SA latest – Rookie spearheads Stormers
26 Jan 2011
Keo.co.za brings you news from South Africa’s Super Rugby franchises.
Van Aswegen spearheads Stormers – Allister Coetzee has picked Gary van Aswegen at flyhalf for the Stormers’ pre-season match against the Lions.
Coetzee is yet to settle on a flyhalf to play understudy to Peter Grant in the Super Rugby competition. Van Aswegen and Elgar Watts have not played in the Stormers’ systems before, and that’s why they are preferred ahead of Lionel Cronje in this fixture. Coetzee said that Cronje is likely to battle the Sharks in the next match.
On the injury front, the bad news is that lock Anton van Zyl has dislocated his shoulder and is out for four to six weeks. He will be touch and go for the start of the competition proper.
Others who will miss the Tri-Series but are hopeful for the first official game are Jaque Fourie (foot injury) and Francois Louw (hamstring). Fourie has begun running at training, and the Stormers medical staff are monitoring Louw’s injury.
Dewald Duvenage (hamstring injury) may come into the picture for the final warm-up against Boland. CJ van der Linde has a leg injury and should he not recover before Thursday, Steven Kitschoff will start against the Lions with Wicus Blaauw joining the bench.
Stormers – 15 Conrad Jantjes, 14 Gio Aplon, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Gary van Aswegen, 9 Ricky Januarie, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Rynhardt Elstadt, 6 Schalk Burger (c), 5 Andries Bekker, 4 De Kock Steenkamp, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 CJ van der Linde.
Subs: Siyabonga Ntubeni, Steven Kitschoff, Frans Malherbe, Wimpie van der Walt, Quinn Roux, Pieter Louw, Siya Kolisi, Nic Groom, Elgar Watts, Johann Sadie, Tim Whitehead, JJ Engelbrecht, Danie Poolman.
Bulls bucks face Kings – The Bulls have named a young side to face the EP Kings in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.
Derick Kuün captains a side that includes a string of fringe players. Akona Ndungane makes a comeback after nearly two years sidelined with leg fractures.
Bulls – Jaco van der Westhuyzen, Akona Ndungane, Stephan Dippenaar, Stefan Watermeyer, Sampie Mastriet, Francois Brummer, Ruan Snyman, Gerrit-Jan van Velze, CJ Stander, Derick Kuün (c), Juandré Kruger, Fudge Mabeta, Werner Kruger, Henry Bantjes, Dean Greyling.
Subs: Hans van Dyk, Frik Kirsten, Cornell Hess, Tendayi Chikukwa, Okkie Kruger, Dustin Jinka, Louis Fouché, Bradley Moolman, Courtnall Skosan.
Bulls pair stuck in limbo – Chiliboy Ralepelle and Bjorn Basson will miss the Bulls’ first warm-up game against the EP Kings. The Saru judicial committee that heard their cases on Tuesday has reserved judgment, and the pair remain unavailable.
Ralepelle and Basson, who were last year suspended following positive tests for a banned stimulant, will continue to train in isolation until the verdict is announced.
Brussow to miss start of Super Rugby – Springbok flank Heinrich Brussow will only be back for the fourth round of the new competition. Brussow missed the entire 2010 Test season, and after a second operation to his injured knee, he is still rehabilitating.
The Cheetahs are also waiting on Andries Strauss, who is struggling with a groin injury and will miss the Cheetahs’ warm-up matches on Friday.
The former Sharks centre has been training on his own for the past two weeks, and the coaches don’t want to risk him at this stage. Strauss and fullback Hennie Daniller (calf) will only be available for the practice match against the EP Kings on 4 February.
Prop WP Nel is also battling a hamstring injury and may even miss the Kings clash as well as the Bloemfontein warm-ups.
The Cheetahs’ A team will face Shimlas in a contact session on Friday morning, before meeting the B team in a 20-minute game. The B team will also play a training game against the Griffons.
Lions name Tri-Series squad – John Mitchell has named a 36-man squad for the pre-season games against the Stormers and Sharks. Elton Jantjies and Doppies la Grange have been included despite earlier reports that they will not feature due to their lack of conditioning.
