Stormers bank on stingy defence
22 Apr 2010
Robbie Fleck believes defence will trump attack when the Stormers battle the Reds on Friday.
The Stormers showed signs of a more balanced approach in their comfortable win over the Blues, and delivered a total performance in their subsequent hammering of the Chiefs. The pack laid the platform and the backline took their opportunities with spectacular results. For the most part, their trademark defence frustrated the Chiefs’ attack.
The match at Suncorp Stadium will require another shift in mindset given the opposition. The Reds are far more structured than the free-running Blues and Chiefs, as they use their impressive pack to pound teams into submission before giving it to their quick backs to finish. They scored an upset over the title-holding Bulls last week and, according to the local media, are within sight of yet another South African scalp.
Stormers captain Schalk Burger told this website on Wednesday he expects the Reds to keep ball in hand in an attempt to avoid the Cape team’s lineout. If they manage to hang onto possession for substantial periods of time, the Stormers could be in trouble, but Fleck said they have no choice but to back a defensive system that’s only conceded 11 tries in the tournament.
‘Their natural inclination is to run the ball, and we saw how they moved the Bulls pack around last week,’ he told keo.co.za. ‘They tired out the Bulls and got them to make mistakes, an approach they will feel works well against South African teams.
‘We have noted this, but we haven’t changed much in terms of our preparations. They will try to get their explosive runners into the game but we back our systems. It’s going to be a case of the best attack playing the best defence on Friday, but as we’ve shown this season, we have what it takes to stop good attacking teams.’
Much has been written about the twin threat at halfback, and Fleck admitted Will Genia and Quade Cooper were discussed extensively when planning for this fixture.
‘They’re the dominant force at halfback in this tournament, so of course you have to plan for them. The Reds look to them to perform so we know that if we put them under pressure defensively, we can limit their attack.
‘It’s obviously easier said than done. Cooper’s got a fantastic step and does some crazy things, he’s like a young Carlos Spencer. Both Cooper and Genia are quality players, but I believe we have the personnel to deal with them.’
The local media have talked up this clash as the match of the tournament, and Fleck confirmed the Stormers players are as excited as some of the spectators to get this match underway.
‘There’s a lot of hype around this game. We’d love to conclude the second part of our campaign with a win, as it would set us up nicely for the home leg. The guys are excited to take on arguably the form team of the competition, and are well aware of the magnitude of this match.
‘Both teams are structured, but both teams also have the freedom to attack within those structures. Our guys have been making some good decisions; they’ve cut out the miracle passes and executed efficiently. We’ll need that accuracy and composure against the Reds.
‘It’s hard to say whether it’ll be a great running game or a tough grind up front. I feel it’ll be a bit of both. It’s another physical battle up front but then there’s also the threat out wide, so either way you look at it, the defence will have to be sound.’
By Jon Cardinelli
42 Comments
22 Apr 2010, 13:38 pm
go stormers go!!!
22 Apr 2010, 13:40 pm
Stormers by 8.
22 Apr 2010, 13:41 pm
maintain the focus, intensity, urgency and accuracy…
Go Stormers…!!
Gotta get this one…!!
22 Apr 2010, 14:11 pm
Crush and teach them STORMERS with Total rugby….
Go Stormers make us proud
22 Apr 2010, 14:13 pm
Cool, they seem to think that their “Twin threat at the back” will win it for them – seemingly they have forgotten about the “Twin threat at the back” pairing of Habana and Fourie – not to mention some of the electric runs that Aplon has put in too.
Go Stormers (Until you meet the Bulls that is!)
22 Apr 2010, 14:21 pm
GO STORMERS!
Stay sharp and focussed, like you have been, and you will win!
Habana pass to Aplon nicely. Aplon, if Habana throws a pass to you, catch it!
You guys are awesome
22 Apr 2010, 15:10 pm
Kick pointlessly all night and they’ll lose. Better players than the Reds, better team. Run it back at them.
22 Apr 2010, 15:23 pm
Blah, blah, farking blah – another article about the wonderful, amazing, transcendent Stormers. Every coach at the Stormers has a fawning article on Keo quoting his words in a way that puts the Messiah’s witness in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John to shame.
Soon there will be another formulaic article about how Robbie Fleck should be PdV’s assistant.
