‘We’ve achieved nothing yet’
10 Feb 2010
The Stormers aren’t buying into the hype that they’re overwhelming favoruites to beat the Lions this Saturday.
First they won the Tri-Series, and then their second trophy in last week’s hammering of Boland at the new Cape Town Stadium. Hell, they even won the Newlands challenge when they beat the Cape Cobras in a cricket match. There’s a buzz around the Stormers which isn’t unbelievable. Three trophies in the space of a month. Give it up for the boys in blue.
Believe the marketing hype, and you’re bound to believe the Stormers are destined for greater things in 2010. The more educated Cape supporter will tell you to be careful. They’ll remind you that neither the Stormers nor WP have won a big competition since 2001.
If you can’t find a Stormers supporter willing to admit to their side’s past failings, ask one of the thousands of Bulls or Sharks fans residing in Cape Town. They’ll tell you that when it comes to the Super 14, the Stormers are pre-season champs and in-season chumps.
Nobody is more aware of this perception than Allister Coetzee, the new Stormers head coach. The media have gone huge with the pre-season success, but Coetzee and his captain Schalk Burger have worked hard behind the scenes to ensure the squad doesn’t become windgat. It’s this kind of attitude that’s got them into trouble before, and it’s why Coetzee laughed off talk that Saturday’s match against the Lions represents a soft start.
‘Talk is cheap – that’s the only message to my players in preparation for Saturday,’ he told keo.co.za. ‘There’s no easy game and we still have to go out and win.
‘We’ve achieved nothing yet, so there’s no need for arrogance. We all know that there’s a thin line between confidence and arrogance. Nobody wants to be caught off-guard, especially against an unpredictable side like the Lions. It’s going to be all business.’
The Stormers head into this year’s competition with two new senior Springboks, Jaque Fourie and Bryan Habana, at their disposal. Many have questioned the pair’s move to the underachieving Cape franchise, but Coetzee explains their value lies beyond their playing ability. Fourie and Habana will be called on to exercise their leadership skills as early as Round 1.
‘We are looking to our senior players to show some composure in the tight games, and that’s what we expect from Jaque and Bryan this Saturday. There are a number of leaders within the team, which is a good sign.’
While the Lions struggle at Super 14 level, they do usually save their best performances for the Stormers and WP. They beat WP at the back end of the 2009 Currie Cup, a defeat that cost Province an ‘easier’ semi-final against the Cheetahs, and also denied them the bonus point for four tries in the 2008 Super 14.
The Lions aren’t going to qualify for the play-offs, but they have every chance of punishing an overconfident team. Fortunately for Coetzee, the Stormers have worked hard to tick the humble box in the build up to Super 14 proper. Win or lose, they will now be judged by the rugby showings and not made to remember their pre-season promises.
By Jon Cardinelli
413 Comments
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10 Feb 2010, 09:41 am
@Sonito:
That’s Keo’s Cronies…the don’t know much about rugby…they write what they are told by THE MAN!
10 Feb 2010, 09:41 am
@justrugby: Okay let me try and speak mildly:
Issue 1, there are so many question marks in this issue that I am not going to comment on the Heat gossip.
Issue 2, Any combination of Smit, Beast, Bissie, Carstens, Jannie and Burden can’t be called weak. If we endure problems, we have the depth to make changes. I actually think issue 1 is strength.
Issue 3, I concede we have some new partnerships and personnel. A valid issue.
Issue 4, We could choose younger, faster wings, but I think Ndungane is an asset with his positional play and kicking. JPP is a racehorse. Outside backs are not a concern as they are a settled and trusted unit.
Issue 4 no.2 (only you would battle to count to 5!), Yes this is also a concern although we do have some depth there. Form will decide who plays.
Issue 5, This is pathetic. Whateva your issues with Ruan Pienaar and Adi Jacobs, only a mad man would see them as un-creative!
Issue 6, More rumours. Our loosies are some of the best in the country, just missing Ratel or Stegman. Alberts has added much needed grunt depth.
Issue 7, Sykes and Muller are well tested. Whilst Mostert and Hargreaves are on the up and will learn from the others experience.
So basically the only valid concern I have is over 10 and 12. Most Sharks fans have always conceded this. But given we have 2 Springboks able to cover these positions, we could be worse.
10 Feb 2010, 09:42 am
@thesaint:
Yes, about 60% of the comments on this thread are from Sharks supporters!
10 Feb 2010, 09:42 am
@justrugby: see, thats what i am talking about.
1. its the same unit that has played together for years mate. alberts and mostert add bulk and skill, do you not agree?
2. again with the front row, lmao!