Lions – Jacobie Adriaanse, Martin Bezuidenhout, Michael Bondesio, Jannie Boshoff, David Bulbring, Kevin Buys, Tonderai Chavhanga, Patrick Cilliers, Rory Kockott, David de Villiers, George Earle, Joubert Engelbrecht, Cobus Grobbelaar, JC Janse van Rensburg, Elton Jantjies, James Kamana, Michael Killian, Doppies la Grange, Bandise Maku, Lionel Mapoe, Edgar Marutlulle, Derick Minnie, Waylon Murray, Andre Pretorius, Michael Rhodes, Joshua Strauss, Wayne Swart, Jaco Taute, Franco van der Merwe, Wikus van Heerden, Deon van Rensburg, Dries van Schalkwyk, Jano Vermaak, Warren Whiteley, Ross Geldenhuys and Burton Francis.
Duncan to lead Kings – Rory Duncan will captain the EP Kings in Saturday’s game against the Bulls.
Regular skipper Mzwandile Stick is still unavailable due to a knee injury, and so vice-captain Duncan will make the step up. Tiger Mangweni will take Stick’s place at fullback.
EP Kings – 15 Tiger Mangweni, 14 Norman Nelson, 13 Siyanda Grey, 12 Matthew Tayler-Smith, 11 Paul Perez, 10 Monty Dumond, 9 Jacques Coetzee, 8 Darron Nell, 7 Mpho Mbiyozo, 6 Devin Oosthuizen, 5 Barend Pieterse, 4 Rory Duncan (c), 3 Andre Schlecter, 2 Hannes Franklin, 1 Jaco Engels.
Subs: 16 Jaco Fourie, 17 Ronnie Uys, 18 Ross Kennedy, 19 Lungelo Payi, 20 Marlon Lewis, 21 Shane Gates, 22 SP Marais, 23 Riaan Vermeulen, 24 Frank Herne
167 Comments
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26 Jan 2011, 21:11 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-149:
Pops, what do you think of the Blues chances this year? Particularly heading the NZ conference.
Saders still the team to beat, I reckon. They’ve been recruiting like crazy.
26 Jan 2011, 21:18 pm
@I am a stormer(I am a stormer)-150: isnt that how you guys got to number 1 last time?
double points for beating teams ranked no higher then 5th… talk about winning the lottery
the slide afterwards was just as quick too I beleieve
and of course this tennis oke knows a good side when he sees one, I mean. I always consult the Swiss when I need assistance in rugby matters
26 Jan 2011, 21:20 pm
@I am a stormer(I am a stormer)-151: I think the blues wont be much different from last year to be honest, they have the capability to beat any team, but consistency will be the issue again… Went to school with Pat Lam, just dont think hes a good enough coach to get them to lift their game from last season..
so another what if season for me…
26 Jan 2011, 21:30 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-152:
He’s got a Seffrican mommy – that’s why he’s getting behind the Boks.
@poppa69(poppa69)-153:
Good luck to the Blues. Both our teams have tough conferences to endure.
When I took one of my few trips to Newlands in 2009, the home side lost – against the Blues.
And same again in 2010, this time the Brumbies got the better of the Stormers courtesy of an intercept try. Thank you, Brok.
Going to stay away from Newlands this year.
Going to be one hell of a tournie.
26 Jan 2011, 22:32 pm
@Robzim(Robzim)-124:
It’s whom you faced, not what you said
Federer was uncontested from 2002 to 2007, Hewitt (1 Major) and Roddick (1 Major) were the main rivals, when Nadal emerged, the glut of Federer’s Majors dwindled.
@gunther(gunther)-123:
It’s like comparing the 1995 RWC Boks to that of 2007 RWC winners: The 1995 Boks won against Aussies, The Frogs and the ABs, the 2007 won against the Poms twice and against the Argies.
26 Jan 2011, 22:48 pm
@Robzim(Robzim)-126:
Sampress was an above average baseliner when was forced to, watch his duels with Agassi in 1994 & 1995 US Opens
And he could be beaten in his own game at his prime as Rafter showed in 1997/8
Nadal managed to beat Federer since after Wimbledon 2007 to 2010 on a regular basis, Nadal though had a checkered history then but he has lost his huge biceps since.
26 Jan 2011, 23:03 pm
@Hondo(Hondo)-155: If you look at the major winner during this period, apart from Federer, the following people won slams:
Thomas Johannson
Albert Costa
Lleyton Hewitt
Pete Sampras (remember him?)
Andre Agassi (also him?)
Juan Carlos Ferrero
Andy Roddick
Gaston Gaudio
Marat Safin
Novak Djokovic
Nadal (5)
Federer (12)
Far more won between 2002 and 2008 when 10 other players won than than the top 2 won than say, 2005 – 2010 when only 3 other players won other than the top 2.
