Sharks, Stormers tipped for S14 success
19 Jan 2009
Former Springbok assistant coach Alan Solomons believes the Sharks or Stormers could become the second South African winners of the Super 14 while his outlook for New Zealand’s franchises is bleak.
Solomons, who currently works as a high performance consultant for the IRB, coached the Stormers to a semi-final in 1999 and was also the assistant to Nick Mallett during a golden period for the Springboks when they went 17 Tests undefeated. In addition, he has also coached Ulster to the Celtic Cup title.
Speaking to keo.co.za from Belfast, Solomons predicted that the quality of the Sharks’ squad and their coaching staff meant they had the best chance of winning the tournament, but he noted that the Stormers were an emerging force who would build on their improvement in 2008, and challenge for the title this season.
“My money is on the Sharks and Stormers to make the play-offs and then for one of them to kick on from there and win the whole thing,” he told this website.
“South Africa are currently in a golden cycle in terms of the calibre of players we’re producing or currently have playing the game at Super 14 level, and the Sharks in particular have the bulk of those elite players. They have the depth in talent, and in [John] Plumtree they have an outstanding coach. Their strength lies in the fact that they can rotate their squad and still field an unbelievable unit.
“The Stormers did well under Rassie [Erasmus - head coach] in 2008. I liked the brand of rugby they played and they’ve made some good signings between now and then. They’ll build on what they achieved last year and if they can get into the semi-final anything can happen on the day.”
Solomons noted that it would be a defining season for Bulls coach Frans Ludeke, who last year failed to mount a successful title defence with the Pretoria franchise.
“Last year was tough for Frans. He had just taken over the defending champions and replaced Heyneke Meyer, who had built that squad of players over a number of years,” he said.
“He struggled to put his unique mark on that side, which makes 2009 a defining year for him. He did well in the Currie Cup, but the measure of the man will come in the Super 14. He’ll be helped tremendously by the return of [Victor] Matfield though. I think people underestimate his impact from a playing and leadership perspective. It’ll be huge.
“There’s a question mark about how they’ll go, but I certainly think they’ll finish in the top half of the table. That said, if they play to their potential consistently they have the ability to win the tournament.”
His outlook for the Lions and Cheetahs was less optimistic however. Solomons identified a lack of depth as the primary challenges they would have to overcome if they hoped to be involved at the business end of the tournament, but he didn’t foresee them finishing in the top half of the table.
Meanwhile, Solomons noted the mass exodus of players from New Zealand to Europe would continue to hurt them.
“You could probably pick a very strong All Blacks side from the New Zealanders playing in Europe,” he said. “Their franchises have suffered with some top players deciding to move north and [Dan] Carter’s and [Robbie] Deans’s departures will certainly make the Crusaders vulnerable.
“Neither they nor Australia have the depth of talent we have to combat an exodus like that. When I was coach of the Stormers [between 1997 and 2000] the New Zealand blokes would often tell me that a fifth New Zealand franchise is not sustainable because they simply didn’t have the quality of players to fill five.
“This all points to a successful year for the Sharks and Stormers. I’m very positive about their chances. In fact, if they manage to keep their core of their sides together over the next four or five years, they could well dominate in the manner the Crusaders have.”
By Ryan Vrede
415 Comments
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19 Jan 2009, 17:19 pm
#190 BlackPanther:
Apply the same reasoning to yourself!
All that you referred to, is HISTORY.
This thread is all about a prediction of the year AHEAD.
Now, if you are a scientist, and want to use regression analysis of known occurences to predict the outcome, thats fine. Not very applicable, but fine.
If you are a creative, and use deductive reasoning to back up your point of view, you would be closer to the bullseye.
And this is going to be such a year again – the year of the BULL.
19 Jan 2009, 17:22 pm
#198 Supa Die Bloubul: Julle was lucky om laasjaar die Stormers op Nuweland te wen. Seker omdat Olivier vir Spies ge licky het….hehehe.
Gaan nou waai, ons praat weer na ons julle afgestof het. Die Bulls se dae is getel. Julle beter maar julle fotos en aandenkings hou, een van die dae verloor julle weer al julle games. Shame
19 Jan 2009, 17:23 pm
#199 Supa Die Bloubul:
Supa, jy slaan die spyker op sy kop! Die stormpies raak net lucky in die kleedkamer!
