Finishing key to Kiwi scalpings
10 Mar 2008
The Stormers may have rediscovered their creative spark but execution and finishing require sharpening ahead of the next two matches in New Zealand.
Few people will believe that the attacking woes evident in the Stormers’ first three games have evaporated with a four-try hammering of the Reds. Victory plus a bonus point equals a happy start, but Rassie Erasmus and company will know more is needed to beat the Chiefs and Blues in their own backyards.
The Stormers won comfortably in Brisbane, but the 34-16 scoreline could have inflated had the visitors taken their initial chances. It’s not negative to look at the opportunities they had in the first half and lament the lack of points. Luke Watson was well held up in a surge toward the line, and a promising build up came to nought on the stroke of half-time. The number of handling errors also wrecked several attacking moves.
The Stormers could have scored more tries, but against a better team they may not receive the sort of space they did against the Reds. Against a better team, they would have regretted missing these early chances. A good Super 14 side makes the most of their opportunities when they arise, as traditionally, defences are hard to breach.
To give credit where it’s due, the Stormers’ performance last Saturday was more penetrative than in previous weeks. Erasmus had regretted the fact they weren’t getting across the advantage line against the Crusaders, but there was no such problem against the Reds. The Stormers forwards provided a solid platform in this respect which allowed their backs more space to attack.
This was evident in the number of times winger Tonderai Chavhanga got in behind defenders. The backs were lacking confidence before, but this showing will have given them a massive boost. Sireli Naqelevuki still needs to up his work rate, but Chavhanga and Conrad Jantjes were industrious, creating an ideal situation for the Stormers. If the Stormers back three can receive a steady supply of ball, the results will keep going the way of the Cape franchise.
The jury is still out on the midfield and halfback combinations. Jean de Villiers and Gcobani Bobo still fail to complement each other with any telling effect. Bobo’s ball skills are a plus, but his decision-making needs attention. His trademark grubber kick is failing to bear fruit. Shelve it, and keep the ball in hand, or pass it to the elusive Chavhanga or the belligerent Naqelevuki.
The truth is Bobo is no outside centre, a fact that’s proved by De Villiers running at 13 for certain moves on attack. Bobo’s a solid distributor, but the Stormers need that extra pace and penetration of a strike runner. No 13 is where De Villiers’s talents will be maximised.
At halfback, Ricky Januarie is still off the pace placing Peter Grant under unnecessary pressure. Grant seemed far more comfortable with his provincial team-mate Bolla Conradie at No 9. Januarie’s is lauded for his ability to snipe round the fringes and gain the extra ground, which is a great bonus as long as he’s doing his primary job well. The Stormers depend on quick ball from the base, and Januarie’s service is still too slow. There is no substitute for the basics, and at this level, the scrumhalf’s speed of delivery is crucial.
Erasmus told this website after the Reds win he wasn’t going to break out the bubbly just yet. He said there was still plenty to work on and some areas of the game need sharpening. This Friday’s match against the Chiefs is a big game, but if Erasmus is serious about progress, he shouldn’t be afraid to make personnel changes for the sake of evolution.
By Jon Cardinelli
325 Comments
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10 Mar 2008, 10:58 am
Hoezit GBS
Ek toe vir Cousin, Kwagga, en AB hulle ontmoet by loftus vrydag, sommer ook olifant to gegaan.
Jyt ‘n goeie assesment gemaak op #289.
Die leeus is net kuk! Jano is di enigste ou in daai backline wat iets weet van rugga af.
10 Mar 2008, 10:58 am
Andre_WP
My suster was daar toe hulle toegeslaan het Рsy s̻ die ouens was belaglik, het ouens in die gesig geskop en selfone stukkend gegooi en mense ge-pepper spray. Hulle het blykbaar selfs skote afgeskiet en pistole gerig op studente.
Daar is GROOT gemors daarso, groot klomp videomateriaal is op die CCTVs van die klubs opgevang. Klomp ouers is hoogs ontsteld.
Daar is ‘n probleem met ouens wat dwelms verkoop in daardie area, maar hulle operasie was heeltemal ‘n mislukking. Hulle het skaars ‘n gram coke, drie gram hashish en ‘n sakkie dagga gevind. En terselfdertyd feitlik die hele Stellenbosse studentebevolking teen hulle gedraai.
10 Mar 2008, 11:02 am
#302 Hectik, die pote is ook ni meer wat hulle wasi.