The procession of adulation continues… from Alistair Coetzee to Matthew Proudfoot and now Fleck. Soon the baggage master will have an enraptured audience.
Why doesn’t Keo stop wasting time and just call for the whole frakking Stormers coaching team to replace the Bok coaches en masse.
22 Apr 2010, 15:34 pm
@Heavens Game:
GREAT IDEA
22 Apr 2010, 15:39 pm
@Heavens Game:
“The procession of adulation continues…”
As does the predictable carnival of contempt…
You’re allegedly intelligent… and can read and write in a host of different languages… would think you’d pick up the gist of the Stormers’ articles by the time you got through the header and moved onto another article…?
the fact that you loathingly continue to read and post… paints disturbing pictures of your neuroses…
but hey… whatever get’s you through your life…
22 Apr 2010, 15:58 pm
@Heavens Game: I have been saying this all along – MAAK DIE STORMERS ALMAL BOKKE; Coach,assistant coaches, baggage master, mental coach, lemoen skiller, assistant lemoen skiller. The whole lot, stock and two smoking barrels!!!!
22 Apr 2010, 16:02 pm
@GI POT:
You wanna give him a heart attack????
22 Apr 2010, 16:02 pm
Try as I might, I cannot get myself so far to say that the Stormers will win this one. Must be the many lean years past. I have scheduled my day around the game tomorrow. Will take a good couple of whiskeys tonight before bed and a couple of Valiums just before the game. The butterflies are going crazy. In the immortal words of Winnie the Pooh: “I have a rumbly in my tumbly”
22 Apr 2010, 16:05 pm
@Dawn: The only reason why it would give him a heart attack is his realization that it may not be too much of a fairy tale…
22 Apr 2010, 16:06 pm
stormers by 10 plus in this game
22 Apr 2010, 16:07 pm
hello dawn how goes things? still going to Firemans?
22 Apr 2010, 16:10 pm
hey Mr Lam… good to see you back…!!
22 Apr 2010, 16:12 pm
@Alfred E Neuman:
Goodness no!
As I said previously ……
All the Firemans’ crowd have either:
1. Acquired girlfriends
2. Acquired babies
3. Acquired wives
No more Firemans!
22 Apr 2010, 16:13 pm
Thanks UFO
been making some appearances of late, changed jobs again so bit more time to give the bulls kak here, I see the old fogeys are all gone….sniff im going to … get drunk tonight
22 Apr 2010, 16:13 pm
@Heavens Game: don’t effing read it then you pr!ck
22 Apr 2010, 16:14 pm
Dawn
and you not aquired anything???
no worrie wil let you know when I go again alos havent aquired much except a cold on the plane to windhoek this morning
22 Apr 2010, 16:16 pm
@brains_trust:
well spoken
they do it to irritate themselves
22 Apr 2010, 16:16 pm
@Alfred E Neuman:
Still working on the merging and acquisition!
Going well tho.
22 Apr 2010, 16:19 pm
@Dawn:
good to hear
22 Apr 2010, 16:23 pm
@Alfred E Neuman:
22 Apr 2010, 16:24 pm
@Alfred E Neuman:
yeah… but some still around or pop in occassionally…
gotta keep the bulls herd in their kraal…!!
22 Apr 2010, 16:25 pm
@Alfred E Neuman: @ 21
let us know when you do and will bring jinx along too…
22 Apr 2010, 16:48 pm
What’s he trying to say about the Stormer’s defence being stingy. Has it got something to do with them coming from the Cape… hehe
22 Apr 2010, 17:13 pm
Haven’t blogged here in a while, but here’s some points (my opinion)……
I’m not all that convinced about the hype surrounding the Reds, teams like the Bulls and Saders came up short due to their own doing and reverting away from a recipe which yielded success in the past. The Reds may be a spirited bunch yes, but teams you’d normally expect to wipe the floor with them either went in under-prepared, not analysing key strengths of them, etc. On the given day, both Blackadder and Ludeke were hence sufficiently outsmarted by McKenzie.