19 Jan 2009, 17:25 pm
TAURUS!!!!!!
19 Jan 2009, 17:26 pm
De Stormers is lucky they came 5th in the Carrie Cap.
19 Jan 2009, 17:29 pm
#86 mshiniwami: What are you smoking ?
19 Jan 2009, 17:31 pm
#205 shooter: Nice spelling man, was your education lucky or unlucky?
19 Jan 2009, 17:34 pm
#202 KingPaul:
Nou waai jy voor jy my vraag beantwoord!
Word die Stormers ook soms lucky of is dit net ander spanne wat lucky is??
#203 Cosa:
LMAO…ja, hulle raak veral lucky as een van die slotte die seep laat val…
19 Jan 2009, 17:39 pm
Spesiaal vir KPaul..hehehe
Stormers count on Lady Luck
2009-01-19 06:54Email | Print
Cape Town – Luck is a huge factor in the Super 14 and the Stormers’ fortunes may just revolve around the fitness of lock Andries Bekker.
That is the view of former Stormers lock Johnny Trytsman, who reckons the Cape side’s lineout could suffer seriously if Bekker is injured this year.
“Andries is an outstanding lineout player. My big worry is that the Stormers won’t have a lineout banker without him,” said Trytsman.
“When you throw at Bekker, you know the ball will be yours. The Stormers don’t have another jolly jumper.”
Ross Skeate’s decision to go and play for Toulon was a huge setback in that reagrd. Veteran AJ Venter and Hilton Lobberts have both joined the Stormers as lock options.
Big loose forwards such as Schalk Burger and Duane Vermeulen can also win balls.
“Lineout possession is crucial. You want to dominate contact and if you lose a lineout, you can end up on the back foot for a while,” said Trytsman.
“I think the Stormers have a good chance this year, but they need a bit of luck.
19 Jan 2009, 17:43 pm
The Sharks are the favourites to win the tournament out of all the local teams and i would say the Bulls and Stormers are pretty evenly matched. The Cheetahs and the Lions can finish mid table if they perform well enough and key players don’t get injured.
19 Jan 2009, 17:48 pm
#209 Supa Die Bloubul: Dis mos wat ek die heeltyd sê, julle luck is hopenlik klaar, en ons s’n gaan begin draai.
Asek so na die spanne kyk is daar beslis meer bukker in die Bulls span as in die Stormer span. Jy hoef nie eers verder as jul kaptein en binne senter te kyk nie.
19 Jan 2009, 17:57 pm
#211 KingPaul:
Ja, dis hoekom ons kaptein natuurlik twee kinders het ne…
As julle wp net n slag begin besef dat n hele toernooi nie net oor luck gaan nie sal julle dalk weer die semis van die currie cup en s14 haal.
Jy wen nie 10 games in een toernooi deur luck nie. Jy wen nie n span 92 – 3 met luck nie. Jy wen nie die Crusaders met 15 punte met Mccaw en Carter in deur luck nie.
As die wenner altyd deur luck beslis word, hoekom neem die spanne dan nog enigsins deel??
19 Jan 2009, 17:58 pm
#9 Rugby_Fanatic:
Hey there already is a keo pool…
Keo’s super night owls or something like that…
Cancel your pool and let’s have one!??!
19 Jan 2009, 18:04 pm
#212 Supa Die Bloubul:
As far as I recall, the Stormers were never wooden spooners?
And definitely not three years in a row?
19 Jan 2009, 18:08 pm
#212 Supa Die Bloubul: Vergeet van luck, vergeet van die Reds, vergeet van 2007. Konsentreer op 2009. 2008 was maar net die begin.
Jurie Els het ook kinders…..
19 Jan 2009, 18:09 pm
#214 WP Till I Die:
Id rather be wooden spooners and eventually win the S14 than never win it at all.
19 Jan 2009, 18:10 pm
#215 KingPaul:
So jy judge ouens as *** op grond van lang hare? So Schalk Burger is ***? en Percy? En Schalk Brits? en Ross Skeate?
19 Jan 2009, 18:11 pm
#215 KingPaul:
Oukei – in 2009 gaan ons julle trap op Loftus.
19 Jan 2009, 18:12 pm
Anyway, sal later weer inloer. Glo jy maar dat luck die s14 wenner bepaal en ek sal glo dat skill dit bepaal.
