Sharks, Stormers tipped for S14 success

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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  • 301.Puma: Reply to this comment
    19 Jan 2009, 22:04 pm

    #299 superBul: Cheers superBul. Me too out of here now.

  • 302.Boerboel: Reply to this comment
    19 Jan 2009, 22:06 pm

    Who’s on tonight? The Geriatrics, the Date Club or The Mafia?

  • 303.Luke is king: Reply to this comment
    19 Jan 2009, 22:08 pm

    I would like to see Schalk lining up opposite Lobberts at practice…anybody knows how this went off or did Schalk fake an injury before it could happen

  • 304.Luke is king: Reply to this comment
    19 Jan 2009, 22:09 pm

    #302 Boerboel: Fokkol happeninh here…goona watch some TV…Obama stuff

  • 305.Boerboel: Reply to this comment
    19 Jan 2009, 22:11 pm

    #239 superBul: Done

  • 306.Boerboel: Reply to this comment
    19 Jan 2009, 22:23 pm

    ****, I suppose I must go to bed now?

  • 307.yliad: Reply to this comment
    19 Jan 2009, 22:38 pm

    I see K9 has done a duck, pity because for a little while was only him and Boerboel on line, one WP man and one Lions man…. which gave rise to my brilliant suggestion.

    Let WP and Lions amalgamate, Lions front row with Geldenhuis, Wepener and Van der Merwe, Mujati and the other newby front ranker from Gauties on the bench, Bekker and Fondse or Alberts at 4 and 5, Lobberts on bench, Burger, Louw, Watson, Vermeulen, Alberts, Koster, Grobbelaar, (pity they sold Deysel) at loose forward, maybe even entice big Joe back too

    January, Vermaak, Grant, Pretorius, JdV, La Grange, Venter, Fourie, Chavanga, Jantjes, Ludick

    This team would walk the S14 no question… divided they both got serious handicaps, combined they would be super 14 champs.

  • 308.yliad: Reply to this comment
    19 Jan 2009, 22:43 pm

    #307 yliad:

    Nakalavukikaki on the other wing and what ho… super duper super 14 uncontested team… we’d walk all and sundry to Kingdom Come, wouldn’t be another team anywhere close with those combo’s.

  • 309.carol: Reply to this comment
    19 Jan 2009, 22:46 pm

    #268 superBul: Sorry, lights were on but no one at home moment……..
    Look forward to some more wildlife pics when you can actually see them!!

  • 310.carol: Reply to this comment
    19 Jan 2009, 22:47 pm

    #302 Boerboel: What could you mean….LOL ?

  • 311.carol: Reply to this comment
    19 Jan 2009, 22:48 pm

    #307 yliad: Perhaps they will come and play later Skop….see you!

  • 312.KingPaul: Reply to this comment
    19 Jan 2009, 22:53 pm

    Ek wil nog steeds weet hoekom almal so maklik die Stormers afskryf nog voor ‘n bal gepass is? En waar kom julle daaraan dat die Stormers ‘n tekort aan diepte het? Net die Sharks het meer diepte aan losvoorspelers as die Stormers, en Mujati en Moller het laasjaar hul man gestaan, in elke game tot Moller beseer is. Verder hoef JC en Wikus vir niemand terug te staan nie. AJ op slot….daar is min harder ysters as hy. En Willem de Waal het nou die dag nog ‘n hele paar CC vir die Vrystaat gewen. Agterlangs in daar Paul Bosch en Dylan de Fountain saam met daai Tongaan om in te staan as iemand seerkry met Percy wat kan instaan vir Conrad. Ek erken dat Scalla en Jean die gom is wat die span aanmekaar hou, maar die manne is ‘n seisoen slimmer as laasjaar. Ek verwag ‘n goeie ene, met ‘n semifinale op Nuweland as dinge mooi uitwerk. Hoop net die manne toer so lekker soos laasjaar.
    Dis nog iets at almal nou gerieflikheidshalwe vergeet, die Stormers van 2008 was die mees suksesvolle SA toergroep ooit.

  • 313.K9_BaasPatrolliehond: Reply to this comment
    19 Jan 2009, 23:03 pm

    #312 KingPaul: Niemand skryf hulle af nie. Almal dink maar net dat hulle lucky sal wees om onder die top8 te kom.

  • 314.yliad: Reply to this comment
    19 Jan 2009, 23:06 pm

    Ja Stormers sal definitief beter vaar die jaar as velede sin, maar ons bly nog tekort aan n yster voory, net Mujati wat can vir a tytjie sy man kan staan, anderstens vou daai voory belieglik.

