Van Aswegen in Stormers hot seat
24 Jan 2012
Gary van Aswegen will start at flyhalf against the Lions this Friday and appears to be the favourite for the position in the coming Super Rugby competition.
Stormers coach Allister Coetzee has picked his strongest possible side for the pre-season clash at Newlands. Schalk Burger is back to skipper the side after sitting out of last week’s hit-out in Wellington, while a whole host of established players return to the line-up for the first serious warm-up for the Cape franchise.
Coetzee has excluded several frontline players due to injury. Lock Andries Bekker and No 8 Duane Vermeulen are only expected to be fit for the fourth pre-season clash with the Kings while lock Rynhardt Elstadt could play against the Cheetahs next week. Dewaldt Duvenage will start training with the squad next week and Wicus Blaauw is also expected to be back in the mix.
Otherwise Coetzee maintains that the side selected is one of his strongest. Van Aswegen has been entrusted with the flyhalf duties and the Stormers coach has hinted that the Ole Gunnar Solskjaer look alike could play himself into the starting side for that opening Super Rugby game against the Hurricanes on 25 February.
Since Peter Grant is currently in Japan and won’t be back until the Kobe Steelers are knocked out of that local club tournament, Van Aswegen has a chance to make the No 10 shirt his own.
‘Gary suffered from a serious injury in last year’s Currie Cup and we want him to play as much as possible alongside Jean de Villiers and Juan de Jongh [in these pre-season games],’ said Coetzee. ‘We’ve got to build some momentum and ensure that these combinations gel.
‘I’m not sure exactly when Peter will be back or whether he will come back in one piece, so we have to push on with our plans. Gary has looked very sharp and he has a big opportunity now.’
Coetzee added that matches against the Lions and Cheetahs would serve as good preparation ahead of the competition proper and that he and his assistant coaches would be focusing on quality of performance rather than the scoreline.
Stormers – 15 Joe Pietersen, 14 Gio Aplon, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Gary van Aswegen, 9 Louis Schrueder, 8 Nick Koster, 7 Siya Kolisi, 6 Schalk Burger (c), 5 De Kock Steennkamp, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Deon Fourie, 1 Steve Kitshoff.
Subs: 16 Tiaan Liebenberg, 17 Deon Carstens, 18 Frans Malherbe, 19 Don Armandt, 20 Reuben Johannes, 21 Nizaam Carr, 22 Nic Groom, 23 Burton Francis, 24 Marcel Brache, 25 Gerhard van den Heever, 26 Danie Poolman.
By Jon Cardinelli
94 Comments
Pages: « 1 [2] Show All
24 Jan 2012, 15:25 pm
@Bok fan-49: Yes he does play that way, doesn’t he?
But I’d still rather have him come on for Tiaan, because then you have him in the mix in the second half.
For my money I would have gone and recruited a decent opensider. Our youngsters are still a year or so away from being ready in that postion.
24 Jan 2012, 15:26 pm
@grant10-12: Really Grant? Your sports team is like your family, you can’t desert them when they screw up, you just keep loving them.
If you feel that way then good riddance, go join the Bulls brigade.
24 Jan 2012, 15:29 pm
@wpjoulekkading-52: Aah, and if they do happen to win while Alistair is there please don’t suddenly become a fan..
24 Jan 2012, 15:30 pm
On the plus side if deon fourie is playing at 6 he won’t be throwing in at the lineouts.
24 Jan 2012, 15:32 pm
@stormersboy-51: Deon Fourie should be only considered as a hooker. There are loads of good loosies. If he’s not good enough, which i think he’s not, he has to play vodacom cup.
He’s not a good scrummager, a lightweight in the tight-loose and not a very good lineout thrower. All that should be overlooked because he can possibly fill the “fetcher role”? Ludicrous!!!
24 Jan 2012, 15:36 pm
@pompies2-55: Read my post again. That’s exactly what I said
24 Jan 2012, 15:37 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther-54: Yes. It freaks me out. Much like Schalk Britz, it doesn’t matter how good you are in the loose if you lose all your lineout throws.
24 Jan 2012, 15:38 pm
@stormersboy-56: one thousand apologies. I’d go as far as saying they should get another decnt hooker as backup. Liebenberg won’t be able to play the whole season as a starter.
24 Jan 2012, 15:39 pm
@stormersboy-51: Ja agree, hasnt exactly been the best recruiting this year for the Stormers, too much confusion up top perhaps
24 Jan 2012, 15:40 pm
@wpjoulekkading-53: I HAVE BEEN A SUPPORTER SINCE 1976
WILL ALWAYS BE A SUPPORTER PLONKER!
JUST NOT GOING TO GO TO THE GAMES TILL WE GET AN OPENSIDER
STOP CRYING MAN
IT IS MY DECISION
NOT YOURS
NOW GO CHANGE YOUR PANTY
24 Jan 2012, 15:40 pm
@stormersboy-57:
Dixie was the last decent hooker the stormers had.
They should have converted luke to a number 2.
24 Jan 2012, 15:46 pm
@pompies2-58: All of them accepted
@the artist formerly known as gunther-61: I always though we missed out on a gem there. Great all-round game.
