Stormers seek remedy for attacking ails
8 Apr 2009
Rassie Erasmus says the Stormers’ ability to create has been nullified by their inexplicable inability to finish.
The Stormers head coach said poor finishing with ball in hand and at the attacking breakdown have contributed to an alarming underachievement in the try-scoring department. The Cape franchise failed to score against the Waratahs last week, and could struggle to breach the Brumbies in Canberra.
Erasmus has literally stuck to his guns for Saturday’s fixture, picking the same backline that flopped in Sydney. There has been no drastic change in preparation, as Erasmus believes his team are not far from firing.
‘We are worried about the attack, and the problem is we can’t seem to finish,’ he told keo.co.za. ‘The plan is there on the table, and the players are creating opportunities, but we can’t seem to score tries. It is frustrating.’
Speaking on behalf of the players, captain Jean de Villiers echoed Erasmus’s concern, but like the coach, De Villiers believes the game plan is not at fault.
‘It’s a case of that last pass not sticking. We’re making the linebreaks and then either losing the ball forward or conceding a turnover at the ruck,’ De Villiers told this website. ‘I’m not singling the forwards out in this regard, because it’s up to every player to react quickly and effect the cleanout to ensure quick ball.’
Erasmus said the loose trio of Schalk Burger, Duane Vermeulen and Luke Watson is firing, but the attacking breakdown has been problematic all season with turnovers and free-kicks more the norm than the exception. Up against one of the best pilferers in the business, the Stormers’ back row will have to be vigilant.
‘The Brumbies are awesome when they get some continuity through the phases, and their backs can be very effective when they run those dummy lines or employ decoy runners,’ Erasmus said. ‘But I’m confident we’ll stop them the way we’ve stopped every other side this season.
‘Our defence isn’t a problem, our attack is. We haven’t been great at the attacking breakdown and have been working hard to rectify that. It’s going to be tough against guys like George Smith, but the guys know what’s at stake.’
The Stormers have made only one forced change with prop JD Moller coming in for Wicus Blaauw, who is nursing a calf strain. Erasmus confirmed Blaauw will be given until Friday to prove his fitness. Should he fail, front-ranker Schalk Ferreira will come onto the bench in Blaauw’s stead.
By Jon Cardinelli
26 Comments
8 Apr 2009, 13:13 pm
Shcoking attacking dragons
8 Apr 2009, 13:46 pm
Hou jou bek Rassie!!!
8 Apr 2009, 13:48 pm
This could get ugly, the brumbies are mourning one of their own and the Stormers cant find each other…
8 Apr 2009, 14:07 pm
Hell, not another Stormers thread.
Stop it already!
8 Apr 2009, 14:09 pm
#4 WP Till I Die: It’s like they are rubbing it in. Now that we have written the S14 off we can start building for the CC, if we don’t make the semi’s this year, it will be enough and might join Dawn on the other side
8 Apr 2009, 14:18 pm
It might help if they actually selected some wingers, ones that can actually stay awake through a game.
8 Apr 2009, 14:47 pm
#6 Mistral: Wingers? I thought in Cape Town you only got Whingers?
8 Apr 2009, 15:05 pm
When will they get rid of Schalk Britz, surely Leibenberg deserves a go at actually throwing the ball into the lineout!
8 Apr 2009, 15:21 pm
Till death do us part… STORMERS!!!
8 Apr 2009, 15:37 pm
Stormers need a new coach!After last week’s poor performance Rassie only made ONE FORCED CHANGE because of injury.Please send Rassie back to Bloemfontein and get a real coach like our world cup winner MR.JACK WHITE.
8 Apr 2009, 16:14 pm
#10 u14ge237: Ek ken Jack Tar, maar Jack White??? lol
8 Apr 2009, 18:05 pm
Sorry should be Jake White.
8 Apr 2009, 18:12 pm
My geliefde span veroorsaak bittere pyn en smart en los ‘n wrang smaak in my mond na elke naweek. Wat staan my te doen?
8 Apr 2009, 18:20 pm
Try this: if you don’t pick yourselves up you’ll have a dramatic pay cutt.
Or let the guys who wanna leave, leave so that you have players who actually care.
8 Apr 2009, 18:47 pm
Hard to find a Stormers thread.
8 Apr 2009, 18:48 pm
#11 KingPaul: lol KingP. With the so called ‘depth and talent’ to the Stormers’ disposal, you guys must nearly be as pissed off as us Cheetah fans after your performances so far – they are just as under-achieving…
8 Apr 2009, 19:26 pm
#15 chch: I know hey… with the amount of threads they have you’d swear they were on top of the log…
8 Apr 2009, 20:25 pm
#17 SpringbokSarah: Stormers are all gods, don’t forget.
8 Apr 2009, 21:25 pm
Perhaps Rassie can join Jake White’s coaching academy?
8 Apr 2009, 22:02 pm
#19 BULLET: he’s on tour
#18 goyougoodthing: how can I? They are really rocking 11th place
8 Apr 2009, 22:07 pm
Can someone tell me how Kobus van der Merwe’s much maligned 2007 season compares with Rassie’s 2009 season so far?
8 Apr 2009, 23:06 pm
“Reacting quickly” to a tackle is absolute tripe!! no wonder they are losing turnovers! The way I see it you only have two options:
a) You have everybody know what is going to be happening next (like Jake white did) so that they can be on the spot to clean. Perhaps certain forwards can be designated certain parts of the field to cover from the first ruck. This would save energy for them.
OR
b) You ensure that whoever takes the ball into the tackle stays on their feet until support can arrive. But you also run the risk of getting turnover from a maul type situation. It is also difficult to stay on your feet if you are running at speed and you get tackled.
9 Apr 2009, 04:31 am
Why oh why oh why do we have 5 threads a day about the Stormers who are 11th on the log ?
9 Apr 2009, 04:36 am
#21 Taktiese Jan:
Yes, someone please, I also want to know.
9 Apr 2009, 06:53 am
#7 goyougoodthing:
so did everybody else.
9 Apr 2009, 13:38 pm
#21 Taktiese Jan: #24 Pietman: Here is the stats in the following order:
2007 week 8; 2009 week 8; 2007 final log
Played 8; 7; 13
Won 3; 2; 6
Point Difference -62; 16; -77
Log Points 14; 14; 27
Log Position 12;11; 10
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