    Agterlaangs geen probleem. Bekker, Fondse, AJ, Lobberts, Vermeulen, Louw, Burger, almal ysters… Watson, Koster kan die losvoorspel altwee bietjie vonke laat dans met hul hanteer werk

    En dan January, Bolla, Grant, JdV, Des Fontaine, Bobo, Chavanga, Nakaluvukikaki, Jantjes, Percy, Pietersen, ens… almal glad nie swak hardlopers and bal spelers… net die voory waar ons gaan sukkel

    Maar die nuwe reels pas ons net mooi, en die manier van spelpatroon, tot in onse guns..

    Ja die jaar gaan baie van daai mense anderkant hulle gesiggies lag, toe Stormers die finaal behaal… miskien tog op Nuweland ook.

  • 315.Hurricane: Reply to this comment
    19 Jan 2009, 23:08 pm

    #227 Puma:
    “We don’t have to go look for our rugby players on the PI.”

    Maybe you should,you might come second in the tri nations!

  • 316.yliad: Reply to this comment
    19 Jan 2009, 23:09 pm

    can – kan … and – en

    jy weet mos ek is engels sprekend… maar ek probeer maar in elk geval (anyway)

  • 317.yliad: Reply to this comment
    19 Jan 2009, 23:10 pm

    #313 K9_BaasPatrolliehond:

    Julle gaan almal julle panties nat spuit toe ons in die finaal uitkom ne.. watch net.

  • 318.JimT: Reply to this comment
    19 Jan 2009, 23:11 pm

    #257 carol: Look before you leap :-(
    I joined up yesterday & today I get an email & they want to kick me out :-)
    I must be striking fear into the opposition :-)
    But what’s that all about?

  • 319.Ed_the_Lion_in_Boston: Reply to this comment
    19 Jan 2009, 23:13 pm

    Hello everybody. Had 16″ of snow this weekend. Had to change my pants after getting most of the snow of my car. It is nice in Boston. :)

  • 320.yliad: Reply to this comment
    19 Jan 2009, 23:14 pm

    I see the one who but for a prison cell one time coulda been champion of da world has made his exalted presence be known… no chopping da mountain down wid de edge of de hand tonight hmmm… Mr. Ruben Carter aka Jimi the king?

  • 321.JimT: Reply to this comment
    19 Jan 2009, 23:15 pm

    #302 Boerboel: The geriatric date club LOL :-)

  • 322.wp_boytjie: Reply to this comment
    19 Jan 2009, 23:16 pm

    Province

  • 323.carol: Reply to this comment
    19 Jan 2009, 23:17 pm

    #318 JimT: Hi Jim, I am “awaiting confirmation” or something…watch this space….
    I managed to log in….better than Grant managed. ( He is technically challenged)! LOL

  • 324.JimT: Reply to this comment
    19 Jan 2009, 23:18 pm

    #319 Ed_the_Lion_in_Boston: Hi Ed The Lion. After you change your pants you got to go & get it off your roof with one of those long shovels :-)

  • 325.carol: Reply to this comment
    19 Jan 2009, 23:18 pm

    #321 JimT: Pretty hopeless then!
    Where are the women?

  • 326.carol: Reply to this comment
    19 Jan 2009, 23:19 pm

    #319 Ed_the_Lion_in_Boston: Hi Ed, get the skis out!

  • 327.Ed_the_Lion_in_Boston: Reply to this comment
    19 Jan 2009, 23:19 pm

    #324 JimT: :) How are you JimmyTTT

  • 328.JimT: Reply to this comment
    19 Jan 2009, 23:19 pm

    #320 yliad: Hi Skoppie. I guess they’ve got it in for me & you. Only I get banned before I’ve started :-(

  • 329.Ed_the_Lion_in_Boston: Reply to this comment
    19 Jan 2009, 23:20 pm

    #326 carol: Hello Carol and JimT. This SA boytjie didn’t know about snow till he came here. :(

  • 330.carol: Reply to this comment
    19 Jan 2009, 23:20 pm

    #329 Ed_the_Lion_in_Boston: GBS said last night he had only seen snow once!! That was soooo sweet!

  • 331.carol: Reply to this comment
    19 Jan 2009, 23:21 pm

    #329 Ed_the_Lion_in_Boston: Have you got a sledge yet?

  • 332.Ed_the_Lion_in_Boston: Reply to this comment
    19 Jan 2009, 23:21 pm

    #330 carol: Before I came to Boston 7 months ago, I have never seen snow.

  • 333.yliad: Reply to this comment
    19 Jan 2009, 23:21 pm

    ek sien die Vaalies wil nie saam speel nie, miskien is hulle maar net bietjie chicken of ‘n iets.

  • 334.Ed_the_Lion_in_Boston: Reply to this comment
    19 Jan 2009, 23:21 pm

    #331 carol: If you mean a girlfriend then no. hahaha. NO I don’t.