Looked like a newborn first love doll though, maybe that’s why no one took him seriously.
Thinking of Luke makes me want to go no 2.
24 Jan 2012, 15:46 pm
@grant10-60: does my earlier post even affect you view on the fetcher discussion? I’d like you to present a rugby response and not some Flo or Brussouw infatuation.
Others might even accept your response as a student of the game.
24 Jan 2012, 15:53 pm
“Controversial New Zealand referee Bryce Lawrence will not travel to South Africa to officiate Super Rugby matches after he refereed the Springboks in their 11-9 Rugby World Cup quarterfinal defeat against Australia.”
Zanzar onderskat ons geduld. Ons sal vir hom wag!
24 Jan 2012, 15:54 pm
@pompies2-63: schalks body type is a no no as an opensider….niether does he have the brain for the role….I have been impressed with Rohan Kitshoff….
Schalk will be murdered at the breakdown , as he has been for the last 8 / 9 years….
Minnie will sort him again…..not to mention Brussow, Pocock, The young Sader chap Todd, etc , etc….
We just dont learn…..
24 Jan 2012, 15:58 pm
@grant10-65: Sorry G10. Not convinced. If body type is the crux of your argument, then I’m sticking to my viewpoint. have you read my take on opensiders in my earlier post?
24 Jan 2012, 15:59 pm
This thread is like a time machine. Didn’t we have this exact same scenario a year ago? It was also in the build-up to the pre-season friendlies that the names of van Aswegen, Coleman, Cronje etc were thrown around. There was much desperate hopefulness among the Stormers fans here about each of the 6 or so candidates, and much smirking among just about everyone else. How is it that a year has passed and they’re still struggling to answer the very same question/
24 Jan 2012, 16:04 pm
@>^..^< katman-67: Who cares. It’s about the Stormers and everyone (including the non stormers supporters) seem to love to talk about them all day.
It’s not like no one ever repeats themselves on this blog….
24 Jan 2012, 16:06 pm
Almost time to don my tinfoil hat.
24 Jan 2012, 16:06 pm
@stormersboy-68: If everybody down at Polsmoor has sloppy pap every day, it doesn’t necessarily mean they like it.
24 Jan 2012, 16:08 pm
@>^..^< katman-70: Sorry? Cant’ hear you with my tinfoil hat on. It acts as a shield. Drowns out all the bullshit.
24 Jan 2012, 16:12 pm
@>^..^< katman-70:
hehehe
that’s like saying people just wonder down to pollsmoor and lock themselves up…!!
not like you or anyone else is locked into keo or to the stormers threads…
24 Jan 2012, 16:15 pm
@ufo-72: My metaphor. I decide what applies.
24 Jan 2012, 16:17 pm
@>^..^< katman-73:
hahaha…
24 Jan 2012, 16:24 pm
@pompies2-66: read it….interesting…but flawed….will discuss with you soon..damn busy currently
24 Jan 2012, 16:56 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther-61:
They actually had the powerful Stellenbosch Varsity Cup captain and 2011 player of the VC in the ranks too… and… let him slip through the ranks… he’s on the bench for the Lions…
24 Jan 2012, 17:01 pm
Can I take off my tinfoil hat now
Is it safe
24 Jan 2012, 17:15 pm
@Dawn-77: Yip. Apart from the giant protrusion growing out of my neck everything seems to be OK.
24 Jan 2012, 17:19 pm
@grant10-60:
Oooo, big strong man using capital letters.
Trust me, no crying, more like a sense of disgust.
You came on here posting “no f**** more” etc, looking for some reaction, you got some reaction, now take your medicine and go cry into your teacup as you sit on the couch and watch the rugger on the telly.
24 Jan 2012, 17:20 pm
@>^..^< katman-67:
Second season in a row and it’s AC flying by the seat of his pants a couple of weeks before kick off. But this year, he’s cleverly managed to get rid of some of our best prospects and established regulars.
Marvelous.
Anyway, as a loyal and faithful Stormers fan, I think I need to contribute and help the cause this season.
So I am busy making 2 x A1 posters of an arsse and an elbow highlighted with luminous arrows, with the words ‘ARSSE’ and ‘ELBOW’ written at the bottom of the respective picture of said appendages in size 72 bold text, and sending them by DHL to Newlands for AC to pin on his wall.
Who knows, maybe at the start of next season it might have sunk in and he may be able to tell the difference…
24 Jan 2012, 17:23 pm
@Dawn-77:
Keep it on. I’ll bet you rock the tinfoil look
24 Jan 2012, 17:25 pm
@pompies2-44: Pompies
We’ve had this discussion before.
Of course counterrucking is a very important element of defensive systems. However, I believe fetchers or deck players have specialist roles in attack and in defense and that you cannot depend on counterrucking solely.
Let’s consider defense, arguably the most important part of a deck player’s job description. You are right in that most modern defensive systems aim to shut down the space of attacking players in which they need to make decisions, with a tackler and tackler assist defending on the ball more frequently vis-a-vis the carrier than in the past. In modern defensive systems, the non-tackler’s positioning and anticipation are as key to the defensive line as that of the tackler and tackler assist.
