perceives as a vulnerable pack on upfront, and when the Stormers attempt to relieve the pressure he has Australia’s two scariest wingers to counter-attack.
Nokwe and Benjamin can also expect to be on the receiving end of more than a few hoists, with Chris Whitaker an additional kicking option from the base of the ‘Tahs scrum.
Berne’s inclusion to relieve some of the kicking responsibility from Donnelly also indicates McKenzie’s appreciation for the skill of the Stormers back-row. With Luke Watson, Schalk Burger and Adri Badenhorst all enjoying fine games against the Cats, the prospect of all three attempting to shut down the inexperienced Donnelly was obviously not the most appealing.
WARATAHS SIDE TO PLAY THE STORMERS (probable)
Peter Hewat; Lote Tuqiri, Morgan Turinui, Shaun Berne, Wendell Sailor; Tim Donnelly, Chris Whitaker; David Lyons, Phil Waugh, Rocky Elsom, Dan Vickerman, Al Kanaar, Al Baxter, Adam Freier, Matt Dunning. Reserves: Tatafu Polota-Nau, Benn Robinson, Stephen Hoiles, Wycliff Palu, Brett Sheehan, Daniel Halangahu, Sam Norton-Knight
44 Comments
14 Feb 2006, 15:41 pm
Looking forward to this one.
14 Feb 2006, 15:41 pm
c’mon jongi you dragon!!!!!
14 Feb 2006, 15:42 pm
… so are the Dragons
14 Feb 2006, 15:42 pm
i suspect lote is going to run right over nokwe at least once. eish.
14 Feb 2006, 15:44 pm
Ewen, The Stormers will fancy their chances against Donnelly and Berne
14 Feb 2006, 15:45 pm
Wings – when the Stormers run out they just pop on the scrum half off the bench to run round them (Niel de Kok)- or did they take there foot of the pedal to let us win in Sydney.
They must be glad to see that he may not taking the field!!!
Let them come!!!
14 Feb 2006, 15:49 pm
sailor and tuquiri might very well be to much for our speedsters. If i was Mackenzie, i’d run at them the whole night. However, as brumby points out, Barry must similarly head for Donnelly and Berne.
If Provice tight 5 have really turned the corner, then they can win this one, if not the losses to the tahs at home set to continue.
14 Feb 2006, 15:50 pm
Go Stormers any SA victory will be gr8, even if it is a Stormers victory. nokwe to beat Lote with pace.
14 Feb 2006, 15:53 pm
Nokwe, I’m afraid may be a bit outclassed.
14 Feb 2006, 15:57 pm
Come on, Stormers. Beat these c*nts and help the Sharks reach the semis.
14 Feb 2006, 15:58 pm
McKenzie has a good strategy here. In any one on one situation, Big **** and Lote will come out tops. Let’s hope we can keep the ball away from those two.
14 Feb 2006, 16:01 pm
The tahs are thin on tight forwards this year. Al Kanaar has a bit of mongrel in him but is very inexperienced.
14 Feb 2006, 16:01 pm
That’s the spirit Rob D. I was ******* stoked when the Guppies whipped the Chiefs!
14 Feb 2006, 16:03 pm
On the bright side, Lote will not be able to resist a night out on the pub crawl before the game, so we should be playing against 14 and a half.
14 Feb 2006, 16:07 pm
Isn’t this the same Nokwe that made the bulls backline his ***** ?
14 Feb 2006, 16:08 pm
So the trick is to shut them down in the midfield and force these big wingers to come inside looking for work.
I’d like to see Nokwe run round one of the guys. Going to be interesting and a great develepment opportunity for these 2 guys.
One question though – Is Matt Rogers injured? If not, then McKenzie must be doing a Rassie.
14 Feb 2006, 16:14 pm
Mat Rogers is not playing in the first 3 games as he is still greiving over his father’s death (Steve Rogers who was a league great)
14 Feb 2006, 16:14 pm
Ig – you forget in SA the focus tends to be more of the wingers defensive talents before one looks at their attacking play.
Big Del, Chris forgets, is as clumsy as Lomu and a defensive liability. He played well on attack against the Reds, but even they knew to kick just behind him. Does anyone remember the kick he left to go into touch on Saturday? It bounced just outside the 5m (linout mark), his positional play and awareness is hopeless. If we can kick well tactically, you could put Nokwe onto him at pace, and then he fumbles.
Tuquiri I rate, although he does tend to try it the SA way – i.e run over you instead of around. I guess its his league background. The key is – tackle him. Still, an awesome player and one to watch.
14 Feb 2006, 16:15 pm
what about Egon Seconds? Would he not be better on defence and the high ball?
14 Feb 2006, 16:16 pm
BumbyIV – of course, I forgot. thanks.
14 Feb 2006, 16:18 pm
Lets all hope that this Jean Devilliers oke eventually figures out what his job description is.
I’d watch out for that Turinui bloke as well, he’s one fat *******!!
14 Feb 2006, 16:26 pm
Turinui has his own bakers shop
14 Feb 2006, 16:34 pm
Yip , after this one we can start talking rugby. Stormers still have to prove that they can beat a overseas side.
14 Feb 2006, 16:52 pm
Come on Nokwe and Benjamin – paste this up in your change room and go out and show these arrogant ******** a thing or two….
Besides, I don’t rate Sailor. Munkiboi is right… you guys will run circles around him. Work out a strategy for Tuqiri though.
14 Feb 2006, 16:52 pm
Such short memories. “Stormes still have to prove that they can beat an overseas side”??? Sure this side is inexperienced overall, but many players in it have experienced precisely this with the Boks and with the 2004 side when they MADE THE SEMI-FINALS.
