Kaplan to aid Stormers scrum

Kaplan to aid Stormers scrum

31 Jan 2012

Accomplished referee Jonathan Kaplan will work with the Stormers forwards on Tuesday in order to help them adapt to the scrumming laws changes.

The Stormers struggled at this set-piece in last Friday’s warm-up match against the Lions, with referee Jaco Peyper nailing the Cape pack at the point of engagement. Coach Allister Coetzee later explained that the scrum laws have changed slightly since last year, but that Sanzar had failed to notify the teams. In fact, Peyper only told Coetzee about these changes prior to kickoff, and so the Stormers were left to adapt as the game progressed.

Sanzar referees met at the end of last year to discuss the scrum and it was decided that the ‘crouch, touch, pause, engage’ call required a change in cadence. Special precautions will now also be taken to ensure there are no ‘slingshot’ manoeuvres where the No 8 slams into the second row; referees will be looking to front rows to initiate the shove.

‘I feel we played well last week, but there are areas that require improvement like our scrumming,’ said Coetzee. ‘We’ve had a look and we will be having a live scrumming session [on Tuesday] and Jonathan Kaplan will be in to help us.

‘We really need to work as a pack to get this right. It’s all about the timing. I suppose the laws have been changed to make the scrum more stable and the potential for collapsed scrums is decreased when the force is no longer coming from behind in a slingshot motion. The props will initiate the hit.’

What will hamper the Stormers’ strive for synergy is the fact that Coetzee is likely to make several changes to his side for this Saturday’s game against the Cheetahs. Coetzee maintains that the entire squad needs to adapt to these scrumming laws, and that he also has to stick with his pre-season plans to give every player a fair amount of game-time.

Andries Bekker and Duane Vermeulen are back on the training paddock but will only start full contact sessions next week, while Dewaldt Duvenage and Wicus Blaauw are still training in isolation. The one previously injured player who is available is lock Rynhardt Elstadt, and Coetzee may push him into the line-up this Saturday.

In other departments, Coetzee is keen to see what some of the fringe players are capable of against Super Rugby opposition. Burton Francis and Gary van Aswegen have had chances in the the two previous games which means Demetri Catrakilis is in line to start at flyhalf against the Cheetahs. Similarly, Bolla Conradie and Louis Schreuder started against Boland and the Lions respectively, so Nic Groom will get a run at No 9 in the coming fixture.

Coetzee added that the combination that finishes the final pre-season match against the Kings is likely to resemble the team that fronts the Hurricanes on 25 February.

By Jon Cardinelli


27 Comments

  • 1.ufo: Reply to this comment
    31 Jan 2012, 06:19 am

    Our pack is a major concern…

    But why did we just hear about the new ‘engage from the front’ rule on the day? Why was this not a problem for the Lions..?

    Not to be nasty… but why has Matt Proudfoot not made any improvements to the situation…? It’s all about technique and we even struggled against Boland and Proudfoot could quite clearly be seen getting advice from Deon Carstens…

    Now we’re getting scrumming advice from a tiny referee…? How about calling on ex players like Kobus Viasgie, Shaun Povey and Garry Pagel…

    Time for Proudfoot to produce the goods… if he feels the players are not good enough why the hell hasn’t he convinced rassie or AC to get better front-rankers…?

    C’mon guys this continuing light five problem is no longer acceptable.. Sort it out…!!

  • 2.ufo: Reply to this comment
    31 Jan 2012, 06:27 am

    About time we had another Stormers thread… last one was 16 threads ago…!! :wink:
    :lol:

  • 3.the artist formerly known as gunther: Reply to this comment
    31 Jan 2012, 06:28 am

    Indeed.

    I hope he has bought a big bandage because that thing is fukked.

    I hope UFO finds his season tickets before they read it the last rights.

  • 4.ufo: Reply to this comment
    31 Jan 2012, 06:36 am

    Scrumming is not just about the front row… it is about all 8 players literally pulling together and the timing and technique of this is purely a coaching thing.

    I can’t believe the absence of Bekker and Elstadt is the only problem… C’mon Matt… Get the guys to scrum with straight backs parallel to the ground.

  • 5.ufo: Reply to this comment
    31 Jan 2012, 06:41 am

    Hehehe…

    Yeah gunther… if this carries on Stormers will be propping up the S15 table…!!!

    Not the log… the actual table they put the trophy on… that’s all they’ll be good for…

    As long as no one bigger than an eight year old girl accidentally leans on the table!!

  • 6.RL: Reply to this comment
    31 Jan 2012, 06:46 am

    A Stormers thread from JC, again ……………….. boring as hell.

