Stormers guilty of unnecessary gamble
30 Jun 2011
JON CARDINELLI says that by adopting an overly defensive mindset the Stormers run the risk of becoming predictable and thus increasingly beatable in Saturday’s semi-final at Newlands.
On Wednesday, Allister Coetzee tried to justify Conrad Jantjes’s selection at fullback. The Stormers’ coach stated that Jantjes was a good defender and a sound tactical kicker. He said that in a territorial battle at a rain-ravaged Newlands, Jantjes could have an important role to play.
On the basis of Jantjes’s form, I’d argue that Coetzee’s faith in the player as a fine positional fullback and great line-kicker is misplaced. I’d also argue that the alternative, Gio Aplon, is just as capable of playing a tactical kicking game, and that starting Aplon at fullback will give the Stormers more attacking, counter-attacking and kicking options.
But the Stormers seem determined to stick to an overly defensive approach. They seem determined to limit their options and favour reactionary tactics. Some will call it conservative, safe and necessary given the expected conditions and pressure of a semi-final. I call it putting all your eggs into one basket.
While the Stormers will need to be sharp on defence, they will also need to take whatever scoring opportunities come their way. Defence will be important, but they can’t stonewall the Crusaders for 80 minutes. There needs to be some variation, or at least the prospect of an attack.
Jantjes has struggled to impose himself on attack since returning from a serious leg injury last year. The opposition don’t recognise him as a threat, and are content to kick on him and wait for the error or the predictable kick return.
It’s a tactic that worked for the Bulls in their victory at Newlands three weeks ago. They kicked relentlessly on Jantjes and Bryan Habana, and when the Stormers’ pair didn’t lose the ball, they inevitably turned it over when they attempted to counter-attack.
Most teams will be wary about kicking on Aplon. While he has done well on the wing for both the Stormers and South Africa, he is better utilised at fullback. On attack, he can come into the backline on both sides of the field. On the counter-attack, he can turn a poor kick into a try at the other end. And in a territorial exchange, Aplon’s underrated left boot can earn the Stormers valuable metres.
There’s nothing special about Janjtes on attack and nothing imposing about his kicking game either. The Stormers’ decision to play him at 15 will be cheered by the Crusaders, as this will allow the visitors to employ their own pressure tactics.
The Crusaders will attempt to pressure the Stormers’ back three with a good kick chase or alternatively wait for Jantjes to kick the ball back. Since the Cantabrians have an imposing defensive system of their own and a superior halfback combination that boast all the necessary attacking skills as well match-winning tactical-kicking accuracy, they have every right to expect that this approach will yield the desired results.
Coetzee argues that if the Stormers’ overly defensive approach doesn’t work, there is still the fall-back option of switching to all-out attack in the second half. In that event, Deon Fourie and Schalk Brits will come off the bench, and Aplon will move to fullback.
But what Coetzee fails to remember is that the Crusaders are particularly good at punishing desperate teams. They crept ahead of the Sharks through the goal-kicking of Dan Carter, and once they had established an eight-point lead, the Sharks were forced to take chances. Kieran Read intercepted a wild pass from Pat Lambie, and from there the Crusaders continued to feed off mistakes caused by the visitors’ increasing desperation.
The Stormers would have been better served to start Aplon at fullback against the Crusaders. They will still be favourites, but starting Jantjes at fullback means the pack and the halfbacks will have to work doubly hard to ensure his deficiencies are not exposed to a game-costing degree.
210 Comments
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30 Jun 2011, 10:44 am
@KWAGGA ROBERTSE(KWAGGA ROBERTSE)-143:
Great stuff Kwagga… That’s how a good man does it…!!
makes me feel my support for the Bulls in finals past was not wasted…
30 Jun 2011, 10:46 am
@Brigadier Van Zyl(Brigadier Van Zyl)-145:
I dont deny anything, I just accept that all commentators are biased in some way. It doesn’t phase me at all.
But to use this info as ammo to further entrench hatred of all things WP, that is just slightly psychotic, dont you think.
(You morning glory ‘crack’ was first class, by the way).
People must also remember that all the ANTI SA supporters in the Cape, be it Super rugby or national, are a huge embarrassment to everyone. They are a seperate entity from the WC rugby supporters.
30 Jun 2011, 10:51 am
@WP Till I Die(WP-Forever)-148: yep it’s me
30 Jun 2011, 10:52 am
Blues and Crusaders marching on
Article By: Tony, Johnson
Monday, 27 June 2011 10:27 a.m.