19 Jan 2009, 18:13 pm
#217 Supa Die Bloubul: Nee, ek judge hulle as *** oor hul doen en late.
19 Jan 2009, 18:15 pm
#220 KingPaul:
Nou wat het Matfield gedoen wat hom *** maak? Is dit omdat hy met n mooi vrou getrou het? Of is dit omdat hy twee kinders by haar het?
Ek dink ek weet wat jy met doen en late bedoel! Soos Bolla wat De wet gesoen het op die veld! Dis doen en late wat wys iemand is ***, ne?
19 Jan 2009, 18:18 pm
#219 Supa Die Bloubul: Skill bepaal die wenner in 90% van die gevalle, maar as jy vir my gaan sê dat luck nie ‘n rol speel nie dan kyk jy beslis te min rugby. Wil jy vir my sê luck het geen rol gespeel in jul wen oor die Sharks in 2007 nie? Wil jy ook sê luck het geen rol gespeel in ons wen oor die AllBlacks in Dunedin laasjaar nie. Net so het luck ‘n rol gespeel toe Willie Doos gesien het hoe Scalla kamstig ‘n ou met die vuis geslaan het in Durban laasjaar ens. ens. ens.
19 Jan 2009, 18:28 pm
#222 KingPaul:
Jy is duidelik telui om tedink vandag,ek sien jy vat die floubul supporters aan.
Dit vat geen dinkwerk nie.
Maklik om hulle op die hoek tekry,jy ken al die trigger phrases.
19 Jan 2009, 18:32 pm
#222 KingPaul:
Wat ek se is dat luck nie die wenner van die s14 bepaal nie. Jy kan nie oor 16 weke lucky wees nie. Soos Gary Player: “The more practise, the luckier I get”.
Waar jy ook die pot heeltemal mis sit is dat jy net na luck verwys wanneer dit jou pas. Daar is dinge wat aan geluk toegeskryf kan word, maar vir AL die spanne. STORMERS INKLUIS.Maar op die ou einde kom die ware wenner steeds deur.
Jy glo die Sharks moes gewen het in 2007, gaan kyk na die HELE seisoen dan sal jy sien hoeveel keer het daar dinge gebeur in die Sharks span wat volgens jou ook aan luck toegeskryf kan word. Teen die Blues het hulle verniet n bonuspunt gekry bv. Daar sal altyd dinge aan luck toegeskryf kan word, maar die wenner VERDIEN om te wen.
Soos jy ook al gese het in die WCUP. Die Bokke was dalk lucky dat ons nie die AB of Aussies moes speel nie, maar dit maak geensins dat ons dit nie verdien nie. As jy wen, verdien jy dit.
En die Stormers/WP. Hoeveel keer was Schalk nie lucky om NIE afgestuur te word nie??? Onthou jy nie hoe Schalk twee games na -mekaar in die ccup n ou deur die gesig geklap het nie? Hy was nooit afgestuur nie…daar gebeur so baie dinge in n game en nog baie meer in n seisoen. Deur te glo dat n wenner na 16 weke deur luck bepaal word is verregaande. Dan glo jy seker ook net lucky mense word ryk, net lucky mense wen toernooie ens.
Jy het nogsteeds nie my vraag beantwoord nie…word almal behalwe die Stormers dan lucky??
Luck speel n rol in ALLE spanne, maar die wenner oor n 16 weke toernooi, VERDIEN sy wen. Hy was nie lucky nie.
19 Jan 2009, 18:32 pm
#223 Fern: Ek is nog in ‘n vakansie bui. Ek probeer maar net die Bulls nederig hou, maar dit sukkel maar.
19 Jan 2009, 18:33 pm
#223 Fern:
As jy dalk net eendag sense praat, sal iemand jou ernstig opneem.
19 Jan 2009, 18:37 pm
#190 BlackPanther: BlackPanther a South African team won the very first of these super games. Remember it was Transvaal then that won the S10 as it was then. Or were you just too young to remember?
Also it was no default when the Bulls won that a AB team was not there. GH pulled out your players early but they were there for the last 7 games. After 7 games I would think the players are match fit. Don’t you? Or if you have so much depth then it never really mattered did it? Bulls beat the Saders at home and Sharks beat the Blues at the Shark Tank in the semi. Remember?
Yes we do have depth here. Plenty of it. We don’t have to go look for our rugby players on the PI.
