Stormers need BJ the destroyer
28 Apr 2010
BJ Botha would provide the Stormers’ scrum with a destructive edge if he was brought to the Cape franchise.
Injuries to looseheads Wicus Blaauw and JC Kritzinger mean the Stormers are one blow away from crisis at a critical stage of the competition. JD Moller will start at No 1 against the Crusaders this Friday, but coach Allister Coetzee will be praying there are no injuries to either of his props.
Coetzee told keo.co.za on Monday they are considering a number of options after it was confirmed Kritzinger could be out for as many as three weeks. Local men like Janro van Niekerk have been talked up, and there’s been speculation that Botha, a Bok tighthead playing for Irish club Ulster, could be called on to help the team.
While the move may seem necessary with injuries to Blaauw and Kritzinger, who are both looseheads, it’s at tighthead where the Stormers are most vulnerable. Brok Harris has done a formidable job at No 3 this season and has played for the majority of the campaign. If Harris goes down, they’ll have to rely on the inexperienced Argentinean Eusebio Guinazu to slot in at tighthead. Guinazu hasn’t had many opportunities to date and while he is listed as a versatile prop, he has played more at loosehead than tighthead for the Cape team.
The Stormers’ scrum has been solid this season and have in some instances dominated the opposition. Harris has been the standout No 3 across the South African franchises, although it’s premature to be talking about him as a Bok contender. He’s also benefited from the scrumming power of Tiaan Liebenberg and the afore-mentioned looseheads beside him, not to mention the underrated back five of the Stormers.
The signing of a high-profile prop to the Cape franchise is long overdue. Botha’s experience would be a boost to youngsters like Harris, Blaauw and Kritzinger, while his own performances would help the Stormers to destroy opposition scrums on a more regular basis.
Botha was recalled to the Bok side last November and had an immediate impact. He impressed against Italy and then produced a dominant showing against Ireland. The Boks’ effort at scrum time was undoubtedly the highlight of the visitors’ performance.
Botha told this site last November that he wants to return to South Africa and push for a place in the World Cup squad. To become eligible, he’ll need to sign with a South African team and play in the 2011 Super 15.
While Harris has done well, the Stormers will strengthen their chances of success in next year’s competition by bringing Botha to Cape Town. At the moment, there has been no official word on Botha joining the Stormers for the back end of this campaign, but surely there should be a move to acquire his services for 2011.
The Stormers have been lucky that Harris has avoided injury in 2010 and will be hoping their luck holds out for the rest of the campaign. But they can’t bank on luck forever. In reference to the old adage, top teams need two quality tightheads, not one.
By Jon Cardinelli
102 Comments
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28 Apr 2010, 11:20 am
For the purposes of this Regulation, a Player is deemed to have played for
the senior fifteen-a-side National Representative Team or the next senior
fifteen-a-side National Representative Team of a Union if:
(a) He is selected for such team to play in an International Match against
the senior fifteen-a-side National Representative Team or the next
senior fifteen-a-side National Representative Team of another Union
(or in a fifteen-a-side international Match against another Union’s
senior or next senior Touring Squad during an IRB approved
International Tour) and is present at the Match played by that team
either as a replacement, substitute or a playing member of that team
and has, at the time of the Match, reached the age of majority; or
Now it seems to me that the IRB nations cup is one of these such instances???
28 Apr 2010, 11:20 am
@Ratel Brussow(Morne Steyn is under-rated): U21 rugby is not senior rugby, if you read properly you would’ve seen that.
28 Apr 2010, 11:22 am
@gunther(gunther): HAHAHAHAhahaha…
28 Apr 2010, 11:27 am
@Ratel Brussow(Morne Steyn is under-rated):
The most important part is the first paragraph.
Deemed to have played for the senior fifteen national representative team, or next senior fifteen national blah blah blah.
Even though the ‘emerging Boks’ played in the IRB nations Cup, the emerging Boks is NOT our next, or second senior national team.
28 Apr 2010, 11:32 am
@fish out of water(fish out of water): No, but what about the 2007 IRB Nations Cup. Barrit represented the Emerging Boks at this tournament.
28 Apr 2010, 11:38 am
@PissAnt(PissAnt): How then did the IRB allow us to play in a tier 2 or 3 tournament?
28 Apr 2010, 11:40 am
Macdougal
I believe grant10 has started some sort of BJ fund…
I will happily chip in if it brings grantie some kind of relief ….
