No respite for emotional Brumbies
10 Apr 2009
The Stormers are expecting a massive onslaught from an emotional Brumbies unit and will respond in kind.
Shawn Mackay’s passing has affected the Canberra franchise to a disruptive degree. On returning from their South African tour on Monday, the Brumbies received the news of Mackay’s death. As a result, the players only resumed light training on Wednesday and go into this weekend’s clash with minimal preparation.
While the time on the training park has been minimal, the Brumbies should not want for energy. The Stormers could be feeling the brunt of the Brumbies’ most fiery performance to date, and it’s because of this emotional energy that the visitors will not underestimate them.
The Brumbies may be returning from a demanding tour, a tour where they lost two from three, but they will be determined to do Mackay proud.
‘It’s been a helluva emotional week for the Brumbies and although they will be affected that’s no reason for us to relax,’ Stormers assistant coach Allister Coetzee told keo.co.za. ‘We’ve got a job to do this weekend. We need to rediscover that form we showed when we beat the Lions.’
The Stormers have battled since that big win, losing to the Crusaders and Waratahs on successive Saturdays. They’ve lacked the attitude and the precision to be effective, but against a charged Brumbies brood, they can’t afford to falter.
‘It’s been a tough two weeks but the players are determined to turn it around,’ said Coetzee. ‘They’re fed up with losing by six or seven points every week and they’re focused on being clinical.
‘Perhaps they have tried too hard at times, but we all know that’s no excuse.’
The Stormers occupy 11th place on the Super 14 log and are unlikely to make the play-offs. Coetzee maintains they’re not done yet, not from a semi-final perspective and not from a tour point of view. The Cape franchise travel back to New Zealand next week to battle the Hurricanes and Highlanders.
‘There are two more games to play, so a win this weekend will set the tone for those fixtures,’ said Coetzee. ‘There is still a chance that we can make the semi-finals, and we’ll never throw in the towel.
‘It’s a matter of taking the right options when we’re in opposition territory. We saw what the Brumbies were like against the Cheetahs and have identified some vulnerabilities in their defence.
‘We’re good enough to create the opportunities, and on Saturday, we’ll have to be good enough to make those chances count.’
By Jon Cardinelli
11 Comments
10 Apr 2009, 05:58 am
Brumbies
10 Apr 2009, 06:30 am
I don’t want to be a big “boks”, but the Stormers should take this one on the basis of what happened in the last two weeks. If it was any other time, and the same Brumbies team, I would have gone for them to edge out the Stormers by about 3-5 points, but the Brumbies, professional as they are, might not be fully focused.
Don’t get me wrong, the death of McKay is a big big tragedy, and should never have happened. If him being alive would mean the Stormers would have lost, I would’ve gladly had it that way. But the Brumbies did not prepare well this week and the visitors should capatalise on that. And the fact that they are waiting on a jet lagged team.
They may come out wit fire and energy, but this is a profesional era, and they are playing a team that can pounce on mistakes if they have a chance.
Stormers by 2
10 Apr 2009, 07:23 am
#2 Greenpoint-Gunner:
let me rephrase this last bit:
“And the fact is that the Stormers are waiting on a jet lagged team.
The Brumbies may come out with fire and energy, but this is a professional era, and they are playing a team that can pounce on mistakes if they have a chance.”
I still think the Brumbies are professional enough to try and focus, but the smallest lack of it could result in too many off sides at the breakdown, wrong 50-50 decisions, leading to more frustration ect ect.
If the Brumbies is not all in, it could be a long day for them, and the chances are that they wont be…
10 Apr 2009, 08:13 am
#3 Greenpoint-Gunner: … or we will have Brumbies who will go onto the pitch with a single mission – do it for Shawn. That kind of team even jetlagged and demoralized may be twice as dangerous for the first opponents that happen to be in their way.
This emotional charge may be enough for one game and that should be the first one, after that – probably slump and Bulls may be in a better position than Stormers.
10 Apr 2009, 08:28 am
Think all depends when the uncontested scrums will be deployed by Rassie
10 Apr 2009, 09:53 am
#3 Greenpoint-Gunner: the Stormers may be a force in a teacup, but on a rugby field they just don’t have it, despite what the press continues to say.
10 Apr 2009, 12:04 pm
#5 superBul: In the last quarter as it usually happens. It’s embarassment that one can almost place a bet that there will be uncontested scrums in a game involving Stormers.
10 Apr 2009, 13:59 pm
brumbies byy 50+
10 Apr 2009, 14:02 pm
#8 greatest13gerber: Let’s not be silly now
10 Apr 2009, 14:07 pm
#8 greatest13gerber: Hello Gerber, howzit?
Be carefull, Liitle Luke might be the next captain in your beloved EP, hehehehe!
11 Apr 2009, 04:55 am
Brumbies have to be the emotional favourites today
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