Stormers must stay sensible

Stormers must stay sensible

11 Mar 2010

Forget an expansive performance. Aggressive defence, clinical lineout work and an abrasive breakdown display will set the stage for a win over the Hurricanes.

Ever the diplomat, Allister Coetzee said the Stormers will keep the ball in hand on Saturday. For those desperate for the Sevens-style touch rugby showcased in the Lions vs Chiefs fixture, this may be cause for excitement. For those who took note of Coetzee’s comments earlier in the week, it’s clear the Stormers will keep with a more sensible approach.

Ball retention is the Stormers’ priority, and this means the Cape franchise will look to make better use of their possession than they have in previous weeks. The decision-making hasn’t been great, as players have often kicked when the run was on, or run from their own territory when the clearance was more prudent. They’ve also dropped the ball at crucial moments, and a number of try-scoring opportunities have gone begging.

Against bottom-four teams like the Lions and Highlanders, it’s not a big deal, but you can’t squander chances against teams like the Hurricanes. The Stormers missed out against the Brumbies, and they’ve no doubt taken a lesson from that error-strewn defeat.

You can’t set out to beat a team like the Canes with an all-out attack. As disjointed as the Kiwis are at the moment, they have the individuals capable of turning the spilled passes that have characterised the Stormers backline’s season into try-scoring chances. They are lethal on the counter, but are limited if you tighten your approach.

The Stormers defence has been nothing short of magnificent. They’ve conceded two tries and 48 points in four matches. The miserly Crusaders are a distant second with seven tries and 84 points conceded. The Stormers’ line defence has been impresssive, but so too has their defence at the breakdown. Schalk Burger and Francois Louw have worked well together under the new laws, and pose a big threat to the Canes at the tackle.

The lineout is another strong point, and after two tries earned through powerful mauls that would’ve had northern hemisphere critics out of their armchairs, why would they want to move away from what works? Sure the Canes pack has several All Black individuals, but as the early rounds have proved, they’re not nearly as dangerous as a unit.

Coetzee wants his backline attack to keep striving for that elusive synergy, and has even uttered the Peter de Villiers phrase of ‘when we come off, we’re going to be one helluva force’. You have to appreciate what the Stormers are trying to do in their quest to become the complete team. Their scrum is steady, their breakdown and lineout is thriving, their defence is top of the competition and their kicking game, although still lacking distance, is working. The backline attack is the only concern, but now is not the time to ‘keep trying’.

The Canes thrive in broken play, so why give them the opportunity of scooping a knock on and scoring at the other end of the park? The Stormers have already beaten the Waratahs, they should have beaten the Brumbies and are favourites to beat the Hurricanes. An ugly win will suffice when you’re playing the top teams. As it is in Test rugby, you shouldn’t increase the risk by persisting with something that is yet to come off.

The Stormers’ finishing requires work, but these ambitions need to be placed on hold for the time being. The Canes are too great a counter-attacking threat, and as any coach will tell you, you don’t play to the opposition’s strengths. As Coetzee himself has said, the Stormers want to starve the Canes of possession, and that begins with respecting your own ball. This means playing tighter, smarter rugby.

Whether it rains in Cape Town this Saturday or not, the humidity afflicting the Mother City at present is hardly conducive to an expansive spectacle. These conditions will suit the hosts in what some may call a more conservative approach and others may call a winning one. As a team, the Canes have shown nothing to suggest they’ll trouble the Stormers at home, but of course, this all depends on the Cape side staying true to their winning formula.

By Jon Cardinelli


367 Comments

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  • 251.Karen: Reply to this comment
    11 Mar 2010, 14:30 pm

    @Bill Reyts: LMAO Bill – then I will be like a jack-in-the-box

  • 252.Gonzo Journalism: Reply to this comment
    11 Mar 2010, 14:33 pm

    These are some the most dangerous runners in the S14

    Backs

    Zac Guilford
    Corey Jane
    Joe Pieterson
    Van der Heever
    Rene Ranger
    Habbana

    ……to name a few, anyone else ???

  • 253.Bill Reyts: Reply to this comment
    11 Mar 2010, 14:34 pm

    @Karen: Karen-in-a-box is fine.

    I remember seeing you sitting under your brolly on the old Railway stand waving your streppies flag and the flessie. Those were the good old days.