Two New Zealand teams in the Super Rugby top four is a worthy representation, but now it gets really hard.
The Crusaders get the shorter straw with the longer trip to Cape Town.
It is tempting to recall the moment they were sawn off by Stu Dickenson and his mates in the game at Suncorp Stadium and the unplayed second round match against the Hurricanes as reasons why they have to make this journey, but there were also the losses to the Cheetahs and the Highlanders that have made their already herculean task even tougher.
They are the one team capable of coping with the adversity they have faced and still being competitive, but this is a huge challenge against a rested Stormers side.
After a flat start against the Sharks they came away with a resounding win in Nelson, which will not only boost their confidence, but give them some pointers for the task ahead.
In the first half they simply did get enough numbers to the breakdown, allowing the massive Sharks pack to blow over them. Once they got that sorted there was only one team in it.
They are gathering strength too, with Richie McCaw due back, Sean Maitland looking like he’d never been away, and Sonny Bill Williams showing his class, although he showed a niggly side to his character we hadn’t seen before. He is a better rugby player than he is a boxer, and a far better boxer than he is an actor.
I thought Tom Marshall had a cracking game at fullback, continuing to negate the absence of Israel Dagg, who sadly, like Tony Woodcock and now possibly Anthony Boric is starting to look increasingly unlikely to feature in the All Black plans at least for the Tri Nations.
The Crusaders won’t have too many fears about Newlands. They won there when under strength earlier in the year, and get great support from the Cape Coloured community, much to the disgust of the Stormers faithful, but to travel that distance and take on such a powerful side is asking a lot.
It has been done before in the knockout phase, by the Highlanders in 1999, the same year the Crusaders beat the Reds in Brisbane to create an unlikely all New Zealand final….so who knows, history could repeat.
The draw has worked out a bit better for the Blues, who “only” have to travel to Brisbane, and if they can continue to build on their efforts of the past two weeks they’re not without a shot against the top ranking Reds.
They might even take encouragement from the fact that the two previous occasions that the Reds have topped the round robin table they’ve failed to make the finals, but that’s all a long time ago.
They did well to see off the Waratahs by a comfortable enough margin. Sure, the ‘Tahs were below strength, but still had a massive forward pack and enough form in the past two weeks to be rated a threat.
But the Blues forward pack held them out well, with Ali Williams and Jerome Kaino both outstanding. Williams is getting right back to his irrepressible best, but the loss of his locking partner Boric is a massive blow because it was he who led a very good lineout effort.
The Tah’s managed to expose the defensive frailties of the Blues around the inside channel early on, with Stephen Brett, Luke McAlister, Peter Saili and even the normally impeccable Luke Braid missing tackles.
But the more the game went on, the less possession the Waratahs had to play with, and the threat of Beale and co was pretty much eliminated. Jared Payne was again brilliant.
They are capable of beating the Reds, especially if they get a fairer deal than the Crusaders did from the match officials, but they will have to be at their best, and eliminate the defensive errors.
Much has been made of the dismal crowd at Eden Park, and there are probably a number of reasons for this.
The first is the weather….or more to the point the weather forecast. Once again the “celebrity” forecasters got it wrong with predictions of hail and heavy, squally rain that did not eventuate.
There are issues of ticket prices, the food and drink, the business of getting to a ground locked in a residential area and so on.
There might have been a bit of complacency, or has the expanded format tested the loyalty of the fickle Auckland fans?
The Blues deserved better. They even went cap in hand and appealed for support during the week, but this is a tactic that has been tried and failed before….it almost seems to get the opposite response.
Whatever the reasons, the thought of that sized crowd for such an important game being seen by an international audience is embarrassing.
30 Jun 2011, 10:53 am
Both guests on Reunion this week back the Stormers to take it.
30 Jun 2011, 10:55 am
@Stawm(Stawm)-152:
“(You morning glory ‘crack’ was first class, by the way).”
Was it?
30 Jun 2011, 10:59 am
@Dawn(Dawn)-156:
Brig will be hard to top.
30 Jun 2011, 11:00 am
@schalk brits has got more x-factor than os(Transformation)-154:
Transie, I bet the Saders would fear Newlands if Corne Uys and Barry Geel were playing…
30 Jun 2011, 11:01 am
@willievz(willievz)-158:
Whahahahahahahaha…!
Corne Uys is a “calming” influence…
30 Jun 2011, 11:12 am
@WP Till I Die(WP-Forever)-159:
Hehe, you know it! A willievz-Transie joke.