I am sure ranger will be in for a few rond as well…
28 Apr 2010, 11:44 am
BJ would be great for WP and Stormers. I mentioned a year or so ago that BJ and CJ would be returning to challenge for places in the World Cup squad and to get either of them would be massive for Stormers next year. Just imagine BJ/CJ and Jean De villiers in next years Stormers team. Coupled with quality youngsters that have gained superb experience this year.
28 Apr 2010, 11:47 am
And what’s this bullshit about “BJ the destroyer”
He sounds like a darts player…
About the only thing bj has ever destroyed is the salad valley at the spur…
Oh and he sat on rikki by mistake once at pre season.
Took three yards off rikki’s pass that did…
28 Apr 2010, 11:50 am
I reckon if WP get BJ then CJ will go to the Bulls.
28 Apr 2010, 11:50 am
Having read through regulation 8, I believe SA rugby have a strong case against England.
28 Apr 2010, 11:57 am
@gunther(gunther):
bj does not eat salad
28 Apr 2010, 11:58 am
@Ratel Brussow(Morne Steyn is under-rated): I though PissAnt already explained it, if I could draw you a picture and post it up here it might help you to understand.
THE EMERGING BOKS ARE NOT CONSIDERED TO BE THE NEXT SENIOR REPRESENTATIVE SIDE.
28 Apr 2010, 12:01 pm
Mainland my china
BJ eats all the croutons, feta cheese and bacon bits…
28 Apr 2010, 12:06 pm
BJ eats his pronutro without milk in it !!!!!!
28 Apr 2010, 12:10 pm
@fish out of water(fish out of water): then who is our next best??
28 Apr 2010, 12:12 pm
Talking about eating habits, was watching this show on obese dogs where the owners were distraught about their dogs being overweight, I mean how ferking hard is it to put an animal on a diet, its not like the dog can sneak off to Mackie D’s for a cheat meal !!!
28 Apr 2010, 12:14 pm
BJ would be welcomed in the Cape
28 Apr 2010, 12:17 pm
@fish out of water(fish out of water): Where is that said. The IRB plays them in all their official tournaments, or did when Barrit represented them.
28 Apr 2010, 12:17 pm
@gunther(gunther):
lol
28 Apr 2010, 12:21 pm
eish poor haaikona ndugane is out again with a broken leg
28 Apr 2010, 12:42 pm
Pure speculation. Whilst I would be very happy to see BJ in the Cape, I’m not sure Brok would take kindly to suggestions that he needs rescuing. He’s doing great on his own. He may not be the most destructive scrummager in the world, but then neither is BJ. Good, but not in the class of Sheridan, the Italian monster et al (his name escapes me now but i’m sure I’ll remember him by the time I finish this post). Brock brings an amazing workrate to the team and his commitment to all aspects of play must make him one of the most valuable props in the tournament (the odd stray pass aside).
So, what we need is a great emerging tighthead talent who can be used as cover. Not BJ. Although I’d take him if he was offered. Problem is, you might lose Brock then.
28 Apr 2010, 12:49 pm
Castrogiovanni. That’s him.
28 Apr 2010, 12:59 pm
Stormersboy
It pure ejaculation…
28 Apr 2010, 13:30 pm
@gunther(gunther): Grant is probably ejaculating right now! But he’ll never be satisfied until he gets his BJ.
28 Apr 2010, 13:33 pm
@KZN King “I touch you on your studio” Shark(JayDaFiveOh): It Smit won’t do! Arf arf.
28 Apr 2010, 14:15 pm
Wasn’t Castrogiovanni effed up solid when Beast came on in the Italy game?
28 Apr 2010, 14:36 pm
so whats the story here…..?
Is this oke coming or not?
I am too scared to read the posts…bet you bloody plonkers been ripping me off…
28 Apr 2010, 14:48 pm
and Joe Pietersen heading to Bayonne as well…..man what a blow for wp and stormers…..horrible news.
Stormers should make a huge move for F Steyn and BJ Botha.
28 Apr 2010, 14:48 pm
@grant10(grant10)-78: Yes we have my turbo reverse friend, yes we have……..
28 Apr 2010, 14:51 pm
@grant10(grant10)-79: Yes, this is bigger news than BJ.
28 Apr 2010, 14:53 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-80: LOL
Been out on appointments….cant leave this place alone for a bloody few hours and all hell breaks loose….
Bakkies back into bulls team
akona breaks his leg
wp sign some oke called buckle!
instead of BJ Botha!!!!