3.ruan will be there, dumond has shown himself inadequate, kocky and mcleod are terrible right?
4.adi,mvovo and vulindlu are real carthorses
5.adi? ruan? jpp?
6.kanko unhappy? again with the unhappy rumours? are gio and de jongh unhappy about habs and fourie? i bet they are. what about the leftovers from the luke vs schalk power struggle?
blah blah blah.
7.what? muller, sykes? that was our first choice last year. mostert and hargreaves as backup? what are you on about?
jr, seriously mate, sometimes i think that you capies have already drifted off fromn the rest of the continent or maybe just from reality.
as much as you want to believe all the cod you just wrote in your woefully inaccurate list, its simply not so big guy.
10 Feb 2010, 09:43 am
@thesaint:
Yeah, I know but you cant blame us for taking the piss! **** I would take the piss out of my own team if something like that was written.
10 Feb 2010, 09:45 am
@Ratel Brussow (MSIUR):
Only issues 10 & 12…well that is the biggest one, also the nicest channel for an attacker to run through.
No wait…if Adi, Ruan or Dumond are defennding there, what then? Oh yes, nothing, just keep on passing through.
10 Feb 2010, 09:47 am
Sharks had a brilliant team in 2007 and even then they couldnt win it, good team last year and they werent even close
So how can you guys reckon there is no problems when your team is the weakest in years.
Do a man on man comparison with previous years and tell me if im wrong
10 Feb 2010, 09:49 am
Are we there yet ? just asking , can’t wait for the rugby to start , Saturdays is getting realy boring now. Let the games begin, Stormers are in for a good year , been waiting for a looong time for this one.
10 Feb 2010, 09:51 am
@Andre_WP: 9 years waiting!
10 Feb 2010, 09:52 am
By the way, I did not even know about the trophy for beating the Cape Cobras in a charity match until today – thanks JC!
I also commented that it was a bit rich that a trophy was awarded for the Stormers v Boland Invitational XV match…
The only real indication thus far has been the Neo Africa Tri-Series…in which the Stormers comfortably beat the Western Force (their second-string) and the Sharks (close to their first team!)…
10 Feb 2010, 09:52 am
#104
Seriously, are you in denial?
Your front row is ****! They were **** for the boks, **** in the Currie Cup and **** in the pre-season!
Ruan Pienaar is about as consistent as egg-yolk, and the fact that Dumond had 1…yes only 1 good game in the Currie Cup means nothing in the Super 14.
10 Feb 2010, 09:53 am
@thesaint: The Young makes Adi look like a freight train. Have options at 10 and 12. Need to work out the best one. Performance based. If Peter Grant was out for the season, I doubt your 10, 12 channel would be looking too smart. Our depth is our biggest strength in a loooooooooong competition.
10 Feb 2010, 09:55 am
The REAL reason for the Sharks unhappiness and Plummo wanting to leave is that they don’t feel appreciated by their fans…
the Sharks earned a home semi-final in the Currie Cup and there were 20 000 empty seats in the Tank!!!
Those poor guys must’ve been devastated… play their guts pout all year… get the home semi… and their fans can’t be bothered to fill the stadium…!!
they must all be asking themselves…
“What are we doing this for…? Our fans don’t even like us when we win…!!”
no wonder they’re all looking for greener pastures…
10 Feb 2010, 09:56 am
@Gary: Since last year S14 we have lost Albert van den Berg and Frans Steyn. We have gained Mostert, Alberts and Ludick. Whats the problem?
10 Feb 2010, 09:58 am
#112
What depth? Please inform me, because I see none. Should Grant have been injured…De Waal and Cronje can cover at 10 and De Jongh, Welsch, Bosch, Newman and even Naqelevuki on centre.
As for De Jongh…Pierre Spies also thought him and Aplon were easy to run over, contact him for his latest comments.
10 Feb 2010, 09:59 am
@Ratel Brussow (MSIUR):
You THINK you gained Alberts and Ludik…
10 Feb 2010, 10:01 am
Ever not yet. Something is rotten in the cape. Been a loyal fan for years and got dished drivel so long by pre-madonnas that I now support the Sharks and cheetahs.
Dont rate Coetzee very much, should have poached one of the kiwi coaches floating about.
I know what a warratah fan feels like, except without the sore ***!
Sareli type selections, nepotism(like the sharks) and no accountability.
Come on Rassie do something or piss off! We produce such great talent and they either get poached (like the free state) or dont have player development.
Saw Schalk pass the ball last week.
10 Feb 2010, 10:01 am
@ufo:
Now, there’s real arrogance for you – the Sharks fans were all expecting a victory against the Cheetahs in the semi-final to be dished up on a plate and therefore wanted to save their money for the “sure-thing” final at Kings Park!
