Stormers aim to smother Steyn
10 Jun 2011
JON CARDINELLI chats to Robbie Fleck about the Stormers’ plans to neutralise Morne Steyn.
The Bulls have racked up some monumental victories over the past few seasons, and Steyn has so often been the difference in the matches that matter. He kicked a difficult penalty to win the 2009 Currie Cup semi-final at Newlands. When the Bulls hosted the Stormers in the 2010 Super 14 final in Soweto, Steyn and Fourie du Preez produced a tactical kicking masterclass to compromise the Cape side’s defence.
But Steyn was well contained when the Stomers visited Loftus Versfeld earlier this season. The home pack was bullied, and so the Bulls’ halfbacks struggled to impose themselves without front-foot possession.
It’s for this reason that Fleck isn’t too worried about the Steyn factor ahead of Saturday’s game. It’s a massive fixture in terms of what’s at stake for the Bulls and Stormers, but the formula for success will be much the same.
‘The Bulls tend to be more adventurous in the early stages, they like to try a few different things at the start of a game. But it shouldn’t take them too long to revert to what they do best. They have a game plan that has won trophies, and when they execute it, like they did in that game against the Sharks, they are hard to stop,’ Fleck told keo.co.za.
‘Their forwards really come at you and they try to put even more pressure on you with their fantastic kicking game. But we have to back ourselves to stand up to that challenge. We have managed to nullify the effect of their kicking game in the past, so it’s by no means a daunting prospect. It all starts with fronting up physically, that will go a long way to negating the impact of their kickers.’
The Stormers have opted to bench their best tactical kicker in Dewaldt Duvenage, and not much is known of Kurt Coleman’s ability with the boot. The 21-year-old flyhalf did well in front of goal last week, kicking five from six, but wasn’t asked to kick much out of hand.
Fleck believes Coleman has the full range of skills to be a success, and added that he should receive the necessary platform from his forwards.
‘He was nervous in that Brumbies game, you could see it in the way he played. On occasion, he sat too deep in the pocket instead of taking the ball flat and getting involved.
‘We told him that we wanted him to take more control in the next match against the Rebels, and his response was incredible. He bought into the change of mindset and really exceeded everybody’s expectations.
‘Obviously a Stormers vs Bulls game is a very different prospect, but he’s made an improvement in all departments, so there’s good reason to feel encouraged.’
On Wednesday, Schalk Burger highlighted the Bulls’ experience and ability to win tight matches as a real threat to the Stormers’ chances. Fleck agreed that the Bulls shouldn’t be taken lightly, but pointed to the growth of this Stormers team over the course of their 2011 campaign. If they fall short this weekend, it won’t be for a lack of unity.
‘We matured as a group on that tour to Australasia. It goes to show how a tour can bring people closer together.
‘By the end, we were in a really good head space and were playing some decent rugga too. There were some difficult times and we were honest with ourselves after the match against the Chiefs, but that only made us tighter as group.’
349 Comments
Pages: « 1 2 3 4 5 6 [7] Show All
10 Jun 2011, 21:26 pm
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-300: LOL. Yeah man, go ahead.
10 Jun 2011, 21:28 pm
Only problem is the finishing of the Bokkies. They try to many things instead of doing the basics.
10 Jun 2011, 21:30 pm
Two for Botha, two for Venter.
10 Jun 2011, 21:36 pm
Where is everyone on the eve of the big clash?
10 Jun 2011, 21:41 pm
Bulls have the momentum behind them.. to all intents and purposes the forces of equilibrium should be with the Bully Brekers in the Nuweland Cauldron tomorrow.
However there remain some unnerving negating factors to their surmised superiority
It all hinges around these… can Schalk Burger get out of the shadow of his volk messiah like status and deliver for once when it truly counts? Big If.
Will Stormers be adequately covered to withstand the immeasurable force of a total Bully Breker cohesive onslaught through tight five for total duration of 80 mins? Big If.
Backs won’t come much into play unless from breakdown or broken play scenarios its gonna be a gain line and breakdown trench war of mammoth megatons of muscle and bone crunch exploitative explosiveness.