  • 254.vasteses: Reply to this comment
    11 Mar 2010, 14:34 pm

    @Gonzo Journalism:

    bakkies botha

  • 255.Bill Reyts: Reply to this comment
    11 Mar 2010, 14:35 pm

    @Gonzo Journalism: Matfield on the wing.

  • 256.Gonzo Journalism: Reply to this comment
    11 Mar 2010, 14:36 pm

    and the Highlanders front row looks like they could be an addition to “Bro Town”

  • 257.vasteses: Reply to this comment
    11 Mar 2010, 14:36 pm

    @Bill Reyts:
    nooooo Andries is a faster wing, sorry no he is a fast centre

  • 258.Gonzo Journalism: Reply to this comment
    11 Mar 2010, 14:37 pm

    @vasteses: and kanko @13

  • 259.Karen: Reply to this comment
    11 Mar 2010, 14:37 pm

    @Bill Reyts: Hahahaha first of all I don’t sit on the railway stand :-) I prefer the Grand Stand

    Try Spies on Full back :-)

  • 260.Bill Reyts: Reply to this comment
    11 Mar 2010, 14:37 pm

    @vasteses: Yes your right! He can at least tackle as well.

  • 261.Bill Reyts: Reply to this comment
    11 Mar 2010, 14:38 pm

    @Karen: You moved up in life! Don’t try and pretend it wasn’t you now.

  • 262.vasteses: Reply to this comment
    11 Mar 2010, 14:39 pm

    @Karen:

    wel lets choose a 15 man bok team changing backs and fwds

  • 263.Karen: Reply to this comment
    11 Mar 2010, 14:39 pm

    @Bill Reyts: Did I have my curlers in my hair those days :-D

  • 264.Bill Reyts: Reply to this comment
    11 Mar 2010, 14:39 pm

    @Karen: Those were the days when this was still a rugby site! Remember.

  • 265.Karen: Reply to this comment
    11 Mar 2010, 14:39 pm

    @vasteses: Good idea :-)

    15: Spies (a definite one)

  • 266.Karen: Reply to this comment
    11 Mar 2010, 14:40 pm

    @Bill Reyts: Yes it was – and it was the time when IG would ban those who crossed the line :-)

  • 267.Bill Reyts: Reply to this comment
    11 Mar 2010, 14:41 pm

    @Karen: Couldn’t see under your doekie, but you did have your slippers on. When Chris Pope scored that try in the corner your falsies fell into the flessie. Remember those days – Five in a row. Feels like yesterday.

  • 268.Horings: Reply to this comment
    11 Mar 2010, 14:41 pm

    @Gonzo Journalism: For me the most dangerous are David Smith, Lelia Masanga, Ranger and even Mapoe. They are all very strong for their size.

  • 269.Bill Reyts: Reply to this comment
    11 Mar 2010, 14:41 pm

    @Karen: So right.

  • 270.mxhosa: Reply to this comment
    11 Mar 2010, 14:42 pm

    @wpw:

    Bax must come back home, I’d certainly take him over Justin Peach

  • 271.Gonzo Journalism: Reply to this comment
    11 Mar 2010, 14:44 pm

    hows this forwards backline…….

    15. Piere Spies
    14. Ryan Kanko
    13. Andries Bekker
    12. Vic Mattfeild
    11. Todd Clever
    10. Jamie Mackintosh

  • 272.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    11 Mar 2010, 14:45 pm

    @Gonzo Journalism: heres a few

    Fruen
    Mapoe
    Kahui
    Sivivatu
    Toeava

  • 273.Karen: Reply to this comment
    11 Mar 2010, 14:45 pm

    @Bill Reyts: Hahaha at least I have superglue for the false teeth these days

  • 274.Gonzo Journalism: Reply to this comment
    11 Mar 2010, 14:45 pm

    @Horings: yeah Masanga !!!

  • 275.Bill Reyts: Reply to this comment
    11 Mar 2010, 14:45 pm

    @Gonzo Journalism: Just don’t put Brok at scrumhalf please. Still have nightmares.

  • 276.wpw: Reply to this comment
    11 Mar 2010, 14:46 pm

    Can we please have Eddie Andrews at flyhalf??

    I reckon he might show Morne Steyn a thing or two!!! :mrgreen:

  • 277.Bill Reyts: Reply to this comment
    11 Mar 2010, 14:47 pm

    @Karen: Remember how we used to laugh. Just don’t get enough of that anymore. Well the superbra is fine as well. I mean superbru! ;) This might be moderated.