And Barry Geel.
Tackles made 17. Tackles missed 0.
30 Jun 2011, 11:18 am
@willievz(willievz)-160:
Just one word:
Solid.
30 Jun 2011, 11:19 am
@willievz(willievz)-160: He had possibly the best game of his life that day for sure!
30 Jun 2011, 11:22 am
@Dawn(Dawn)-156:
Leave any personal side out of it. It was wit in the first class.
30 Jun 2011, 11:27 am
Not gonna lie, my hopes aren’t exactly high for Saturday,,, oh well. Next year
30 Jun 2011, 11:30 am
@willievz(willievz)-158: ag, that goes without saying, even if alister had to play nic groom & earl rose as halfbacks, with barry geel @ inside centre chopping up everything in sight and corne uys’ calming influence the saders would be k@k bang!!
30 Jun 2011, 11:34 am
@willievz(willievz)-158: and Transie..
how would Uys go if he wasnt given a leg up by Lawrence in that game… or have you both forgotten?
Brig – your comment on the Saders and their homeground is typical of the knuckle-dragging, horn wearing, pot bellied Bulls fan who is now rather sour because his team proved this season that WITHOUT so many home town refs they cant win a damn thing… jag aan skop as a philodophical way of playing your rugby must be indicative of the cerebral deficiency evidence by the fair weather bulls fan
thank you for proving such…mamparra
30 Jun 2011, 11:34 am
@WP Till I Die(WP-Forever)-159: you laugh! sias benefitted immensely from corne’s calming influence in the same way carter had mauger as his mentor. corne is an unsung hero in my book.
30 Jun 2011, 11:36 am
@schalk brits has got more x-factor than os(Transformation)-167:
I really rated Aaron Mauger.
30 Jun 2011, 11:39 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-166: um, you’re barking up the wrong tree…corne uys didn’t play against the saders, BARRY “sbw killer” geel played @ 12 and made 17 tackles missing 0!!!!
30 Jun 2011, 11:41 am
@schalk brits has got more x-factor than os(Transformation)-167: Merhtens was Carters mentor, Carter playing outside of him at 2nd 5/8th..
30 Jun 2011, 11:42 am
@schalk brits has got more x-factor than os(Transformation)-169: well all you Saffas look the same to me
… thanks for correcting me though.,. my point still stands, the Cheetahs had it just as good with Lawrence in that game as the Saders did last week..
30 Jun 2011, 11:45 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-166:
well, seeing as the crusaders only seem to get home town refs, you’d know.
you watched the sharks game last week right?
30 Jun 2011, 11:51 am
@Brigadier Van Zyl(Brigadier Van Zyl)-172:
Reunion show replayed the “Dangerous Engagement” scrum, joking that Lawrence was making up new rules as he went along.
Has Lawrence received even a slap on the wrist for this?
30 Jun 2011, 11:53 am
@schalk brits has got more x-factor than os(Transformation)-169: @WP Till I Die(WP-Forever)-168: @stormersboy(stormersboy)-162:
My dad’s cousin flanked down in a game against Murray Mexted in the 80s when the latter was having a decent run of form. He told me that in the week leading up to that fixture, he would receive several calls from his mates who told him that Mexted will make mincemeat out of him. Apparently the night before the game his nerves was the worst, further exacerbated by his best friend who called him and mentioned: “So I hear you play against Mexted tomorrow? You are gonna kuk”.
It was there and then that he decided one of two things: either he jumps out of his hotel room now and ending his ordeal in the process, or he will hit Mexted as hard as he could the first time he sees him in a ruck or collides with him. As they scrummed down, on Mexted’s team’s throw-in, he made a grunting noise and grinded his teeth, and eyed a confused Mexted who obviously never saw such an ugly face staring him down.
And he punched Mexted at the first ruck. The rest is history, according to him.
I bet Barry SBW killer Geel had a similar build-up to that fixture, with his mates telling him how much he would kuk against SBW!
30 Jun 2011, 12:13 pm
@Brigadier Van Zyl(Brigadier Van Zyl)-172: one game means they get home town refs?
bwahahaha
not like the 11 of last year that your team got aye?
30 Jun 2011, 12:18 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-171: don’t forget that we also watched that game, lawrence was strict but not as biased as you make it out to be. the cheetahs played a weakened saders side that had come off a bruising game the week before and they took their chances. but it was not the ref whitewash u purport it was.