Januarie and Coleman don’t phase or worry me, but front row, full back, tight five, captaincy credibility, and particularly Schalk Burger’s aptitude for the boneshaker occasion and his mental ability to contain the momentum and meet the megalithic onslaught with quiet steady unflinching resolve and fortitude do.
10 Jun 2011, 21:43 pm
Jy’s Mnr Johan Fourie van uit die VSA … jawohl?
10 Jun 2011, 21:46 pm
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-305: We all know it will be a close game, but Stormers will take it. You can sleep in peace today.
Stormers have a clear advantage in the mid-field, and I think they will shade the breakdown area. Frontrows are well matched.
10 Jun 2011, 21:47 pm
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-306: LOL. Nope. Why don’t you give me 10 names and I’ll break it down to 3.
10 Jun 2011, 21:47 pm
@TheAgent(TheAgent)-308: If I’m in that 10.
10 Jun 2011, 21:49 pm
Pedantic little French cnut
10 Jun 2011, 21:50 pm
Second half disappointing.
10 Jun 2011, 21:51 pm
Bully Brekers know just how much of a life line their mascot Pro die Lagoete gave them last week… more than just a 4 point win… he actually handed them a gilt edged plate of fortuitous favoritism by which to actually go the whole entire hog for one last ditch effort at another bid for their hallowed legacy of brekery supremacy
They know what a gift of manna from out of heaven that was, and now they wanna try capitalize on the favor, one little nonchalant excuse of a megalithic mistake by a partisan non professional official and it practically turned their fortunes from a never never land hopeless extrication from nowhere into a fully fledged opportunity to once again aim for the crown.
Stormers better stop the steam train right there in its tracks or there’s no knowing where it could end up next.
10 Jun 2011, 21:53 pm
@TheAgent(TheAgent)-311:
A bit of balls from the Scots, but sooooo many handling errors.
10 Jun 2011, 21:53 pm
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-312:
You have a way with words. What do you think of the talent in this Baby Bok side?
10 Jun 2011, 21:55 pm
@JockBok(JockBok)-310:
I think your guys were just out muscled. You can see that some of our guys eat red meat while still in the womb.
Hard luck on this one, Jock.
But we stand side by side tomorrow.
10 Jun 2011, 21:55 pm
@JockBok(JockBok)-313: Scots kept on trying, but clearly not up to it. Respect the way they play.
Bokkies too many handling errors as you say. They did well in the first 40, but as with all the SA teams they lose concentration when they are so far ahead.
10 Jun 2011, 21:56 pm
@JockBok(JockBok)-313: Are you Scottish?
10 Jun 2011, 21:57 pm
Sleep well guys, if you can. Tomorrow is a massive game. May the best team win.
10 Jun 2011, 22:00 pm
@I am a stormer(I am a stormer)-315:
How about that TH who came on second half? He’s the size of a f.cking hippo
The Boks missed Goosen when he went off, second half was a bit disjointed and just far too many handling errors by the young Jockies to allow a build up of momentum.
But the second string front row steadied up the scrum a bit and stopped the Boks using it as an attacking platform. Bring on the Poms
10 Jun 2011, 22:00 pm
couldn’t see the baby boks was it on S1 or where?
how did lock Etsebeth and center Jordaan do, if they played?
10 Jun 2011, 22:01 pm
@JockBok(JockBok)-319: What was the England/Ireland score?
10 Jun 2011, 22:02 pm
@TheAgent(TheAgent)-318:
Yes. I live in SA but the heart takes over when the fun starts
10 Jun 2011, 22:03 pm
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-320:
Both had big games as did the no.8. Was on S1.
@JockBok(JockBok)-319:
Good luck to the little Jocks for the rest of the tourney.
10 Jun 2011, 22:08 pm
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-320:
It was on SS1.
Boks were a class above but it turned out quite a scrappy game. Scots played with heart but that didn’t hide the lack of skill they had. Boks were far and away the better side but handling errors stopped any kind of spectacle for the Boks, and any kind of momentum from the Jocks.
10 Jun 2011, 22:09 pm
NZ 64 – Italy 7
Wales 34 – Arg 8
Aus 54 – Tonga 7
Eng 33 – Ire 25
10 Jun 2011, 22:10 pm
@JockBok(JockBok)-322:
Jock, you missed your chance to say
“Och Aye in the Noo”…..bet a Scot has never said that on Keo!!