If you really want to go into default and all that nonsense then when you won the world cup in 1987 it was by default because the Boks were not there.
Anyway I for one wont count out a AB side being there in the semi or final of the S14. Saders, Hurricanes and Chiefs all could be there. Saffa teams. Sharks, Stormers, Bulls. Oz Tahs, Brumbies maybe WF.
19 Jan 2009, 18:39 pm
#224 Supa Die Bloubul: Scalla ‘n ou klap??? Nee jong, hy sal nooooooit so iets doen nie.
Watter antwoord sal jou gelukkig maak? Ja of nee? Ek kies dan die ander opsie….
19 Jan 2009, 18:41 pm
#225 KingPaul:
ek sien jy probeer maar dit sukkel,jy moet sien hoe gedra die meeste van die goed hulle hier in pta.
#226 Supa Die Bloubul:
so moet ek die bulle goedpraat voor julle my ernstig opneem?
ek is nie hier om serendiptious epithany’s tedeel nie.
I cant be everything to everyone.
19 Jan 2009, 18:53 pm
Luister hier Fern, as jy geselskap soek gaan fake jou dood weer of iets, maar ek is nie lus vir jou comments nie. Niemand wat jou ken sal jou anyway ernstig opneem nie.
Ignore jy my comments, hier en veral op FB, dan ignore ek joune.
19 Jan 2009, 19:03 pm
Naaaaaannnnnddddd vrinne en modderotters
19 Jan 2009, 19:21 pm
Solly Solomon… don’t write the Bulls off… you do it at your own peril.
How in hell does Solly think the Stormers will do so well with such a light 5…. I mean… 4 farktup props, 2 decent hookers, way below average locks (Bekker excluded)…
That’s where they’ll stand or fail the test horribly AGAIN !
19 Jan 2009, 20:12 pm
Wat gaan hier aan dat hier niks aangaan nie ?
19 Jan 2009, 20:14 pm
#232 grootblousmile: Right hiers ek ook , wat se dinges praat julle oor die Bulle?
En ek is nie ge Email om te kom join nie,
ek moes eers skottelgoed was en die kombuis skoonmaak :loL:
19 Jan 2009, 20:16 pm
#233 grootblousmile: Is jy reg vir my en Dalien Saterdagaand die 31ste?
19 Jan 2009, 20:34 pm
And the Bulls fantastic 5 didn’t get to finish in a respectable position like 5th did they? They finished 9th or 10th was it ? lol. You won the title in 2007. Respect , but its 2009 , you guys were average in 2008′s Super 14 and Heyneke is gone. It’s a different ball game now.
19 Jan 2009, 20:39 pm
Superbru also have a Varsity Cup game, must i register a pool?
Varsity Cup Log
Maties 0
NMMU 0
Pukke 0
Shimlas 0
Tuks 0
TUT 0
UCT 0
UJ 0
All the Varsity Cup fixtures:
No Home Away Local time Venue
Round 1
1 Shimlas v NMMU Mon 2 Feb 14:45 Grootte Schuur Rugby Field, Cape Town
2 UCT v Maties Mon 2 Feb 16:45 Grootte Schuur Rugby Field, Cape Town
3 UJ v TUT Mon 2 Feb 16:45 Fanie Du Toit Sports Grounds, Potchefstroom
4 Pukke v Tuks Mon 2 Feb 18:45 Fanie Du Toit Sports Grounds, Potchefstroom
Round 2
5 TUT v UCT Mon 9 Feb 16:45 TUT Stadium, Pretoria
6 NMMU v Tuks Mon 9 Feb 18:45 Xerox NMMU Stadium, Port Elizabeth
7 Shimlas v Pukke Mon 9 Feb 18:45 Shimla Park, Bloemfontein
8 Maties v UJ Mon 9 Feb 19:30 Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch
Round 3
9 UCT v UJ Mon 16 Feb 16:45 Grootte Schuur Rugby Field, Cape Town
10 Shimlas v Maties Mon 16 Feb 18:45 Shimla Park, Bloemfontein
11 Pukke v NMMU Mon 16 Feb 18:45 Fanie Du Toit Sports Grounds, Potchefstroom
12 Tuks v TUT Mon 16 Feb 18:45 LC De Villiers Stadium, Pretoria