Trouble with bok supporters is their dismissive attitude and impatience.
14 Feb 2006, 17:02 pm
Wendel Sailer takes a man or two with him before he hits the deck. Its called bulk. Hopefully chaps like Nokwe will outrun the bulk wankers. Lote is also a bulky lad but in my opinion a bit faster. Its down to speed and bravery here. The stromers need to borrow some of the Blue Bulls Klippies and run at the ball with nor fear. Come on Stormers make SA proud!
14 Feb 2006, 17:38 pm
Good idea by the tahs they could possibly also use cross kicks particularly on benjamins wing he isnt the tallest but the game will be decided up front if the tahs get enough ball Sailor and Tuqiri could give benjamin and nokwe a tough time however if the stormers get enough ball and grant and barry can get their outside backs away in some space both nokwe and benjamin could have the tahs wide men grasping at air particularly nokwe his alota pace.
14 Feb 2006, 17:40 pm
Andre – what is more difficult – putting 70-odd points on the Auckland Blues in Auckland while they were defending champs, or putting 70-odd on the board at home at Loftus – how can you forget that victory.
14 Feb 2006, 17:41 pm
mikeybrass – I kinda agree with AndreWP on this one. I mean the stormers have won something like 19 out of their last 20 matches against SA teams in the S12. But it counts for squat if you’re not winnning on the road and beating Kiwi/Oz teams at Newlands.
There’s no psycholical boost for the boks by Stormers making the other SA teams their ******* over the last 5 years.
14 Feb 2006, 17:46 pm
gecko – you bring back happy memories.
14 Feb 2006, 17:47 pm
Ja munkiboi – I’ll be the first to admit we have to dig long and far for them. While I’m at it – coming back from 24-3 down to beat the Waratahs in Sydney.
14 Feb 2006, 17:53 pm
Redox, your points are valid, but someone said it earlier and I agree. We need to take the Tahs on in the 10/12 channel. Badenhort picking up and running at them all day, ala Big Joe. Ideally with Luke close behind, clearing out and Schalk taking quick ball and running in the same channel.
You must take Oz teams on around rucks and mauls because their defense fans out league style and is awesome. Once you get them to commit closer, you can find space out wide. If you try and run from the outset, they’ll knock you back and turn you over.
14 Feb 2006, 18:46 pm
Never had the good fortune to see that match – only heard about it.
There was a game against the Chiefs in Hamilton though – their first in their new stadium. We were well down and out at halftime, and they had an awesome fireworks display at halftime (I was there) follwed by an incredible comeback and eventual comfortable victory. Was fun being a South African in Hamilton that night.
14 Feb 2006, 19:06 pm
The Stormers usually beat the Waratahs at Newlands (3-1), and even the away record is 2-2.
They can take this one, the Brumbies will be much tougher though.
14 Feb 2006, 19:21 pm
A good Stormer performance in Super14 is essential to SA rugby, no doubt.
However, beating the woeful Cats is no indication that the Stormers are on the roll, they are porous up front and their half back combo is not adequate against the better teams than the Cats
14 Feb 2006, 19:25 pm
Onlooker – brave prediction. I’ll save my judgements till I have the benefit of hindsight to support my views.
Or I could just say – rubbish the Stormers rock and will kick everyones arses. Despite last years poor showing they’ve consistently been SA’s best team for about 4 years. If they dont stand a chance we should all stop watching S14 now and save ourselves the misery.
But then SA supporters are the same as golfers. masochistic by nature. they’re both voluntary torture…
14 Feb 2006, 20:39 pm
benjamin shouldn’t have a problem marking sailor, he’s a brilliant tacker. nokwe i’m a bit scared for though, anyone notice his tackle on saturday when he jumped on the back of a cats player? he looked like he wanted a piggyback
14 Feb 2006, 20:49 pm
Chuck Norris would outrun outtackle and roundhouse kick the **** out of both Sailer and Loto.
In fact the next big purchase for the Stormers should be Chuck Norris.
He wouldent even have to play and they would just win.
14 Feb 2006, 23:14 pm
Munkiboi,
Since I don’t have the crystal ball, I got to go with the betting lines and it’s favoured the Tahs
Main drawbacks for the Stormers are the usual poor travelling Super12 record, a rooki coach, unsettled starting line and a new captain.
As for the wing duo, I would hold judgement, since P Russouw retirement and Paulse departure I haven’t seen Stormer wing who can score consistantly with the little good ball they get.
15 Feb 2006, 07:07 am
wls, the Stormers need MacGyver not Norris. Norris will get too many yellows (so the Stormers will be playing with 12 men).
15 Feb 2006, 09:28 am
Don’t worry Stormers fans – I just beat the ‘Tahs quite convincingly in EA Rugby 06 playing with the Stormers! Actually, it was really quite easy. Final score was Stormers 68, ‘Tahs 14.
15 Feb 2006, 09:50 am
Turinui has a cheesy arse!!!
15 Feb 2006, 11:21 am
What’s the fascination with Turinui’s arse? Are a few of you boys preparing to come out of the closet?
Personally I think the Stormers should take a 3 pronged attack – firstly take them on up front as they are a little suspect, secondly hit them in the flyhalf-12 channel and thirdly try and isolate Sailor as if they can get someoone with pace one on one with him he can be found wanting in defence. Little kicks in behind, with a good chasing line to put the entire back 3 under pressure.
15 Feb 2006, 11:41 am
so they set a TRAP to get the stormers to kick the ball onto the NSW back 3?? surely you jest, sir!!
since when has there been a need for a trap to get a SA back to kick the ball away aimlessly?
if greeffie up&unders every ball he gets his injury prone paws on — there will not be a suprised face in all of cape town!
trap my arse!
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