Perspective to cure the pessimism
28 Jun 2011
RYAN VREDE writes that while the Crusaders are formidable opponents, any suggestion that the Stormers are underdogs doesn’t stand up to examination.
I sense an air of pessimism around Saturday’s fixture at Newlands and sadly it emanates from the South African rugby fraternity, and most notably those whose allegiance is to the Stormers. Why is this?
The Crusaders have play-off pedigree, certainly. The memory of their victory in Cape Town in May is still fresh and they have world-class talent at their disposal, coached by astute men. The Stormers’ folding in their three biggest home games of this season, is, I’m sure, a contributing factor.
However, they butchered a plethora of opportunities against the Crusaders and Bulls, and it must be noted that they went into those matches without flyhalf Peter Grant.
And how easily we forget that the Saders have lost three from three semi-finals in South Africa in the last four years, admittedly to very good Bulls teams. Furthermore, they were never in those games, losing 27-12 in 2007, 36-23 in 2009, and 39-24 in 2010.
We lamented the impact of travel fatigue prior to and post the Sharks’ defeat to the seven-time champions last week. Why is it that when, after a physically taxing play-off and an 11 000km journey to the Republic, the Crusaders are somehow immune to the debilitating effects of long-haul travel?
Is it that they will be so galvanised by the throngs of their Cape-based supporters to the point were fatigue is a non-factor? That would be ludicrous, although it is undeniable that they will feel less of an intimidating atmosphere than they have at Loftus for their previous three semi-finals.
A talented group they are, and the Stormers will have to be very good on the day to beat them, but there has been very little perspective when assessing the Crusaders’ chances.
They’ve never spent more than eight nights in their own beds at any point of the season, travelling between Christchurch, Nelson and Timaru for home fixtures, and as far as Twickenham for their league-phase match against the Sharks. This sandwiched between trips to Australia and a tour to South Africa.
History also holds some telling pointers. In the past 15 seasons of Super Rugby, only twice has a side made a long-distance journey (i.e. not semi-finals contested between sides from Australia and New Zealand) and won. The Sharks did so in 1996, beating the Reds in Brisbane, while the Highlanders were the last Australasian side to win a play-off in South Africa, beating the Stormers in 1999. It is also important to bear in mind that those tournaments featured 11 league-phase matches and no qualifier. The Crusaders have already played 16 games (the drawn game after the Christchurch earthquake excluded).
It is also pertinent to note that the Stormers earned a bye week for finishing second on the combined log. They should come into the contest in better physical and mental shape than the visitors. Also, this is a team that is likely to field nine Springboks in their run-on 15, with another, Schalk Brits, on the wood.
Again, it is important to stress that any victory will be hard earned. But defeat in front of close to 50 000 of their supporters, and against a team that has trekked across the globe, will be an indictment on the Stormers’ lack of mettle, more so than it will be indicative of the Crusaders’ quality.
22 Comments
28 Jun 2011, 11:19 am
crusaders are not as good as so many journos make out. play smart and accurate rugby and they have problems. not many teams have been that smart of accurate this year. too much sloppy defending in general has helped them. Stormers must lay in to them. new zealanders do not like that much.
28 Jun 2011, 11:58 am
Yes we can !
28 Jun 2011, 12:29 pm
Agree 100% with Ryan, there’s no way the Stormers are underdogs, they had a week bye to freshen up while the Crusaders got smashed ruck time against the Sharks. I have never seen the Crusaders turn so many ball over from counter rucking, I reckon they tired and fatigued. Travelling to CPT facing a refreshed and motivated Stormers will be no easy task! Remember the Stormers lost against the Bulls because we had to travel from overseas and even then if Habana wasn’t past his sell by date he could have scored in the dying moments. My money is on the Stormers
28 Jun 2011, 12:32 pm
@Blitzbok(Blitzbok)-1: First off it takes a special team to be here at this end of teh comp after what they have been through and many times without their Captain. So they are in fact a awesome team.