10 Jun 2011, 22:11 pm
@I am a stormer(I am a stormer)-323:
TA
OK da big bruiser up tomorrow.. its all been psyched up already, now just to watch the cookie unfold and crumble either this a way or that… its already a done deal where the cards are long dealt, now just a case of waiting for the hands to show what they got and what they been dealt. Aces high wins out at the lottery stakes.
10 Jun 2011, 22:13 pm
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-327:
Hi Skop, you will have your hands full with Grant, JustRugby and Robzim…..especially if the Stormers win.
It could get very nosiy!!
10 Jun 2011, 22:13 pm
@I am a stormer(I am a stormer)-323:
The number 8 Botha is quite a prospect. He had a great game. Is he with the Bulls?
But no denying the boy for the future and the big time is Johan Goosen. Maybe I’ve heard too much about him, but man he’s got the goods to make it huge. The whole tempo of the game changed when he went off.
10 Jun 2011, 22:14 pm
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-327:
I am going to phone Robzim to get a bit of ‘atmosphere’ !!!
Hoping to call when Bulls pull into the lead!!
10 Jun 2011, 22:16 pm
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-327:
Are at Newlands tom? If so, I want to hear you.
The Stormpies can do it.
10 Jun 2011, 22:17 pm
@carol(carol)-326:
Hoots mon!!! It’s a braw bicht moonlicht nicht the nicht!!!
10 Jun 2011, 22:19 pm
@JockBok(JockBok)-329:
He’s a good prospect. First time I’ve seen him play. He’s got a good step, quick hands, not afraid to take it up. Definitely one to watch.
10 Jun 2011, 22:20 pm
@carol(carol)-330:
Lol. So how did you go in your bru pick? I hope you’ve picked the Bulls so i can overtake you
10 Jun 2011, 22:20 pm
@carol(carol)-330:
Expect a “missed call”.
10 Jun 2011, 22:23 pm
@carol(carol)-330:
Maybe you know me a little already maybe you don’t… but back at the ranch in spite of all my hallelujah chorusing for Stormers to do the deed and demolish the Flou Nulle in hulle glory in, I’m actually quite a pragmatic sod, I take swings and roundabouts how they are ordained,
I know enough at my debilitated old age to realize rugby games are neither matters of life and death nor are they even matters of stringent urgency in relation to who rules what. In short if the gods so wish that Matfield or Burger come out victorious tomorrow, its already decided in the realms where such stuff transpires and all the little earthlings go wee wee whizzing around in circles of glee or else in abject misery at the inevitable outcome, which has by virtue of force of action and reaction long already been played out in the fields of where such dreams manifest and materialize from.
10 Jun 2011, 22:26 pm
@carol(carol)-328:
yip hands full I guess it shall be.. so better it be a happy full of hands and not a miserable set.
@I am a stormer(I am a stormer)-331:
I reckon we gonna do it, in spite of the marauding monstrous momentum from the north.
10 Jun 2011, 22:32 pm
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-336:
Whether it has been decided or not before a ball has been kicked, we mere mortals have no idea of the result and this is where the fun comes in. But for me, it’s 80 minutes of random happenings and far too many variables to calculate who the victor will be. And there lies the beauty of the spectacle that will be played out at 6pm SA time tomorrow afternoon.
Win or lose, it means nothing in the grand scale of things other than making the evening, and maybe a day or two afterwards, much more enjoyable and keo.co.za a bit more fun for a while.
10 Jun 2011, 22:54 pm
@JockBok(JockBok)-338:
yip that about sums it up, a random cause and effect escapade of give and take exhibit of trial and effort endeavor, men pitting and flexing their muscles in attempt at showcasing their masculinity and bravery, skills and dexterity. And for this we enjoy the spectacle come either the victory or vanquish the only thing that ultimately gets bruised at end of the exercise if anything is the pitifully frail ego of falsely acclaimed identity.
But Stormers to fok these brekers op come what may, any which way the mercy killing spree goes, unless of course destiny wills it otherwise.