30 Jun 2011, 12:20 pm
Coetsee is a weak kneed typical conservative thinking JW clone of a coach
Stormers the most one dimensional game plan on the cards
these idiot palookas reckon if you fluke a non contested gimme world cup once playing this archaic load of cowardly trash means its your staple diet patented game plan for evermore
If Boks and Stormers go onto this game playing this dead end hopelessly outdated garbage defense wins games garbage which they likely will do, then I’m top of the list rooting for the other team no matter who they are or pretend to be.
Rugby comes first.. win at all cost cowardly negativity don’t and should not feature in this game ever, and if that has become our staple cowardly approach for the past 8 years and counting then let the team who’s bravest and confident at playing the space and the opportunity take the spoils… Thats my motto.. Stormers and/or Bok supporter that I am, I ain’t about to sell my rugby principles about how the game should be played down the river for a bunch of chicken hearted cowardly negative idiots no matter which colour blazer they wanna pretend they wear.
30 Jun 2011, 12:24 pm
@Stawm(Stawm)-163:
Forgive the slight sensitivity today.
Last night on another thread Valkyrie called me a cheap floosy, amongst other things.
30 Jun 2011, 12:28 pm
In fact here it is:
“• 472.gunther is nazi-loving german rent-boy:
29 Jun 2011, 20:53 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-459: behave like a decent woman and you might get the respect you so crave.you are nothing but a cheap floosy that sullies the decent and respected name of coloured women,some who have gone through hardship to educate and better themselves.have you ever wondered why white pigs don’t respect coloured women ?let me tell you…it’s because of women like you on this blog that are morally corrupt and who cheapens themselves to gain favour of their former colonial masters.”
30 Jun 2011, 12:30 pm
If there is one franchise that can change the way Stormsader fans think it is the Stormers (and possibly the Cheetahs if they improve their defence) . As far as i can see the Stormers are the best rugby footballing side in SA at the moment and I predicted at the beginning of the season that if they got it right (selection and confidence) that they could become unstoppable. What has really helped them is having Elstadt step up big time into the breach and give the tight five some aggression. Their defence is outstanding but they also have some of the best rugby footballers in SA in their backline and with the youth coming through they can start to dominate. Heavens forbid that this happens as we will never live it down, however for this weekend my money and support is firmly on the Stormers. GO show these Kiwis how we can play rugby guys with brains.
30 Jun 2011, 12:32 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-179: You tell that little piece of lowlife trash to go stick his half bred garbage head up his half bred garbage arse Dawn… little piece of garbage excuses of lowlife scum like that got no place advising you anything… garbage mongrels like that belong in the gutter that they were spawned in and that is who they are and will ever be.
30 Jun 2011, 12:39 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-175:
you do of course realize the bulls have won 3 s14′s right.
beating the crusaders in all 3 semis?
mmmm, sounds like sour grapes.
everyone on the planet knows the antipodean refs are the kakkest out there.
30 Jun 2011, 13:02 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-178:
Dawnie… You shouldn’t be the one apologising… It was a very un-funny, tired, hackneyed, heard-a-million-times-before, childish, crass, sexist attempt at humour at your expense…
IMO both TheBrig and Stawm should be apologising to you…
30 Jun 2011, 13:04 pm
brig
no argument on the antipodean refs, they’re as useless as SA coaches.
as for sour, the only sour one was yourself with your comments about the saders home ground.
3 titles, well done, still not Half as many as the saders huh? knew maths wasn’t your strong point.
by the way, I’m not even a saders fan, but my team STILL has as many super titles as the Bulls and they still have a chance to get one this year, does yours?
30 Jun 2011, 13:06 pm
@ufo(ufo)-183:
would either blogger… (sorry just can’t bring myself to call them men)… tell such a joke to their wives, mothers or daughters…???
thought not…
their bravery is linked directly proportionally to their anonymity…
nuff said…
30 Jun 2011, 13:16 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-184:
lol……nobody is ever going to top the drubbing the kiwi finalists got in 2009
but that was the ref right?
and let’s face it, the tournament and travel has always been heavily lopsided in kiwi favor.
only now do you guys have 3-5 week tours.
and the travel fatigue issue will never properly be resolved until the kiwi/ozzie continental shift moves a hell of a lot quicker tha 1mm per year towards the west. Because science proves that travelling east to west is easier on the “system”.
anyway, here’s hoping the reds and stormers fck you inbreds up so you bugger off until the worldcup.
30 Jun 2011, 13:23 pm
@ufo(ufo)-185:
what a soft and sensitive twat you are.
you are of course assuming Dawn is a female.