Re the Stormers hype: now here I’m a firm believer, yes sir. Me and a buddy at the office are fierce competitors, and get quite amicable when the Bulls face the Stormers. I was of the opinion during last year’s CC semi’s that the Province is about two years away (at the time) from being considered title contenders in this year’s S14. At the time, I did not believe that their challenge could be sustain, especially in the do-or-die games. Not a lot have change, except that they’ve been playing with a maturity you have not seen in them in years. They’re able to put away the advantage of a good start, as well as maintaining shape with both set- and scramble defence. They’re very much top-4 material this season, and I’d back them against the Reds this weekend. And my goodness, how have Burger embraced captaincy whilst having a long overdue blinder. Same thing did happen to JdV mind you… keep it going Stormers.
As for my Bulls, we’re still very much in the race – and have an easier (??) run-in then the Stormers IMO. I do get the feeling though that Vic is playing within himself in an effort to stay injury-free running up to next year’s WC. And the current form of Bekker only serves to amplify this. That being said, a lot of Springbok BULLS have looked extremely jaded since the 2009 EOYT. We all know the saying though about class being permanent, with that being said….. write them off at your own peril.
22 Apr 2010, 17:19 pm
BTW, here’s my SuperBru picks for week 11;
Chiefs v Cheetahs: Chiefs by 17
Reds v Stormers: Stormers by 10
Force v Crusaders: Crusaders by 8
Highlanders v Hurricanes: Hurricanes by 19
Waratahs v Brumbies: Waratahs by 12
Bulls v Lions: Bulls by 27
Sharks v Blues: Blues by 7
Real sorry Sharkies…….
22 Apr 2010, 17:22 pm
@Heavens Game: That’s a rather uncalled for outburst. We are proud of our team but you can hardly say that no other articles have been written extolling the virtues of another province?
There’s an understandable amount of hype around this game as:
1) both teams are in the top 4
2) both teams are coming off impressive wins
3) the loser of tomorrow’s encounter will find the path to a semi spot a much harder one.
4) one of the teams is from South Africa. And this is a South African website.
So really, expect more of the same, especially as the next 4 rounds sees the top teams all basically playing each other (barring the Reds and the Bulls).
If the next while is going to be too much to bear, you might try going back to facebook until the heat has died down….?
22 Apr 2010, 17:30 pm
Robbie Fleck believes defence will trump attack when the Stormers battle the Reds on Friday.
DUH
JW said that defence will win the RWC2007
GH (the chocker) said that attack will win the RWC2007
Who was right?
22 Apr 2010, 18:36 pm
@RedLion: No question…Defence wins the Big ones…let’s hope GH still feels the same way…altho’ he rates the Stormers quite highly..
22 Apr 2010, 20:45 pm
Has anyone seen how good our vodacom cup side is looking for sat. Yaya at flank and thank goodness Nick Koster the 8th man is playing in his position again. Nick seriously must stay there. After Pieter Louw on the bench we have nothing else. Koster must start coming off the bench for the Stormers wen the side gets back. Any thoughts ?????
22 Apr 2010, 21:10 pm
@Fleckie: lets see how koster goes….that game against bulls at loftus will be a great test.
22 Apr 2010, 21:10 pm
is lionel cronje playing sat for wp?
is game being televised?
22 Apr 2010, 22:12 pm
Ja Lionel is playing with Conrad Hoffman at 9 and Paul Bosch at 12. Decent backline but not sure if the forwards can dominate up front.
23 Apr 2010, 09:04 am
@Heavens Game: I can recommend a Grandpa. Should be gone in 5. Then you can start thinking clearly again.
23 Apr 2010, 09:05 am
@stormersboy: my thoughts exactly.
23 Apr 2010, 10:30 am
The same aggressive defence and attack is needed in todays game.. We need to run the reds off their feet like we did with the previous two teams. The only way we will be able to beat them is to have an attacking defense. The Stormers have been splendid in doing that thus far. If they can keep it up there is no way that they can/will lose todays game.
Stay focussed on what needs to be done, the win is more important than a bonus point, which is only an extra at this stage. Goodluck guys!
Knock ‘em out
23 Apr 2010, 20:43 pm
@brains_trust: 20. Nothing else to read other than about the mighty Stormers.
@ufo: “carnival of contempt…”, does paint a picture. Good one.
@stormersboy: Heat, HEAT!!? That was’nt heat. It was sublime flattery.
Not on facebook, rather Planetrugby….
@TASSIES: 38. I still have that Grandpa for any Stormer supporters, though you may prefer some of G10′s Camps Bay Cabbage.
24 Apr 2010, 22:59 pm
comment test
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