Ryan you say Grant was not playing in the 2 games , well in the crusaders game they fielded what was basically their 2nd to at times 3rd choice backline and still won away from home. Make no mistake this is a awesome team. Having said all that , this is a awesome Stormers team as well , finalist last year , playing at home , best defensive record , 75%win ratio on tour and this done with 3rd choice flyhalfs and a host of new comers like Elkstad and Sadie. So all is not gloom , I expect us to win and win comfortably this weekend but because we a very good team up against a equally good opponent but we want it more , are more rested and are playing at home !!
28 Jun 2011, 13:24 pm
all i can say is I am officially in heaven!
Have secured 2 x the best tickets in the Stadium ……and have trhem in my paws as we speak!!!!!!
Mr Mangold….my huge thanks!
28 Jun 2011, 13:25 pm
@grant10(grant10)-5:
Congratulations
28 Jun 2011, 13:30 pm
Now that the Sharks are out of the comp I hope the Stormers can keep the SA flag flying, the Crusaders should be just as worn down by the travel as the Sharks were, if not more as they keep going on about how they have been travelling the whole season having not playing in Chrischurch.
28 Jun 2011, 13:44 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Drlkbje6W1s
Great memories. Hope this weekend won’t disappoint.
@grant10(grant10)-5: Congrats! We’re going earlier again to see the crowd/riot when the buses arrive. It would be the sweetest of victories if we win.
28 Jun 2011, 13:50 pm
@grant10(grant10)-5: Congrats !! U deserve it after ALL ur loyal support !!! Happy for you , genuine !
28 Jun 2011, 13:55 pm
@WP Till I Die(WP-Forever)-6: @Caper(Caper)-8: @sparticus(sparticus)-9: thanks gents…..
Stormers by 10…..
Go boys!
Seems Conrad back at 15
so a tough call for AC for midfield as surely Aplon and Habana will start on wings….
28 Jun 2011, 14:09 pm
Keo and co… what about the other semi final? Or is it not important because it is overseas teams??
28 Jun 2011, 14:23 pm
@grant10(grant10)-10: Enjoy it mate! I’ll be watching on the box, the wife’s turning 40 so i thought it would be a bit insensitive to go to the Rugby lol…..
28 Jun 2011, 14:30 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-12: congrats to the ladies….
naughty 40 s ….
you in for a great decade mate!
28 Jun 2011, 14:59 pm
Bollux to the pessimism. Stormtroopers to bring it home. We finished second on the log inspite of having the halfbacks introduce themselves to each other week after week. Now we have our first choice backs available and rested and a team that has felt the pain of losing the big finals games in the last year. Stormers know they have the staff and the gameplan to go all the way and what they need to do. shame there is no Duane but we have enough grunt for the job. Time to ignite.
28 Jun 2011, 15:10 pm
i’m confused, is this a love letter to the stormers or the crusaders?
28 Jun 2011, 15:11 pm
i’m confused, is this ‘article’ a love letter to the stormers or the crusaders?
28 Jun 2011, 15:13 pm
With the stormers injuries I think this weekend is going to be a hill to big to climb. without the crusaders main men the stormers lost at home.
28 Jun 2011, 18:08 pm
Go Schalk Burger’s Stormer’s!
29 Jun 2011, 03:00 am
I can’t understand how the stormers could be underdogs. Rested, home game etc.
I really thought they would win last year but they ran out of steam at the end. Surely they have got a strong chance. I prefer crusaders over stormers but I think stormers will win.
29 Jun 2011, 04:18 am
19 Waster..totally agree…you forgot the mitigating factor…FOUR SOUTH AFRICAN OFFICIALS, no travel , week off, no fatigue, home ground advantage and everything to win!!! Having mentioned the official thing, I have to admit even as a Crusader supporter I would have been furious over last weeks reffing if I was a Sharks supporter. It really gives cause to use ‘neutral’ refs for these sort of games…except for Wayne Barnes
29 Jun 2011, 04:59 am
@captain fantail(captain fantail)-20: I have to admit even as a Crusader supporter I would have been furious over last weeks reffing if I was a Sharks supporter. It really gives cause to use ‘neutral’ refs for these sort of games…well said.
Will the ref be a factor is this game too???
29 Jun 2011, 14:52 pm
Using a ref of the same country will always be a bad call particularly if the losing team is the visitor….this weekend will b no different unfortunately.
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