10 Feb 2010, 10:01 am
@thesaint: Well, sorry but old Willem isn’t really an option for the S14. Infact if you look at our current 10 options, some other commentators (Eddie, JW, PDv etc) may say the Sharks have the better 10 options. Grant vs Pienaar; Willem vs Meyer; Cronje vs Monty. Looks pretty even to me and Pdv, but I guess that makes us biased. Who is the no.2 10 in the country currently. Oh yes, not Peter Grant.
10 Feb 2010, 10:02 am
@thesaint:
Yes…the legal proceedings take place today…will be interesting to see the result!
10 Feb 2010, 10:05 am
@WP Till I Die: Whilst the WP fans new they had no chance of making the Final, so spent all there money on supporting the semi!
I know, I know. The kick, and the Fijian. Get over it. You lost. At a packed Newlands.
10 Feb 2010, 10:06 am
@rangerman:
Well at leat you responded to rugby matter so that is a start.
You live in dreamland if you choose to believe that everything is hunky dory in Sharks land, you convince only yourself no-one else !!
Pienaar playing at 10 ….how sure are you of that ??, if you are banking on this you will once again be dissapointed, he will implode as he has previously if he plays 10, the big games will seee him crumble under the pressure, but if you believe he is the saviour go for it.
You can believe what you want about your front row, I am not blind !!
I was at all the sharks warm up games, Bissy and Burgess couldn”t even find their jumpers in the warm up drills.
Your locks are average to good, who’s the starting pair ??
Adi has not played a warm up game, still has a suspect shoulder.
Yes, from what I have seen mvovo and vulindlu lack genuine pace, Adi has never been a racehorse !!!, clever player though, my favourite in the Sharks backline, but as I said ,not convinced he is fit.
So according to you Sharks have no problems……… again I say you are fooling only youself and the other kids here, pull your head out of the sand ostrichman !!
10 Feb 2010, 10:06 am
@Ratel Brussow (MSIUR):
I know – we dealt with it!
You apparently haven’t!
10 Feb 2010, 10:08 am
@justrugby:
Add to that the fact that Ruan Pienaar DOES NOT WANT TO PLAY FLYHALF…
…so Plum will push him into a position he does not want to play? Nice.
10 Feb 2010, 10:09 am
@Ratel Brussow (MSIUR): @ 121
Quite true Ratel… and thank you!
by your own admission… you can hardly call us supporters arrogant and windgat if we didn’t even expect to make the final and chose to spend all our money on the semi…
10 Feb 2010, 10:10 am
@Ratel Brussow (MSIUR):
Only difference is
1. None of your guys can tackle. Pienaar least of all never stays in his channel.
2. Cronje vs Dumond? Are you serious? The Sharks wanted to sell him to the Cheetahs, they don’t really want him, injuries forced them to take him, they played that clown Guy Cronje in front of him. NOW YOU RATE HIM?
3. I’d take Grant (A natural flyhalve) over Pienaar (A Scrumhalve) any day. Peter, albeit everyone calls him average, never has off days, and you can count on him, while Pienaar implodes regularly.
4. And Meyer…pathetic man, just because a guy plays in France, it doesn’t make him a good player. If memory serves, he was let go once before because he never cut the mustard.
10 Feb 2010, 10:12 am
@Ratel Brussow (MSIUR): Albert en Ludick se jy, ons sal maar sien.
Sedert die golden era in 2007 dink mooi wie is weg
Percy
Barrit
Michalak
Frans Steyn
wie nog?
Dis flippen goeie spelers en julle het nie spelers om hulle te vervang nie
En sien jy praat van hoe goed die Sharks loosies is, jip hulle is goed maar vergelyk dit teen die Bulls, Cheetahs en Stormers en dis maar almal dieselfde
10 Feb 2010, 10:14 am
@WP Till I Die:
Exactly !!
10 Feb 2010, 10:16 am
Well Sharks vs Stormers round 13 is certainly going to be a big game this year!! Can the Sharks extend there winning record to 5 in a row against the Stormers in super rugby?
Lets hope it is a battle for a semi final spot to make it more interesting.
10 Feb 2010, 10:18 am
@justrugby: sorry jr, thats a load of cod again.
speculations about unhappiness all magically coming from stormers fans just dont make it true mate. in fact, smitty will manage his men better than any other captain can, dont you agree?
ruan will do fin, again, at 10.
talking about not finding jumpers, how about deon against boland?
i told you muller and sykes are the starting locks, what part of that did you miss?
mvovo and vulindlu are blitz buddy, just you watch.
roll on rugby.