Because, “Dawn” is as vague as is “Brigadier”. For all you know, I could be chirping my best mate?
yes, it probably is sexist….but then, we are on a rugby blog.
So there you go, you want girl talk…go to sarie .com or whatever.
30 Jun 2011, 13:25 pm
@Brigadier Van Zyl(Brigadier Van Zyl)-186:
**** Piet.
Because for every journey a SA Takes East…………… they take one home again West.
and vice-versa.
For every journey a Australasian Team takes West. …………….they return home East.
Where is any Team disadvantaged?
Travel is a factor. Not an excuse.
30 Jun 2011, 13:25 pm
brig and Tact
Gaan was julle motors en vat die vrouens na doe Malls julle twee bitter blikesems!
Kyk Wimbeldon se vrouens finaal Saterdag, los die groot rugby uit julle moegoes….
Die game is tussen die main manne….nie die bliksem se 7 de plen span nie!
30 Jun 2011, 13:27 pm
@Brigadier Van Zyl(Brigadier Van Zyl)-187: you not even a bloody troep you bitter bliksem…
and by the way Dawn is a lady you wally!
30 Jun 2011, 13:29 pm
@Brigadier Van Zyl(Brigadier Van Zyl)-187:
“you are of course assuming Dawn is a female”.
Now you are just being stupid Herr Van Zyl.
Very stupid.
30 Jun 2011, 13:31 pm
travel brig? seriously lol
the saders and reds have dispelled that theory last year, beating opposition 1st game flying back feom SA. they may have done it this year too?
what say you of travel If the saders win this weekend? they flew in the wrong direction?
grab a bigger straw mate, it makes it much easier to clutch
30 Jun 2011, 13:48 pm
@Brigadier Van Zyl(Brigadier Van Zyl)-187:
Brig… We all know Dawn down here… so you’re not chatting to your best mate… you know it… we know it…
not only is Dawn a female… she is a lady… and enjoys banter and humour along with everyone else… but if you believe because it’s rugby it means stooping into the gutter… then i pity your family… if you were watching rugby at home on the telly do you speak to them like that…?
of course not… so it’s got nothing to do with rugby… it’s got everything to do with hiding behind a pseudonym…
your assertion that sexism is okay because we’re on a rugby blog is just really very sad… i sincerely pity you…
if you were the big brave man you masquerade as… you’d be big enough to apologise to Dawn and admit you are wrong… but we won’t hold our breaths…
30 Jun 2011, 13:48 pm
@cane(cane)-188:
The flight path itself is a red herring.
It is the amount of time spent within foreign borders that is the crux.
30 Jun 2011, 13:53 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-192:
dude, even the antipodean players admit as much.
@cane(cane)-191:
why,I haven’t met her…so how would i know?
likewise, you haven’t met me…so you are assuming as much
@grant10(grant10)-189: .
too bloody right i’ll be watching the womans final, hopefully that maria shapova is playing. I’d pay to watch her long before paying to watch the stormers.
30 Jun 2011, 13:56 pm
i’m with brig on this one. Dawn is a prawn and a super stirrer! There is a saying in afrikaans : As jy jou lyf toffie appel hou, moenie kla as jy gelek word nie!
30 Jun 2011, 13:57 pm
@ufo(ufo)-193:
no, don’t hold your breathe.
in fact, i am more suspicious that you are indeed a female as well.
regrettably, i don’t stomp my feet and/or go shopping for therapy.
30 Jun 2011, 14:10 pm
@Jorrie_Habana(WO_to_kill_Sir_Elton)-196: @Brigadier Van Zyl(Brigadier Van Zyl)-197:
You both know better.
And are both beyond contempt.
And what is more. You both know it.
30 Jun 2011, 14:20 pm
this piece of trash Brigadier is one piece of garbage snot nose white trash rubbish who likes to try bullsh’t the world that he’s and upstanding toffee nosed goody two shoes morally objective moffie arsehole who respects his fellow man (or woman) – well at lest that’s the bullsh’t baffled brainless garbage he tried selling me, – meanwhile the true fact of the matter is he is outright garbage racist sexist white trash scum of the earth, almost bar none.
And his little poodle naaier bumchum who’s in agreement with him is exactly same kind.
30 Jun 2011, 14:36 pm
@ufo(ufo)-183:
It was a witty line, a play on words. Stop crying already, or take your pills FFS.
Also Dawn wasnt apologising to me directly, she realized that it was just a joke. Humour.
Try it.
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