10 Mar 2008, 11:03 am
Daar was nie juis veel gese op All Out Rugby oor die Sharks se wen soos oor die Stormers en Bulle sin nie. Dit was n groot prestasie nadat baie mense gese het die Blues sal nie sommer geklop word nie.Ai dit is lekker om gewoond te wees aan wen.
10 Mar 2008, 11:04 am
Wp
Ja nee lyk glad nie goed nie , dit wat ek gesien het.
Ek het darem iets gehad om oor te skree die naweek , die Stormers het gewen
10 Mar 2008, 11:10 am
miskien moet die SA spanne wat aan die einde nie meer n kans het nie soveel driee laat druk om vodacom se smile foundation te help.
Die kinderjies tjop maar af met ons ouens wat nie in SA kan druk nie.
Reken in 80 minute kan hulle ten minste 80 keer gaan druk en te hel met die uitslag
10 Mar 2008, 11:11 am
Andre_WP
Janee, ek het self lekker geskree Saterdagoggend!
As die Stormers net hulle hanteringsfoute kan uitsorteer, sal dit sommer gou weer klopdisselboom gaan, en sal die Kaap weer Hollands wees!
10 Mar 2008, 11:13 am
Ek weetnie wat is erger nie….. studente is nie mense nie, hulle is diere….
Die Pote is ook nie mense nie….. hulle wens hulle was diere….
Nou vra ek jou, ons sit met ‘n probleem in SA met geweldsmisdaad…… maar die Cops vermors kosbare mannekrag deur toe te slaan op studente, wat dalkies ‘n aaptwakkie nuttig om meer kreatief te studeer !
Waar lê die bliksems se prioriteite??
10 Mar 2008, 11:16 am
GBS ja ek sit vandag hier voor die komper , afdag, maar nou net gou n joppie ingekom, so klien private , gaan gou Orpen hek se kant toe . Sal vanaand kyk wat julle gepraat het.
10 Mar 2008, 11:18 am
GBS
Die klopjagte in Stellenbosch Vrydagaand was in reaksie op ‘n klomp klagtes deur inwoners wat naby die betrokke klubs woon.
Daar is ‘n probleem met dwelmverkope in van daai klubs, dit was algemeen bekend selfs toe ek daar studeer het.
Ek verstaan net nie hoekom hulle so hardhandig was nie, hulle het ingebars met skokbomme en aangetrek in riot gear met wapens gerig asof hulle besig was om ‘n tik merchant in Athlone te bestorm.
Ek weet nie hoekom hulle dit gedoen het nie…maar ‘n gedeelte van my dink hulle wou ‘n les vir die studente leer. Ek dink dit was meestal ‘n geval van, “Ja, julle arrogante studente wat op pappa en mamma se geld swot, ons sal julle wys, julle dink julle is die menere, huh?”
10 Mar 2008, 11:19 am
GBS
En toe’s hulle nog dom genoeg om aggressief op te tree in ‘n klub waar meestal regstudente uithang…daai tipe gedrag kom mens miskien mee weg as jy besig is met onwettige immigrante of dwelmhandelaars “vannie Flêts”, maar regstudente is BAIE, BAIE bewus van hulle regte en die regte van die polise.
10 Mar 2008, 11:37 am
mooooooooooorning!!!!!!!
my summary of the matches i watched on the weekend goes thus:
stormers- looking good. enjoyed the lines they ran and with improved handling they will be a match for the rest of their opponents in this competition. they also seem to have the tight five to set a credible platform for attack.
lions vs bulls- the lions are rudderless and at this point, the weakest team i have seen so far. the bulls were a bunch of vuilgatte!! i have seldom seen a team in more need of discipline. cmon, where is the team that performed last year. hard, but seldom dirty.
sharks vs blues- aah, a game played in the right spirit. what can i say, its all been said already. i lost my voice at halftime and havent seen a crowd party like that in years! the spectators were dancing in the stands. unfknblvbl!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
p.s. nucifora is a sore loser, a whining convict and a complete sh#thead! he should try having the dignity of the players he coaches. he had a little whine and a moan last year too. lmao, loser!
10 Mar 2008, 11:41 am
rangerman
I completely agree with your assessment.
The Bulls really need to sort out their discipline – they are shaming our country if they carry on at their current rate.
10 Mar 2008, 11:46 am
what alot of bullshark!!