Round 4
13 UJ v Shimlas Mon 23 Feb 16:45 UJ Stadium, Johannesburg
14 Tuks v UCT Mon 23 Feb 18:45 LC De Villiers Stadium, Pretoria
15 NMMU v TUT Mon 23 Feb 18:45 Xerox NMMU Stadium, Port Elizabeth
16 Maties v Pukke Mon 23 Feb 18:45 Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch
Round 5
17 Shimlas v Tuks Mon 2 Mar 16:45 Shimla Park, Bloemfontein
18 TUT v Maties Mon 2 Mar 18:45 TUT Stadium, Pretoria
19 UJ v Pukke Mon 2 Mar 18:45 UJ Stadium, Johannesburg
20 NMMU v UCT Mon 2 Mar 18:45 Xerox NMMU Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Round 6
21 Maties v NMMU Mon 9 Mar 16:45 Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch
22 TUT v Pukke Mon 9 Mar 18:45 TUT Stadium, Pretoria
23 UCT v Shimlas Mon 9 Mar 18:45 Grootte Schuur Rugby Field, Cape Town
24 UJ v Tuks Mon 9 Mar 18:45 UJ Stadium, Johannesburg
Round 7
25 Pukke v UCT Mon 16 Mar 16:45 Fanie Du Toit Sports Grounds, Potchefstroom
26 NMMU v UJ Mon 16 Mar 18:45 Xerox NMMU Stadium, Port Elizabeth
27 TUT v Shimlas Mon 16 Mar 18:45 TUT Stadium, Pretoria
28 Tuks v Maties Mon 16 Mar 18:45 LC De Villiers Stadium, Pretoria
19 Jan 2009, 20:41 pm
#236 wp_boytjie: yeah yeah lets see if our respective teams do better than last year.
19 Jan 2009, 20:46 pm
Come join my pool in SuperBru Varsity Cup, the ultimate Varsity Cup prediction game! It’s easy – just go to the website and enter the pool code eyesherd to join my pool, Keo Bloggers Varsity 09.
Website: w w w.superbru.com/varsitycup
Pool code: eyesherd
Pool name: Keo Bloggers Varsity 09
19 Jan 2009, 20:47 pm
#235 superBul: Yebo Yes……. ek sal reg wees vir julle… enige tyd !!
Hel, ons tan sommer ‘n vleisie ook en vat ‘n sappie vas !
19 Jan 2009, 20:50 pm
#240 grootblousmile: Daai kromputer sal sommer saam kom, reg?
My kleinseun se mos tereg dis n Neukenaar
19 Jan 2009, 20:50 pm
Ja nee ek skryf julle glad nie af nie , maar ek is nie ‘n Lion of ‘n Cheetah nie. Stormers kan net beter doen in hul 2de seisoen met Rassie.
19 Jan 2009, 20:53 pm
#236 wp_boytjie: Do not forget, in 2008 Vic was away, Bakkies injured, Spies injured… and a brand new coach to boot… some other injuries as well…
Rather check how the Bulls ended the 2008 Super 14 season… 4 wins on a trot… and of course ended in the CC final with the Sharks whilst WP did not even reach the semi’s.
Also, this year only both the Sharks and Bulls can virtually field 2 Super 14 Teams…… Stormers depth is suspect, Lions and Cheethas depth virtually non-existing.
Dis lekker om ‘n Bul te wees………. nog al die jare !
19 Jan 2009, 20:54 pm
#241 superBul: Janee, bring vir Noag se PC saam…… sal hom ‘n Turbo en low-profile tyres gee…. !
19 Jan 2009, 20:55 pm
#242 wp_boytjie: Ai ou julle glo darem sterk aan ou Rassie, sy 2 de jaar by die Cheetahs was maar dingesrig. Sy truuks gaan nie weer werk nie , die ou het ook net soveel truuks.
19 Jan 2009, 20:56 pm
#242 wp_boytjie: Met watter stutte en slotte ?????
19 Jan 2009, 21:02 pm
Ek sien hier’s op die oomblik net 3 kenners op die blog… al drie Bulle….
19 Jan 2009, 21:04 pm
Cheers SuperBul en Supa…… gooi mieliesssssss !
19 Jan 2009, 21:05 pm
… or shall I stay ??
19 Jan 2009, 21:06 pm
#249 grootblousmile: Helloo..
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