So really, the period you refer to has a much wider variety than since. Federer won his forst slam in 2003. Nadal in 2005. So yes, Nadal is on the rise and Fed is less dominant but after winning 16 slams you’d think that was likely.
If you look at 2009 – 2010 Nadal has 4, Fed has 3.
2007 – 2008 Fed 4, Rafa 3.
It’s really just the French that Rafa has dominated, as Roger has done Wimbledon.
I don’t see anything to really support your statement personally.
Both great players Roger has been there done that, Rafa has 7 slams to go before equalling Roger. He may yet, but that remains to be seen.
It’s like the Tiger vs Nicklaus debate. Jack’s score is already posted, 18 to Tiger’s 14. Time will tell..
26 Jan 2011, 23:09 pm
@Hondo(Hondo)-155:
Federer was uncontested between those years because it was his prime years. It makes no sense to argue that exceptional sportsmen like him, Woods, Kelly Slater (surfing), Valentino Rossi , Lance Armstrong (stage road cycling)only dominated because they had no opposition, professional sport is far too competetive for that- they totally dominated because they were on another level.
Nadal is also exceptional and if he can stay injury free might even become the greatest ever in the eyes of experts like MacEnroe and Sampras.
The fact that Nadal got the better of Federer on most occasions does not mean he is a better player- its overall results in tournaments that count.
An example in this regard is Wayne Ferreira who has won 6 times out of 13 in direct encounters against Sampras but overall cannot even be mentioned in the same breath as Pete.
26 Jan 2011, 23:09 pm
Interesting stat on the Tiger vs jack debate, and one that for me says quite a lot:
Major wins (Jack v Tiger): 18 – 14
2nd Place in a Major: 19-5
Top 3 in a major: 46-3
Jack wins hands down, and even if Tiger ends up getting past the 18 wins mark, he’ll never come close to the other two stats. He just doesn’t have what it takes IMO.
26 Jan 2011, 23:30 pm
Only one f’ckup in this team and that is the idiocy at captain
Burger would hardly make my team let alone be the dubious ridiculous captain he is, sooner he gets out the system better for WP Stormers, urger is no captain h’e one huge noose around the Stormers neck, get him out before he chokes the entire team to death.
27 Jan 2011, 00:33 am
@skopiskoobidoo(ilanjo)-160:
Thank F uk for the fact you do NOT select the team. It would battle to beat it’s way out of a paper bag never mind anything else.
Stick to the funny baby talk, you good at it!
27 Jan 2011, 04:23 am
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-157:
Argumnt is simple, who were those guys that Federer excelled against to win Majors?
Thomas Johannson??
Albert Costa??
Lleyton Hewitt (won a single major in 2001)
Pete Sampras (retired in 2002 after the US Open)
(Andre Agassi (was on the down hill in 2002 onward)
Juan Carlos Ferrero ??
Andy Roddick (won 1 major in 2003)
Gaston Gaudio ??
Marat Safin a violent drunk
Novak Djokovic (won a single major in 2008)
Nadal won all his 4 Major’s encounters against Federer since he lost at the Wimbledon final in 2007 and in 5 sets, not bad for a clay court specialist.
But you are entitled for your opinion
27 Jan 2011, 04:39 am
@Robzim(Robzim)-158:
To push the point home:
Between 1979 and 1985, McEnroe competed against the likes of:
Borg
Connors
Lendl
Becker
Gerulitis (spell)
Guillermo Villas
Stephan Edberg
Mats Wilander
He won 4 US Opens and 3 Wimbledon.
I don’t even know who are those guys who won few Majors since 2002, they certainly left no impression, they are irrelevant in tennis terms except they made Federr career easier.
Federer has not been a match for Nadal since July 2007, regardless what the trash talk specialist McEnro says in the best interests of commercialism, remember, he gets paid for his hassle
27 Jan 2011, 05:09 am
@Hondo(Hondo)-163:
How many of the names you mention have won a grand slam of titles?
It is one thing to reach the finals of a major, another to actually win it and in the process you play whoever they put in front of you. To win so many majors and be dominant for o long you have to be great.
27 Jan 2011, 08:29 am
@Slartibartfast(Slartibartfast)-164:
All of them won AT LEAST 3 Major titles
27 Jan 2011, 08:45 am
@Hondo(Hondo)-165:
On clay, grass, hardcourt…rebound ace? Also in slightly different eras. Edberg for instance, only shined once Borg and later Lendl dissapeared.
27 Jan 2011, 08:49 am
just can’t see any side winning the S15 with a rookie at 10.
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