10 Feb 2010, 10:21 am
@WP Till I Die: you guys keep saying this as though it is gospel??
show me the quotes guys?
ruan actually excelled at 10 last year and missed a few kicks at goal.
contrast him to p.grant and willem de waal and i know who i would rather have in my team chaps.
10 Feb 2010, 10:23 am
@rangerman:
Pity you will probably not play one of Mvovo or Vulindly seeing as Pietersen and Ndungane are your first choice.
I don’t give a **** about the guys being unhappy, yes Smit is the best captain for the team, however, it doesn’t solve the fact that you can’t scrum.
Reserve Hooker Deon Fourie throwing to the reserve locks…shocking…
10 Feb 2010, 10:23 am
i cant wait to see if meyer has the goods.
perpignan are a big side and he apparently did very well there. i would not be surprised to see him play at 12 when ruan is back.
time will tell.
10 Feb 2010, 10:24 am
@rangerman:
Me too..Grant. Pienaar only if he is at 9.
10 Feb 2010, 10:24 am
@thesaint:
if tiaan gets injured then we talk again eh?
lets see how the scrums go shall we?
10 Feb 2010, 10:26 am
@rangerman:
What I find funny is how everybody is writing off our scrum. We had one of the best scrums in Super 14 last year plus we have added some extra bulk to that scrum.
The preseason means nothing. The Sharks purposely were underprepared for the tri series. The Boks had basically just joined up with the squad, of course they were not going to look like a cohesive unit. On the other hand, the stormers had very few boks in there squad and have had very long preseason together. We are aiming to peak in the second half of the seasons lets see if the stormers can hold their momentum for that long.
10 Feb 2010, 10:27 am
@thesaint: ja, the test flyhalf vs the popgun boot.
i respect your ability to avoid provincialism clouding your judgement.
btw, what do you think of wp’s s14 record against the sharks over the last 4 years?
10 Feb 2010, 10:28 am
@rangerman:
deon is a concern… I wrote on keo after the Force game that he’s gonna have to bone up on his throwing otherwise he’ll let the side down…
10 Feb 2010, 10:29 am
@WP Till I Die: He didnt watn to play FH last year either, yet, while he was at FH during the S14 the Sharks didnt drop a game, only after his injury the Sharks started coming apart.
10 Feb 2010, 10:29 am
@rangerman:
Rather take digs at the Stormers, you are failing in your attempt to convice me re the Sharks !!
As you say bring on the rugby…….. all will be revealed !!
For the record I think Stormers also have a issue at 10 and 9. (not sure what the best combination is )
If injury to Bekker , we lack a world class backup !!
Our front row is adequate without being great !! Combination of the loosies might not be the best !!
10 Feb 2010, 10:32 am
@Sonito: precisely, why come into a meaningless set of warmup games at your peak and with your no.1 team?
why not use it as an opportunity to test combos?
and why force fitness when there is such a long comp ahead?
i think plum is a bit more canny than a lot of people realise.
10 Feb 2010, 10:33 am
@rangerman:
“i respect your ability to avoid provincialism clouding your judgement.”
This statement coming from you must go down as a classic !!!!!!
10 Feb 2010, 10:33 am
@rangerman: Ranger, I am looking forward to seeing Meyer play too. Never seen him play actually. Also have a feeling Meyer will play inside centre once Ruan is back. First have to see what he is capable of this Saturday.
10 Feb 2010, 10:34 am
Stormers had one good season in the scrum, now all of a sudden their whole game revolves around their pack….shame, new toys.
10 Feb 2010, 10:34 am
Honestly. Handing out trophies for warm-up games.
Reminds me of one year in primary school when the headmaster starting feeling sorry for the thick kids and decided everyone should get a prize.
So some kids who could barely read and write (in std.4) got prizes (a laminated a4 sheet actually) for things like perserverance etc.
10 Feb 2010, 10:34 am
@rangerman:
If you had won all the warm up games I wonder how meaningless you would of viewed them ?????? Try and be truthful now !!
10 Feb 2010, 10:36 am
@Dantalian:
and you’ve still got yours…???
10 Feb 2010, 10:36 am
@FireStraeuli: Agree, When Ruan played FH and Fransie was at inside centre we looked really good last year. For me I feel Ruan should stick to playing FH. No other position for him in the Boks. He is a far better FH than most give him credit for. Only his goal kicking that lets him down. Let someone else take the kicks that will take the pressure off of him.
10 Feb 2010, 10:39 am
@rangerman: Maybe Plumtree has the Lieutenant Columbo thing going for him.
He does seem a bit vaak at times though.
10 Feb 2010, 10:39 am
@ufo: Framed it.
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