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, 23:30 pm
#344 SodaJoe: You are telling me SodaJoe. I am enjoying it though.
#346 SodaJoe: That is why I prefer to stay away when it is so cold.
19 Jan 2009, 23:31 pm
#344 SodaJoe: Soda hello, I missed the “live action” but got the drift of it….. Storm in a teacup!
Has everyone kissed and made up now?
How is your snow situation?
19 Jan 2009, 23:31 pm
#349 carol: Nope brown Hi-Tec south-african stap skoene. No boots.
19 Jan 2009, 23:31 pm
#345 Robzim:
Donovan = Donald obviously
19 Jan 2009, 23:32 pm
You must check the emails flying around behind the scenes, I can actually even hear them go whizzing past my ears, as I duck my head as they whiz by,
from Brakpan to Boston, to Seoul, to London, to Pretoria and back again.. even here in verligte Cape Town, the emails are flying thick and fast… better believe it boyo.
19 Jan 2009, 23:33 pm
#350 JimT: Sorry, you are becoming part of the evening furniture now!!
GBS did say he would show us the ropes!
19 Jan 2009, 23:33 pm
#341 yliad: Only on SuperBru Skoppie. No problem with KEO yet, although I’m looking over my shoulder
Question: you gave advice about changing one’s nic yesterday. You said click on Profile & look for your nickname. When I do that I only see my user name & password blocked out. Where’s the nickname?
19 Jan 2009, 23:33 pm
#354 Robzim: Hi Rob, i just sent you a mail!
19 Jan 2009, 23:34 pm
#355 yliad: Would you like one?
19 Jan 2009, 23:35 pm
I am still trying to figure out who is actually running the SAi Mafia or whether they are sharing the leadership at this stage.
19 Jan 2009, 23:35 pm
#346 SodaJoe: Now that’s the truth. Potential there for serious social problems
19 Jan 2009, 23:35 pm
#335 JimT: Wayne Hoffeldt is also someone who has a keo pool on superbru, but there are more people in superbul’s pool. A lot of people(like me) are in both pool’s.
19 Jan 2009, 23:35 pm
#357 JimT: When I tried to join I had a great nickname but couldn’t get the thing to work so ended up with this dull real one!
19 Jan 2009, 23:36 pm
#360 Robzim: Who is on your list Rob?
You do realise if you tell you may die a horrible death……
19 Jan 2009, 23:37 pm
#362 Cheetahj: Hi Cheetahj are they fighting over you too?
19 Jan 2009, 23:37 pm
Ciao Soda, Carol, JimT etc. I am outta here.
19 Jan 2009, 23:38 pm
#366 Ed_the_Lion_in_Boston: Just remember to pack a shovel……oh and take a blanket and hot drink!!
See you..
19 Jan 2009, 23:39 pm
#347 Ed_the_Lion_in_Boston: Tough luck there, but keep trying. I get the impression more women follow rugby now than when I played. Whenever it’s mentioned in my circles these I get the raised eyebrows look, followed by “isn’t that rough?”. Then they seem to get closer
19 Jan 2009, 23:39 pm
#364 carol:
I am busy writing up the history (or maybe a short manual on how I think it is working) and might publish it soon on Keo. As you say, it could be dangerous!
19 Jan 2009, 23:39 pm
Early night for me too….
“Ciao my ducks” XXXXXXX
19 Jan 2009, 23:39 pm
#348 carol: LOL Pardonez Moi, Madame
19 Jan 2009, 23:40 pm
#369 Robzim: I will never reveal your identity……How is Batman at the moment though?
19 Jan 2009, 23:41 pm
Hey.. the cavalry have arrived.. whaddaya know… and not a momnt too soon neither,,, thought for a moment there i was heading for the Cuckoo’s nest again… talking all to my lonesome crackpot self all over again..
Good t see ya Robzim… and even to my concerned shrink Sodapop Joe.. howdy pardner..
Yeah Rob
Donald has seen pretty much plenty sides of life.. and I believe in his youth he was possibly one of the most gifted surfers around.. I believe even more courageous and daring and gifted than the Shaun Thompson’s of the world…
but he had a burning anxiety in his soul… this malady I can acknowledge and recognize only too well… as it stands.. there are only so many that burn like meteors and moths do.. flying too close to suns and to candle flames… the rest they just orbit in mediocre peaceful transition .. never singeing their wings… but also never experiencing the heights of almost perfection or almost bliss.
19 Jan 2009, 23:41 pm
#371 JimT: Jim you really must keep up…..look I am trying to get an early night here…..
19 Jan 2009, 23:41 pm
#356 carol: Evening furniture? Trust I’m the comfortable sofa & not the hard backed chair?
19 Jan 2009, 23:43 pm
#374 carol: My damn PC is slow tonight, Hang with me
19 Jan 2009, 23:43 pm
#372 carol:
Cruising, have a good night. Thks for the mail.
19 Jan 2009, 23:44 pm
#375 JimT: Being English you are the leather Chesterfield!!
Outta here!
19 Jan 2009, 23:44 pm
#360 Robzim: You mean there’s a coup in progress?
19 Jan 2009, 23:44 pm
#366 Ed_the_Lion_in_Boston: Cheers Ed
19 Jan 2009, 23:46 pm
#373 yliad:
Great last paragraph – I will archive it.