The fetcher’s role in any defensive system, if he is not the tackler in a particular phase, is to be a defensive interpreter. He needs to slow down the opposition’s ball at appropriate rucks. But – and this is the first key point – the very best opensiders can make a difference even if you don’t dominate the collision point by just stifling opposition momentum that split second longer.
Defensive opensiders need to play a support or continutity function at most rucks (not every ruck, as no player can attend all the rucks all the time) and cherry-pick the rucks that they enter – this is my second key point and essentially what seperates the wheat from the chaff. A top fetcher, even though he positions himself to enter most rucks, only enters those rucks where he has the best chance of laying his hands on ball to slow it down, and allow the defensive line to reorganise.
A low body position and center of gravity are useful attributes – why? Because it is more difficult to counterruck an opponent with a low body position effectively, and sometimes results in counterruckers falling over their feet at a ruck, giving away a penalty.
And of course – opensiders, in their quest to position themselves in close proximity to most rucks (but not necessarily enter them) will make the most tackles in a game, particularly in early phases.
Now consider attack. Opensiders need to assist ball carriers as continuity players more often than other players, to assist the ruck as the first supporting player. Ball carriers entering collusion might stay on their feet or go to ground, and as the first supporting player, the opensider need to secure or speed up possession, particularly if defensive lines are well organised or if first phase possession was not ideal.
I guess anticipation is a key word here. Burger will never be an effective 6 as he is a hybrid player (and a superb one at that), with no clear job description on the park. A fetcher has his mind focused on what I’ve described above, and if you are focused on a particular objective from the outset, you will have a greater chance to succeed than someone who is expected to perform across the board functions.
24 Jan 2012, 17:31 pm
@stormersboy-78:
your head?
24 Jan 2012, 17:37 pm
The Stormers are a f’cking wasteful lot.
Dimitri Katrakilis was brilliant for them in the currie cup. He won a player of the months award and WP only lost when he was out injured.
Now he is fifth in the pecking order after Grant, van Aswegen, Francis and Coleman.
Stuff you Stormers.
Sharks and Lions are my favs this year.
24 Jan 2012, 17:46 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther-83:
24 Jan 2012, 18:02 pm
Foil on head dodging incoming!
24 Jan 2012, 18:56 pm
At last a break of the mid summer boredom, a welcome change
And it comes with a bonus in terms of Aplon on the field, the wing who scored twice vs The Mighty Namibia last RWC in NZ!
24 Jan 2012, 19:10 pm
@wpjoulekkading-79: sorry wp…never saw the bloody caps till i drukked the send…my bad…
ons wp manne moet vas staan…wil nie met n u baklei nie
ek raak net befok met scalkie as n no fetch vokkall fetcher…dis al
24 Jan 2012, 19:18 pm
This is not the last warm up game, the Greek will play unless he is injured. Coleman was injured, Francis is new and needs assessed, Van Aswegen is returning from injury as well. The Greek played most of the Currie Cup last year.
Patience…
24 Jan 2012, 19:22 pm
Deon Fourie is a far better hooker prospect than Liebenberg in a tight affair where a game breaker is required at the coal face of the breakdown
And Van Aswegen far better fly half prospect than Catrakillis
Frans Malherbe , Eben Etzebeth , Rynhardt Elstadt, Siya Kolisi , Nick Koster , Reuben Johannes , Nizaam Carr , Louis Schrueder , Juan de Jongh , Joe Pietersen also all rearing to show what they got.
24 Jan 2012, 19:50 pm
@grant10-88:
Fair enough, ek was ook so bietjie van a ‘n drol.
I just don’t want province boytjies buying into the constant propaganda stream coming from the rest on this blog.
About the fetcher, is a bit of a pity, but I reckon there are a few plans in place for the fetching, regardless of what Alistair says to the media. No-one could watch the WC this year and not see how crucial fetchers were.
I do believe that it is possible to have a loose trio sharing jobs, but it needs a mighty fine balancing act.
Fourie is a bit lig in die broek, but maybe he can bulk up a bit more. And he is a little bit better in that sense than Brits, at least he doesn’t hang around in the backline so much when he is picked at 2.
For the line-out throwing I just don’t get it, surely that is a skill any 2 should be able to learn? I mean scrumming obviously has a lot to do with body type, but there is no reason the likes of Fourie and Brits cannot be great line out throwers. I suspect the reason Fourie struggles a bit is more a lack of practice (and game-time) with this jumpers with Liebenberg at the front of the queue.
24 Jan 2012, 19:52 pm
@ashampoopaloo-90: deon is a good contributor in the tight (and loose) stuff. His set pieces could use a bit (lot) of work.
I agree with you on Van Aswegen. A lot more to offer than karlkikilus.
25 Jan 2012, 04:13 am
Quite a few new names (for me) in that squad. Good to see some young blood comming through….. can they cut the mustard in S15 though? Will know shortly I guess.
25 Jan 2012, 04:25 am
@grant10-12:
Jeez Grant, I swear you have more female hormones than male ones………and a monthly cycle to boot!
Pages: « 1 [2] Show All
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.