Joe P signs for Bayonne
Bulls move W Olivier to 13 !
what the hell is happening…..cant leave my office for a couple of hours and its all over rover, goodnite nurse.!
28 Apr 2010, 14:54 pm
joe p is a monster blow….seriously very the moer in….he could of become a bok…sad,sad,sad!
28 Apr 2010, 14:59 pm
@grant10(grant10)-82: Yes, it’s total chaos.
28 Apr 2010, 15:00 pm
from iol…
greg sommerville is also in negotiations with the stormers.
28 Apr 2010, 15:02 pm
i would really rather have a saffa than a kiwi….somerville is a fine 3 ….but BJ Botha would be my 1 st choice. He will want to make a point here and will give it 100%….
28 Apr 2010, 15:04 pm
@grant10(grant10)-83: He’s was definately in my larger springbok squad. I’d be surpised of he wasn’t on Snor’s radar. Kind of testing the home based selection theory now. If Peter caves in and selects foreign based players then it will probably be Steyn at 15. Joe’s best chance was to stay here, as Peter always said that he’s look locally first. Joe in my opinion is the best local 15 by a long way.
28 Apr 2010, 15:12 pm
@grant10(grant10)-86:
yeah must say it feels a bit cheap going for a NZ prop. Would take the shine off it.
@79.
F Steyn would a good sub for Joe P but with him and P Grant in the same team id feel bit uneasy when it comes to the kicking duties….- L Cronje!
28 Apr 2010, 15:13 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-87: 87
Ja….i am actually a bit moerig with Joe p….its all about the money i suppose….damn brilliant player…..wp and stormers will miss him as much as shatks miss steyn.
28 Apr 2010, 15:32 pm
@grant10(grant10)-89: So Joe P is a money grabbing prima donna just like Frans Steyn eh? Hasn’t even given himself enough time to be selected for the Boks and he’s already bolting. Funny how the Sharks got ripped to shreds for losing Steyn, Barritt and BJ but what are the Sharks management to do when you’ve got European clubs offering 10 times as much. Ooh its burns your ar$e doesn’t it Grant?! Feel the burn doos. Suck up your own bs for a change. Would you like some chakalaka sauce with that?
28 Apr 2010, 15:38 pm
@KZN King “I touch you on your studio” Shark(JayDaFiveOh)-90: ja…i am hurting here….enjoy…
28 Apr 2010, 15:48 pm
@grant10(grant10)-91: Now you know what its like to be a Sharks supporter and read the ton of abuse coming from the Stormers camp every friggin day. You know what they say about people in glass houses? Come on you angry Saders! Can’t wait to see McCaw give Schalk a rugby masterclass at the breakdown.
28 Apr 2010, 15:51 pm
@KZN King “I touch you on your studio” Shark(JayDaFiveOh)-92: jeez you turning the knife my man….
just remember….sharks my 2 nd team…and any criticism i levelled was to assist. I maintained from day 1 that you needed a proper tighthead and a happy ruan pienaar at 9.
since that was adopted sharks got 5 wins on the trot.
So turn the knife…my conscience is clear.
28 Apr 2010, 16:50 pm
C’mon Rassie…bring BJ home….it’ll be the best buy of the year…and you’ve made some pretty darn good one’s
28 Apr 2010, 16:55 pm
@grant10(grant10)-83: Yah…Losing Joe P a train smash…what a bummer….damdamn.. just when Stormers playing so much better rugby…I hope he’s the 1st and only one jumping ship…Stormpies still got so much to prove and far to go…Rebels could cause plenty of k@k..imo…
28 Apr 2010, 17:21 pm
@Ratel Brussow(Morne Steyn is under-rated)-61: 61. At the time Barritt played for the Emerging Boks they weren’t registered as SA’s 2nd team, they might well be so now but it’s not retrospective. Barritt jumped ship too early as Boks could’ve used him in 2009 but he will be an England player in the future and maybe a Lion too.
28 Apr 2010, 17:42 pm
BJ is a born and bread KZN boy, I doubt that when he returns to SA he will choose cold, wet, clicky CT over the lush, tropical surrounds of DBN…
Come home BJ, bring Butch and Steyn with you…
28 Apr 2010, 18:27 pm
Headline could read, “No BJ for Stormers as Rassie blows it”
28 Apr 2010, 22:05 pm
BJ is making a mistake and so is the WP. They will be stunting Brok’s growth but not to worry he can always return to his home union … the Lions.
28 Apr 2010, 23:42 pm
That’s a real shame about Percy Lite.
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