Saders wary of Bash’s boot
30 Jun 2011
Dan Carter says the Crusaders will have to play smart and disciplined rugby in order to limit Peter Grant’s goal kicking threat.
The Stormers flyhalf has only played in nine of his team’s 16 games this season because of injury, but his boot has been central in their run to the semi-finals.
With a success rate of 85%, Grant is the most accurate goal kicker in Super Rugby this year. This has been pivotal in his Stormers’ close victories, notably in their triumphs over the Cheetahs (21-15) and Highlanders (18-6) at Newlands and the Bulls (23-12) and Sharks (16-6) away from home as he slotted 22 penalties and one conversion in those four victories.
Two hundred and thirty five of the Stormers’ 400 points have come from shots at goal. With wet weather expected in Cape Town on Saturday, goal kicking is set to shape the outcome once more.
However, the Stormers have lost three home matches this year – against the Reds, Crusaders and Bulls. Grant was absent against the Crusaders and Bulls, but those teams proved that a disciplined performance can nullify the flyhalf’s influence. Carter says that is what the Crusaders will aim for this weekend.
‘Peter Grant has been crucial for the Stormers in this regard. He has directed his team well and is a big part of their game. He also hardly misses, so we have to make sure we are disciplined against them. We can’t afford to concede penalties and give Peter shots at goal,’ Carter told keo.co.za.
Carter has been uncharacteristically inaccurate with his won goal kicking, and attributed his ordinary 73% accuracy rate this season to injury, but was confident he’d improve.
Crusaders skipper Richie McCaw echoed Carter’s views on discipline and said they were confident in referee Craig Joubert’s ability to ensure a fair contest.
‘Yes, there seem to be trends that refs set, especially at the breakdown. But we won’t be reading too much into that. We might prepare in a certain way, then find out the ref blows a different way on the day,’ he explained.
‘The boys will just have to adapt. There are things you can change and things you can’t, and we will look at the things we can control. We will need to be disciplined, get front foot ball and match them up front. We also have to take our opportunities. In the last game against the Stormers, one opportunity was the difference between the two teams.’
By Gareth Duncan
22 Comments
30 Jun 2011, 15:24 pm
84.9%
Best in the super 15
P Grant!
30 Jun 2011, 15:28 pm
@grant10(grant10)-1: How many kicks at goal has he had versus his nearest competitors?
30 Jun 2011, 15:31 pm
Crusaders eye history
Thursday, 30 June 2011 9:49 p.m.
In typical Crusader fashion coach Todd Blackadder says the appeal of doing the impossible is a significant motivating factor for his side in its Super Rugby semi-final against the Stormers in Cape Town on Sunday (NZT).
Blackadder said his side was aware of all the talk that they needed to do something that hadn’t been achieved and they were up for the challenge.
“We’ve travelled well, oriented ourselves and there is a real desire and hunger to do well,” he said.
The side was a different side to that which made a similar trip for last year’s semi-final and the players were fresher than on that occasion.
The requirement for success was simple – play well.
“It is critical that we don’t give penalties away because they will kick to the corners and look to use their lineout drive. And they will also kick their penalty goals.
“We need to get good field position and to really play well,” he said.
It had been raining in Cape Town and it was expected to be wet for the game. Blackadder said he was expecting the Stormers would try to punch through the middle of the Crusaders’ defences and had included experienced players like Conrad Jantjes and fullback and Jean de Villiers at second five-eighths with that in mind.
Blackadder was not buying into debate about the inclusion of Schalk Brits, out of the English premiership club Saracens, albeit out of position in the loose forwards and not at hooker.
“That’s something Sanzar will have to look at and deal with,” he said.
“But I do think you have to be real careful bringing in marquee players at this time of year. We don’t really care.
“I doubt it will ever be allowed to happen again. It will be interesting to see what comes out in the wash,” he said.
30 Jun 2011, 15:33 pm
@grant10(grant10)-1: what was lambie’s overall kicking stat?
carter has been rather poor with the boot.
30 Jun 2011, 15:35 pm
errr…how could grants boot be nullified vs the crusaders and bulls when he was injured in that game. He has only been involved in one loss vs the Reds
30 Jun 2011, 15:38 pm
Grants lack of imputes and power with the boot remains his greatest weakness, as he cannot generate enough distance to get his team out of trouble, if the stormers trail in the second stanza, and they are trapped in their 22,feeling the pressure, he wil really be put to the test VERY sternly! An accurate goalkicker none the less. Hope stormers can do it for SA rugby but have some seroius doubts!!
30 Jun 2011, 15:40 pm
Snaaks dat die SpringBok Coach dit nie agter gekom het nie.
30 Jun 2011, 15:43 pm
@Taahirah(Taahirah)-2: not sure….nailed 50 of 59…
@schalk brits has got more x-factor than os(Transformation)-4: not sure….
30 Jun 2011, 15:58 pm
Gwep I can see you are watching my posts. I said the same thing a few days ago. Going to be a huge game for Grant and the Stormers.
30 Jun 2011, 16:05 pm
@grant10(grant10)-8: Me neither, thats why Im asking.
But 50 from 59 aint bad.