    How is this Heineken …. looking to turn all teams into the Bulls. It’s not going to happen … That would mean the Stormers actually scoring tries.

    “I want to install a national style of play and defence, and all other attributes that go with it. I’m hoping everyone will buy into it. However, I am realistic – you can’t force people to play the same, but there should at least be a common goal.”

  • 7.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    31 Jan 2012, 07:02 am

    @ufo-2: :D About time I say too!

    Scrum is an issue for sure. In spite of that the Stormers seemed to be able to handle the CC champs without too much trouble. Let’s see what they do this weekend.

  • 8.ufo: Reply to this comment
    31 Jan 2012, 07:14 am

    Stormersboy @ 7…

    Yes despite our unimpressive package and our mediocre coach as Really Loudmouth tells us at every opportunity… :wink:

    we did indeed handle the CC champs without too much trouble and with 3 yellow cards…!!!

    But that’s to be expected against the lesser unions like boland and the lions… will be a different thing against the s15 giants like the bulls and the sharks… :wink:
    :lol:

  • 9.RL: Reply to this comment
    31 Jan 2012, 07:17 am

    @ufo-8: :lol:

  • 10.ufo: Reply to this comment
    31 Jan 2012, 07:21 am

    RL
    :wink:

  • 11.stew: Reply to this comment
    31 Jan 2012, 07:40 am

    @stormersboy-7: Dont worry boys you only play against us in April so it gives you a bit of time to make sure that you are not completely embarassed again …. evil LOL

  • 12.au revoir mon tout noirs, au revoir...: Reply to this comment
    31 Jan 2012, 07:59 am

    when did rugby fields become paddocks..?..

  • 13.au revoir mon tout noirs, au revoir...: Reply to this comment
    31 Jan 2012, 08:06 am

    or is there a whole new type of training surface used these days?
    i know there is some sort of hi-tech sports facility in bellville which the stormers use.

  • 14.RL: Reply to this comment
    31 Jan 2012, 08:14 am

    @au revoir mon tout noirs, au revoir…-12: only blue cows play on paddocks.

  • 15.stew: Reply to this comment
    31 Jan 2012, 08:18 am

    @au revoir mon tout noirs, au revoir…-12: it is a kiwi thing – obviously Jon has picked up some bad habits from the WC

  • 16.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    31 Jan 2012, 08:25 am

    Next he’ll be calling it “the pill”.

    Vomit.

    With that being said, the Stormers are racehorses, so paddock in their case is more apt than for any of the other franchises ;)

  • 17.au revoir mon tout noirs, au revoir...: Reply to this comment
    31 Jan 2012, 08:28 am

    @RL-14:
    blue cows hey..?.. err ok.

    @stew-15:
    silly jon.

  • 18.ufo: Reply to this comment
    31 Jan 2012, 08:35 am

    @stormersboy-16:

    especially when they get a running start from brok-half…!

    :lol:

  • 19.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    31 Jan 2012, 08:46 am

    @ufo-18: Haha

    Looking forward to some electric mid-field breaks from The Rock this season.

    :)

  • 20.grant10: Reply to this comment
    31 Jan 2012, 09:08 am

    B J Botha

    Wiaan Du Preez

    2 very good props plying there trades overseas….

    Pity

  • 21.grant10: Reply to this comment
    31 Jan 2012, 09:12 am

    Heinke VD Merwe another 1….

    Kitshoff looks very good….will hopefully develop nicely….

  • 22.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    31 Jan 2012, 09:47 am

    I thought that VD Merwe guy looked OK when he came on.

    I’d like to see more of him.

  • 23.Frik: Reply to this comment
    31 Jan 2012, 10:00 am

    Walked past Kitshoff in the V&A on Saturday. Shoulders the size of my massive head. Props only hit their prime at about 27+ so I hope WP/Stormers can keep him that long…

  • 24.Dusky: Reply to this comment
    31 Jan 2012, 12:27 pm

    @Frik-23: Donner Frik – you must really have a massive head, or Kitshoff has maar tiny little shoulders.

  • 25.seamus: Reply to this comment
    31 Jan 2012, 13:51 pm

    Perhaps if he packs down it’ll help… certainly wont be any worse

  • 26.Brigadier Van Zyl: Reply to this comment
    31 Jan 2012, 13:57 pm

    yip, i agree….jonny kaplan is a way better prop than broken harris

  • 27.Saffex: Reply to this comment
    31 Jan 2012, 14:26 pm

    BJ Botha is a has been, man the Saints scrum ripped him to shreds about a week or two ago – forget about BJ and Heinke…….what WP should so is chase after Mujati at the Saints, this guy might just be the best tighthead in the game, he is awesome at the moment – a man mountain

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