  • 278.Karen: Reply to this comment
    11 Mar 2010, 14:48 pm

    @wpw: Or Tiaan Liebenberg

  • 279.Gonzo Journalism: Reply to this comment
    11 Mar 2010, 14:48 pm

    @Bill Reyts: But you agree that Jamie Mackintosh will make a fine pivot????

  • 280.Karen: Reply to this comment
    11 Mar 2010, 14:49 pm

    @Bill Reyts: Lol hey my Superbru standing are good :-) Besides one does get the wonderbra but not superbra :roll:
    Just spoke to Lam on the phone – he is chilling at home – lucky fish

  • 281.wpw: Reply to this comment
    11 Mar 2010, 14:50 pm

    @Karen:

    Tiaan is an AWESOME rugby player!!!

  • 282.Horings: Reply to this comment
    11 Mar 2010, 14:51 pm

    @Gonzo Journalism: I had him last year in my Testrugby.com team and he made plenty of points. He probably breaks through tackles more than anyone. Ranger also had some games where he made plenty of points, but he was not that consistent. Another guy is Digby Ioane from the Reds.

  • 283.Karen: Reply to this comment
    11 Mar 2010, 14:51 pm

    @Gonzo Journalism: Can we PLEASE have Gio Aplon as hooker :-)

  • 284.Karen: Reply to this comment
    11 Mar 2010, 14:51 pm

    @wpw: I know and he has a good replacement if he gets injured – that Deon guy impressed me on Saturday

  • 285.Ig: Reply to this comment
    11 Mar 2010, 14:52 pm

    @Karen: You called …

  • 286.Karen: Reply to this comment
    11 Mar 2010, 14:54 pm

    @Ig: No I wonder if it is the real IG because some guys use so many nicks on the site :-)

  • 287.Gonzo Journalism: Reply to this comment
    11 Mar 2010, 14:55 pm

    @Karen: LOL…..we joke now, but once apon a time the boks had a backline that sported these names

    Swanepoel, Louis Kuun, Breyton, Van Straaten, Jorrie Muller, Gaffie !!!!!

    the age of creativity……..

  • 288.Ig: Reply to this comment
    11 Mar 2010, 14:57 pm

    @Karen: Nah its me – the timing is however concidence

  • 289.Karen: Reply to this comment
    11 Mar 2010, 14:57 pm

    @Gonzo Journalism: Lol yes I know.

  • 290.Karen: Reply to this comment
    11 Mar 2010, 14:58 pm

    @Ig: mmmmm still not convinced :-) Sorry but too many people changing there nicks on this site :-)

  • 291.Karen: Reply to this comment
    11 Mar 2010, 14:58 pm

    @Ig: Don’t take it personally lol

  • 292.Ig: Reply to this comment
    11 Mar 2010, 14:58 pm

    @Gonzo Journalism: Picked by Harry Viljoen nogal – i still have nightmares about Joost at nine, Koen at ten and Van Stratten at 12 against England i think it was

  • 293.Karen: Reply to this comment
    11 Mar 2010, 14:59 pm

    @Ig: Harry was a visionary – still don’t know what vision he was following

  • 294.Ig: Reply to this comment
    11 Mar 2010, 14:59 pm

    @Karen: :D

    farking smilies.

  • 295.Horings: Reply to this comment
    11 Mar 2010, 15:00 pm

    Backs among the forwards:
    1. Tiaan Joubert (Bulls 2002)
    2. Mac Hendricks
    3. Pieter Muller
    4. Pieter Rossouw
    5. Naqeluvuki
    6. Lomu
    7. De Wet Barry (He was a better fetcher than centre!)
    8. Vidiri

  • 296.Bill Reyts: Reply to this comment
    11 Mar 2010, 15:01 pm

    @Karen: Right! Got that one wrong again. Super/wonder whatever.

  • 297.Ig: Reply to this comment
    11 Mar 2010, 15:01 pm

    @Karen: Neither did he, i think Andre Markgraff used to get up in the middle of the night and whisper strategies to him, Harry would then wake up with a new plan.

  • 298.Bill Reyts: Reply to this comment
    11 Mar 2010, 15:02 pm

    @Ig: That’s you!

  • 299.Blouste: Reply to this comment
    11 Mar 2010, 15:02 pm

    Hallo Ig…

    Ja boet, this site have turned into a free for all…

    No more banning apparently :shock:

  • 300.Bill Reyts: Reply to this comment
    11 Mar 2010, 15:03 pm

    Farking smilies!

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