  • 335.JimT: Reply to this comment
    19 Jan 2009, 23:22 pm

    #323 carol: I was logged in & everything, received a “welcome to SuperBru” message& then the very next email they want to kick me out. Something to the effect Wayne Hoffeldt wants me to join his pool. I never I was so popular :-)
    Who is Wayne Hoffeldt?

  • 336.carol: Reply to this comment
    19 Jan 2009, 23:22 pm

    #332 Ed_the_Lion_in_Boston: Sounds like you are not too sure about it!!
    Best place for it is on an alp…….

  • 337.JimT: Reply to this comment
    19 Jan 2009, 23:24 pm

    #325 carol: Of course you were excluded from that club Carol, purely for age reasons. Not sure about the senility though LOL :-)

  • 338.carol: Reply to this comment
    19 Jan 2009, 23:24 pm

    #334 Ed_the_Lion_in_Boston: Nooo, a snow sledge….Is sledge a term I am not familiar with when it comes to women?
    “She’s a bit of a sledge”…….could work…

    No nice Bostonian girls round your way?

  • 339.JimT: Reply to this comment
    19 Jan 2009, 23:25 pm

    #327 Ed_the_Lion_in_Boston: Fine Ed getting excited about our upcoming rugger season. Just had a promising hooker quit his job so he could play rugby. Now that’s the spirit :-)

  • 340.carol: Reply to this comment
    19 Jan 2009, 23:25 pm

    #335 JimT: I put in “Wilyever” is that right?
    You must be popular if they are fighting over you?
    No idea who Wayne Hoffeldt is, sounds like a Saffa Country and Western singer!!

  • 341.yliad: Reply to this comment
    19 Jan 2009, 23:26 pm

    #328 JimT:

    you got banned where exactly ?

    there is a little coup going on around here less you haven’t been reading the grapevine lately

    certain elevated disciples of the KKK have proclaimed this place belongs only to the holy grail participants

    and so it has now become unashamedly beneath them to even vaguely be seen fraternizing with the insane outcast, bedrieglike enemy

  • 342.Ed_the_Lion_in_Boston: Reply to this comment
    19 Jan 2009, 23:26 pm

    #338 carol: LOL, or “What a Sledge!!!”. There is plenty of nice woman, it is just to cold to go and look for them.
    I have no skiing equipment. I only rent at the moment. When I get better, I will consider buying. I have nice rugby boots though.

  • 343.JimT: Reply to this comment
    19 Jan 2009, 23:26 pm

    #329 Ed_the_Lion_in_Boston: When it reaches your ears you’ll figure you’ve had enough :-)

  • 344.SodaJoe: Reply to this comment
    19 Jan 2009, 23:27 pm

    And what a drama Keo was this weekend.

    Wow. Quite depressing.

    Ed – we are the lost tribes. Everyone else went left.

  • 345.Robzim: Reply to this comment
    19 Jan 2009, 23:27 pm

    #333 yliad:

    Hi yliad,

    On a different note – I saw you’re posting regarding Donald Paarman on the “Proteas fell short” thread the other night. I do not really know the Paarman’s well, I only had a few casual conversations with Jonathan (the Iceman) while in the water with him. There was always this aura around him – if he paddled for a wave everyone would just sit back and let him have it – awesome surfer and person with a lot of presence.

    Based only on the contents of some of your postings and on my understanding of Donovan’s book, I can sense that the two of you are sharing a similar philosophy of life. I must say it is not much different from my own views at all. It is indeed a small world and it seems to be getting narrower by the day.

  • 346.SodaJoe: Reply to this comment
    19 Jan 2009, 23:27 pm

    #342 Ed_the_Lion_in_Boston: With all the clothes on it’s hard to tell gender.

  • 347.Ed_the_Lion_in_Boston: Reply to this comment
    19 Jan 2009, 23:27 pm

    #339 JimT: Very good. I am looking forward so much. Ruggu is everything. I tried to get a boston girl to like it last season, but she hated it. Don’t know what happened to her. GOT THE BOOT…

  • 348.carol: Reply to this comment
    19 Jan 2009, 23:28 pm

    #337 JimT: cheek!! :-)

  • 349.carol: Reply to this comment
    19 Jan 2009, 23:29 pm

    #342 Ed_the_Lion_in_Boston: Hey I look really “Sledgy” in my skiing gear!!
    Do you have nice white boots like Percy?

  • 350.JimT: Reply to this comment
    19 Jan 2009, 23:30 pm

    #340 carol: That’s the correct name.
    Not sure if they’re fighting over me. Maybe someone realised they made a mistake in the invitation in the first place :-(

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