(joke joke)
10 Mar 2008, 11:53 am
thanks wptid, there is a serious problem north of the jukskei it seems. vuilgatte!!!!!
oh, dawnie, i was as surprised as everyone else at freddies blond hair! wtf? last player who had that look was old dickie muirs center partner, jeremy thompson (what a player). he did it for charity.
maybe fred wanted us to see him get involved so people would notice that he is no powderpuff. i must say, his defence was outstanding. he always seemed to be there to put in the important tackles and though he is no butch james (sheeeyit i miss butchie) he did the business!
10 Mar 2008, 12:06 pm
Michalak should be cited for bad hair
10 Mar 2008, 12:10 pm
So now Freddie and the Dreamers managed a win against a road weary Blues!
Well Sharkies have to hit the Road yet.
Wk8 …Canes.
Wk9….Landers.
wk10…brumbies.
Wk11…Tahs.
Wk12…Saders.
Highlanders may not have won any yet, but they are still playing with pride and passion.
That will be a tough 5 weeks.
Then home for last two.
10 Mar 2008, 12:13 pm
Aggggg die Bulls is nie vuil nie…. net heelwat harder as die res !!
Hehehehe
Nee man, die Bulls sal iets moet doen aan die dissipline van die tekkels….. bedoellende die spear tekkels en swinging arm tekkels (Los eenvoudig vir JP nel uit die span en omtrent alles is sorted)
Ek het nie juis probleme met die res van die spel se dissipline nie…. Bakkies hoef nie te verander nie, hy is die Enforcer en daar was niks fout met sy “clearing off the ball” nie…. dis hoekom hy onskuldig bevind was.
Jaco Engels se punch….. dit was stupid maar ‘n geisoleerde insident….. netso was Johan Ackerman in dieselfde wedstryd gegeelkaart vir punching….. sulke dinge gebeur maar.
10 Mar 2008, 12:16 pm
howdy cane!
well mate, a wins a win eh? i dont give a continental if the blues were “road weary”. try crossing the tasman twice in one trip. thats what the sharks face.
to be honest though, the only game i am worried about is the saders.
the canes dont worry me. not enough firepower. the highlanders are the nz lions. the brumbies will get a hiding. the sharks are the brumbies (as the were 5 years ago). the tahs, well they may cause us problems granted.
so its saders and sharks. if we crack it on this tour like i believe we can, the final may just be back at the tank.
sheesh i sound cocky i know, but i am trying to be honest! that is what i truly think.
10 Mar 2008, 12:16 pm
cane
Stormers have a tough season ahead as well:
Chiefs away
Blues away
Force away
Bye
Cheetahs at home
Canes at home
Highlanders at home
Brumbies at home
‘Tahs at home
Lions away
Speaking of tough, I would love to hear Big Hit justify England’s loss to Scotland…where on earth is stodders?
10 Mar 2008, 12:21 pm
hey cane,
at least you’re man enough to admit that the sa sides have the toughest travel scheule of the 3 countries – pls tell tackle-tits that.
blues weary after 2 away games? are the kiwi boys getting soft on us now?
10 Mar 2008, 12:26 pm
Wait, I saw on the thread, Big Hit claims that they lost to the Scots because of “wet ground”.
Ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho…
What were they expecting, sunny skies in Scotland in March?!?
10 Mar 2008, 12:39 pm
blues weary after 2 away games? are the kiwi boys getting soft on us now?
Comment by charo : March 10, 2008 @ 12:21 pm
Make that 3 Charo:-
Lions, Cheats and the Dreamers………then the Force next week.
But without getting into an arguement, I don’t buy into this, “We Saffas are hard done by with travel thing”.
Rangerdude
“i dont give a continental if the blues were “road wearyâ€.
Nor does anyone else LOL. Good win.
WPTID,
“I would love to hear Big Hit justify England’s loss”.
Biggles got a tongue lashing from all and sundry yesterday, for being ungracious. Stodders who is normally very measured in his posts let fly. As did many others.
But Biggles will be back. Lets face it, the place wouldn’t be the same without him would it?
Goodnight all……….and thanks for your time.
Cane.
10 Mar 2008, 12:45 pm
cheers cane you legend!
10 Mar 2008, 13:05 pm
cane,
you missed the point me ol mate.
excuses given for the slow start against the sharks was weariness of the tour. they had only played 2 games in sa by that stage.
comprehendo?
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