10 Jun 2011, 22:58 pm
You should try ice hockey as an exercise in random ricocheting reactionary cause and effect mayhem, pinball don’t even come vaguely close.. and rugby pales into a melodramatic drone of slow ***-for-tat do unto others as ye would have done unto you sowing and reaping showboating affair in comparison. I heard ice hockey remains the mega mayhem sport of all mega mayhem sports devised by the neanderthal race called man.
11 Jun 2011, 01:17 am
Steyn does not need any help to be neutralized.
11 Jun 2011, 06:10 am
Steyn to smother Newlands
11 Jun 2011, 08:51 am
Skop
I’m guessing you’ve never been to an ice-hockey match then ? It’s an absolutely thrilling Luve spectator sport of incredible skill executed at high pace. Neither does it pander to the PC BS that rugby has succumbed to whereby players can sort out nonsense between themselves without spending the next few weeks on the sidelines. And it’s major sport for far more countries than rugby can even aspire to.
11 Jun 2011, 09:37 am
yeah that’s what I’m saying BP ice hockey remains the ultimate mega mayhem sport devised by man. less PC interest and fewer rules and less structured interference and influence by refs.
The puck can ricochet and travel any which way at lightening speed where there is absolutely no foregone conclusion as to who has the inside lane advantage. The fastest team sport on the planet and none of the preconditioned precursors to preordained supremacy.
Though I never been to an ice hockey game I believe it to be the ultimate in absolute thrill per second mayhem and my point was all this predicting bull dust becomes even less significant due to that puck almost developing a will of its own being guided and directed by the sticks of the players and traveling at speeds and trajectorys at lightening velocity which renders the notion of cause and effect in almost the ultimate reactionary condition to be the primary mover and motivation in play.
Saying sport is the vehicle where action and reaction gets played out and witnessed on a field of activity and where allegiances and boasting rights are a consequence of occurrence outside of the passionately persuasive supporters direct influence, and ice hockey shows that up at its ultimate non influenced reality.
11 Jun 2011, 09:46 am
this won’t be a tight game.
stormers will take it comfortably.
not only are the stormers backs much better than the bulls……….
but the forwards are better too.
11 Jun 2011, 09:58 am
that’s quite a statement to make at this juncture charo boetie lets hope you spot on the money.
I lie, I have been to a live ice hockey game albeit a subdued local saffa version at far reduced skills levels and speeds to those exhibited by their north american or canadian or russian or swedish counterparts.
11 Jun 2011, 12:00 pm
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-343:
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-346:
You missed the Finnish, who of course won the World Championship last month beating Sweden. I feel obliged to mention it as I’m working with Finns for the last couple of years
Last months WC was like our RWC to them obviously. Luckily it was on French satellite tv so they got to watch some of the games, but usually they get some guy in Finland to point his web cam at the tv and crowd round a skype connection when the games are on.
I used to go and watch the UK league stuff probably 20 years ago when it was full of Yanks and Canooks in their off season. It’s difficult to explain just how fast and edge of the seat stuff it really is.
11 Jun 2011, 12:41 pm
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-346:
naaah skoppie.
bulls are still rubbish this year………….despite their recent run.
stormers by about 15
12 Jun 2011, 03:51 am
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-344:
OK then, fella, I got you wrong there. I thought you were veering towards a ‘skittle sticks’ analogy – heh heh.
Ice Hockey was the last major sport I had on my list of ‘Must See’s’. Caught a NY Rangers game at MSG a couple of years ago – AWESOME ! It was very blue-collar, truckies and mullets/’hockey-hair’ everywhere. I knew I was in the right place when the 2 x 6/7-yr old girls beside me were on their feet in the 1st 10mins shouting “fight fight fight !!!” as a couple of players laid in to each other – brilliant ! It was also noticeable how expensive all the merchandise was compared to rugby or football – team shirts were USD350+ compared to a ManU shirt (for eg) at about £45 (ie USD40) – which seemed at odds with it clearly being a working mans sport.
Absolutely brilliant game tho – Im hooked and now try and catch every game i can.
@charo(charo)-348:
spot on, again, there Charo……catch a wave, bruv !
Pages: « 1 2 3 4 5 6 [7] Show All
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.