Newlands win a stepping stone to glory
8 Jun 2011
Schalk Burger says the Stormers need to secure a week’s reprieve between the league stage and semi-finals if they’re going to win the tournament, reports JON CARDINELLI.
At the beginning of the season, the Cape side targeted a top-two finish for another reason besides home advantage in the play-offs. They were allotted byes in Round 1 and 9, meaning that their league stage was divided into two eight-week stretches. If they didn’t manage to secure sufficient log points to qualify for the top two, it would mean playing 10 consecutive games before they reached the grand final.
As it stands, they currently find themselves in second position on the combined log, and if they win their remaining matches they will confirm their place in the semi-finals and possibly finish top of the league.
Burger said this is a massive motivating factor after a long and taxing season.
‘Both the Stormers and Bulls are in the running for a play-off spot, so there’s everything to play for,’ Burger told keo.co.za. ‘We’re not trying to beat the Bulls now to avoid playing them in a potential play-off, it’s more about booking our place in the semis and getting that bye after the league stage.
‘They’re desperate to win the next two games and qualify for the play-offs, but we’re also desperate to achieve our objective. Obviously something’s got to give when two desperate teams come up against each other, and we’re hoping that we come out on top.
‘It’s not about knocking out the Bulls. We want home advantage in the play-offs, and we need to earn that break before the semis. I think that will give us a proper chance of winning the title itself.’
The Stormers have already beaten the Bulls once this season, and Burger admitted that the Pretoria side will miss the likes of Fourie du Preez and Bakkies Botha when they visit Cape Town this weekend.
But the Stormers’ captain tempered this statement by saying that the Bulls will still be tremendously tough to beat given the quality of the replacements scrumhalf Francois Hougaard and lock Danie Rossouw.
‘They’ve built up some momentum by winning the last few games, and history will show they’re very difficult to stop at this stage of the season,’ said Burger.
‘I remember [in 2007] when they needed a massive points haul to qualify for the play-offs and they ended up beating the Reds 92-3. When their backs are against the wall, they’re extremely dangerous.’
14 Comments
8 Jun 2011, 14:14 pm
Bully Boys.
8 Jun 2011, 14:17 pm
Only one game on this weekend?
8 Jun 2011, 14:25 pm
Having an extra bye is a huge advantage for the top 2 teams. Doesn’t exactly make the playing fields level.
8 Jun 2011, 14:26 pm
@HHS(Hop Hop Spinnekop)-2: only one team playing this week-end?
8 Jun 2011, 14:34 pm
Ok, this is a bit much…there’s quite a few other exciting games going n this weekend
8 Jun 2011, 14:35 pm
and these 2 shouldnt make the mistake of putting too much emotional energy into this game when the race ain’t over yet….reds made that mistake against the crusaders and forgot the comp is far from over
8 Jun 2011, 14:41 pm
STOP TALKING ABOUT THIS GAME LIKE THE STORMERS HAVE ALREADY WON!!!!!
Don’t you people know anything about commentators curse? And how it’s magnified times ten when published on Keo.co.za??? Come on, let’s see an article proclaiming the Stormers as “great Pretenders’ and “burnt out” or perhaps “too single-faceted and impotent on attack”. Or is it no longer the 2010 season?
Keo and Co. you guys have little to no worthy insight into the outcomes of games and in fact rugby in general. When you think my team will win my heart sinks.
8 Jun 2011, 14:46 pm
And also, yes, try talking about any of the other 3 teams in the conference or for that matter turn your considerable journalistic skill and knowledge towards a team outside of South Africa. Can’t do it? No insights into any team other than the ones with your mates in it (Stormers and Bulls)? What a surprise.
8 Jun 2011, 14:50 pm
What’s the count now – six threads on this weekend’s game?
@Tarlo(Tarlo)-8:
We haven’t reached the quota yet – they need to have 20 threads on the Stormers/Bulls game by the time we reach Saturday…
8 Jun 2011, 15:33 pm
Lots of talk, just like the run up to the Currie Cup final.
Bulls will win at Newlands.
8 Jun 2011, 16:30 pm
Bulls have to accept the shift in power – they’ve had a good time of it lately – party’s over!
8 Jun 2011, 19:44 pm
“We’re not trying to beat the Bulls now to avoid playing them in a potential play-off”….????
Huh? Now that you mention it Sulk, are you sure you dimwit dumfk?
8 Jun 2011, 19:49 pm
Please Bulls. Do us all a favour….. You Boooollly boois win and then Saturday and next week on Keo will be fun.
I… HG… humble Keo blogger… will be sure to let the brokeback breezer fanboy bravados know about the “unfortunate and unlucky” loss of their idols till the end of next week.
Christmas come farking early.
Thank you Bullies. (Elsadt in ICU for a night will be cherry on top)
8 Jun 2011, 19:56 pm
Burger is 100% spot-on!!! The Bulls have proved too many times to mention that they have the mental and physical capability to climb back into the ring and go the distance..when they want to. I sense they want to keep the trophy.
I do not envy the Stormers one bit…they’ve been in this position before and did not have the kahoonas to stay the distance.
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.