30 Jun 2011, 16:52 pm
@Taahirah(Taahirah)-2:
The answers are here:
Stats show Peter Grant’s worth
2011-06-28 22:00Email | Print
Peter Grant (File)
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Cape Town – It’s not just on defence where the Stormers have distinguished themselves from other teams.
While the Cape side’s tackling has been lauded for the past two seasons, their goal-kicking is also better than that of any other side in this year’s Super Rugby tournament.
Peter Grant’s success ratio of 84,7% makes him the most accurate goal-kicker in Super Rugby this season, while his direct opponent in Saturday’s semi-final against the Crusaders, Dan Carter, is 10th on the list with 73,1%.
Grant has succeeded with 50 of his 59 kicks at goal, while Carter has slotted 57 of his 78.
“If your goalkicker has a success ratio of 85%, it will give any side confidence. Peter has been maintaining those high standards for the past two seasons,” said Stormers kicking coach Greg Hechter.
“Schalk Burger, as captain, has a good idea of what the outcome will be if he asks Peter to kick at goal.”
The Stormers have had to make do without Grant for a number of games, but he managed 9 out of 11 kicks against the Cheetahs on his return and was named man-of-the-match.
Even so, there has often been criticism of Grant that his line kicks do not travel far enough.
“It has been a valid point at times. The period that Peter had off in Japan has given him the time to work on that. He is definitely fetching greater distances this year and has more confidence to kick with his left foot,” said Hechter.
It’s encouraging from a South African perspective that the Stormers, Bulls and Cheetahs – in that order – have managed the best goal-kicking ratios.
Morné Steyn, who is expected to wear the Boks’ No 10 jersey, is fourth on the list of goal-kickers with a success ratio of 79%. However, he has also attempted more kicks than anybody else.
Aaron Cruden is the best New Zealand kicker – in second place behind Grant on 80% – but Carter is expected to be the All Blacks’ general in pressure games.
Grant did not make South Africa’s preliminary World Cup squad of 49 players, but a duel with Carter may just be the ideal opportunity to serve the selectors a reminder of his talent.
“Carter is considered the best flyhalf in the world and it may well be an eye-opener for the selectors if Peter does well,” said Hechter.
“Peter de Villiers has said that the door is still open and it’s a good opportunity for Grant.”
Kicking in game situations, of course, is about much more than just aiming to put the ball between the posts. Carter may not be as accurate as South Africa’s best kickers, but is a master of the tactical game.
Hechter’s portfolio as kicking coach is not just to see that the goal-kickers put in the necessary hours at training, but also about planning on how the Stormers will handle the opponents’ kicking game.
Counter-attacking may well be a part of that strategy, especially when Schalk Brits is introduced in the second half.
30 Jun 2011, 16:53 pm
@kaksioek(kaksioek)-11:
Grant has succeeded with 50 of his 59 kicks at goal, while Carter has slotted 57 of his 78.
30 Jun 2011, 17:09 pm
@kaksioek(kaksioek)-12: cool…thanks…have you got lambies stats?
30 Jun 2011, 17:18 pm
Just heard now that Schalk Burger RICA’d his number today and that was what caused the Vodacom Network to crash !!!
30 Jun 2011, 17:37 pm
@Taahirah(Taahirah)-2,
@Taahirah(Taahirah)-10 and @grant10(grant10)-13: And I think he only had 9 or so less kicks than Morne Steyn, I cant find the article now…
Why is this man not Bok #10????
McCaw complaining about the breakdown is rich! You get away with murder and the refs turn a blind eye to your tricks.
30 Jun 2011, 18:15 pm
@grant10(grant10)-13:
Before the QF
Lambie attempted 85 kicks, missing 19: Strike Rate = 78%
30 Jun 2011, 18:34 pm
“Crusaders skipper Richie McCaw echoed Carter’s views on discipline and said they were confident in referee Craig Joubert’s ability to ensure a fair contest.”
McCaw surely doesn’t believe that nonsense of his imagination?
Joubert (and Jonker) will make Bryce Lawrence look as honest as Tappa Henning on Saturday
30 Jun 2011, 19:09 pm
@Melchizedek(Melchizedek)-16: thanks
30 Jun 2011, 19:11 pm
@Melchizedek(Melchizedek)-16: better than M Steyn…..and a far better distributor as well…
But for me…
Butch is still the man
30 Jun 2011, 19:23 pm
@Hondo(Hondo)-17: LOL , remember Skinstad and Tappe ? You lied to me Tappe !! LOL classic !
1 Jul 2011, 05:10 am
The Saders have taken a liking to late and high shots. Bash is going to wacked when he attacks the gain line with a swinging arm. I hope we have a stnad by flyhalf…
1 Jul 2011, 08:35 am
@grant10(grant10)-19:
One has to wonder, in light of these stats, if Morne’s biggest (and maybe only) contribution – his kicking – isn’t so great anymore, then why keep him as the incumbent.
But Lambie is too green IMHO. I’d still rather have Steyn lining up the kicks in a WC final – proven BMT. Grant, I’m not very crazy about, to be honest. So I’d agree on starting Butch in the TriNations and see how he goes.
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