19 Jan 2009, 23:47 pm
#365 carol: No, thats why I dont understand this, A lot of people are in both pools, just like last year in the tri nations and six nations. Most people dont even know about Wayne’s pool.
19 Jan 2009, 23:47 pm
#362 Cheetahj: So you saying that SuperBul has too many people registered or do I stink the place up?
19 Jan 2009, 23:47 pm
#379 JimT:
Could be, they have huge ego’s these people.
19 Jan 2009, 23:48 pm
#345 Robzim:
I think of all the Paarmans, Donald was the leader, but also the black sheep.. the outcast… but probably the most talented surfer of them all.. he was a Springbok at age 17 I think.. and mature beyond his years at that age too..
I only met him through other circles much later, after all his burn out phases past his great surfing days. I knew his now wife a little better than him to begin with.. and got to know him better later on.
19 Jan 2009, 23:48 pm
#378 carol: Bye, bye
19 Jan 2009, 23:50 pm
#384 Robzim: Time to man the ramparts & repel the invaders. Where’s Skoppie when we need him?
19 Jan 2009, 23:51 pm
#381 Robzim:
welcome Sir Rob… most welcome kind knight of upstanding high moral virtue.
19 Jan 2009, 23:52 pm
#385 yliad:
#386 JimT:
See u guys some other time. My daughter is forcing me to leave as she wants to facebook. Terrible these kids nowadays!
19 Jan 2009, 23:54 pm
#388 yliad:
Cheers Skoppy, I am not always sure about that compliment but thks anyway!
19 Jan 2009, 23:56 pm
#389 Robzim: See you Robzim.
Maybe we are whistling in the graveyard Skoppie. Think everyone is exhausted from yesterdays’ thread. I’m outta here too. See y’all on the other side of the hill.
19 Jan 2009, 23:59 pm
#383 JimT: I dont know, but I had a look and you are in the pool. I dont think superbul are that type op person. He creates this pool for ALL bloggers on keo. He has another pool, but that is one just for people he have met in person. there is between 10-20 people, that is the only one restricted because he created that for friends, not bloggers. The keo night owls pool is for every blogger, no restictions.
19 Jan 2009, 23:59 pm
So long
Cuckoo’s Nest is nice n quiet here now… not a peep or a whimper from not a one of the mal wardens… they all too busy emailing each other.
adios inmates.
see you in the next world… now don’t be late.
20 Jan 2009, 00:03 am
#393 yliad:
Nah, not really. Just don’t like seeing grown men giving BJ’s
20 Jan 2009, 00:38 am
howzit
obviously the priority this year is the Lions tour. S14 should serve as a solid build up, but i think some care should be taken to manage the bok players through S14 so that come June PDV has a fit and strong group of players itching to have a crack at the Lions.
Players like Matfield, Bakkies, burger, JDV, Habana, Smit, Juan, Beast, FDP and ruan all have to be healthy and well managed through S14 or we are facing a 2nd successive lost series to the Lions.
S14 success imo can be less value to us this year than previous years, we just need those players humming along nicely by June.
that said, given the depth of squads and their abilities the sharks, bulls and stormers all have chances to make the top 4. as is said every year, you have to win your home games, and you have to win on the road to get the vital home semi.
my top 7 on the table in order:
1 canes
2 sharks
3 chiefs
4 stormers
5 saders
6 tahs
7 bulls
reds still making progress, but not enough depth to cut it top half. brumbies are up and coming, potential dark horses. force are close to imploding with issues.
blues have signed lavea so their season is doomed. highlanders dont have enough depth, same story for cheetahs and lions.
20 Jan 2009, 04:28 am
#392 Cheetahj: Thanks Cj, Thats almost right i have only one pool running in the S14, the Keo Night Owls one, Keo tried his own competition last year but the results was always late and not very accurate. My suggestion was that they administer a pool , a official one on Superbru, in other words have a comp but let Superbru do the dirty work. This year it even more posible because superbru offers a corporate game for that purpose.
They can even take this one off my hands, i just started it because i know some will come in immediately and others will take 2 weeks to decide. One can play even when your approval is pending, i try and approve regularly. Dont worry this pool is open no one is turned away.
In Superbru a player can join 3 pools , so there is place for this Keos Night Owls and 2 more. I have this one and plays in another one with friends like you said and have one spare one , one that i can join later, that i will decide later.
20 Jan 2009, 04:59 am
#396 superBul: So I joined SuperBru but it put me in Pool 110. So let’s see what happens. This fkn site is already too addictive. I hope SuperBru is not crack.
20 Jan 2009, 04:59 am
#397 SodaJoe: I did ask to be placed in Keo’s Night Owls.
20 Jan 2009, 07:32 am
I am very surpirised that the Bulls have not tried to by some loose forwards. Their trio is looking very thin, especially when you compare them to the abundance of loose forwards at the Sharks and Stormers.
20 Jan 2009, 11:48 am
#315 Hurricane: lol. Its all banter mate. Read BP post 190. Just had to have a go there. Really though if you look back at the AB’s around the early 70′s you never had any PI’s in you team ever that I can remember. But now there seem to be a lot. Maybe they come to live in NZ at a very early age have no idea. No problems there really. Just a bit of banter.
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