Stormers should take lesson from Loftus
12 Mar 2012
JON CARDINELLI writes that you can’t afford to botch scoring opportunities against an attacking team as dangerous as the Blues.
It was a harsh lesson for the Bulls to learn at Loftus Versfeld last Saturday. The Blues were just as erratic, just as ill-disciplined and disorganised as they had been in the previous two rounds, but when they had opportunities they made them count.
By comparison, the Bulls blew scoring chances in the first half and failed to translate early possession and territorial dominance into points. They will look back at this fixture and realise it was, as most punters said beforehand, a match they should have won.
But the Blues’ win at Loftus will have emphasised a pertinent point: you can’t take this star-studded yet limited collective for granted. The match also showed what not to do against a side of this ilk, and it is here where the Stormers, who will host the Blues this coming Friday, must be wary.
The Cape Franchise managed to win their first two matches regardless of their finishing failings. Their most recent performance against a depleted Sharks outfit saw the Stormers missing four shots at goal and several try-scoring opportunities. Again coach Allister Coetzee credited gritty defence in the aftermath, but the Stormers will need to do more than defend if they’re going to keep the Blues at bay.
The Blues may have raced to an early lead against the Bulls, but spent the better part of the first half defending. The Bulls struggled to cash in on scoring opportunities, and were made to rue these misses later in the game. They even had the extra advantage when Ali Williams was yellow-carded, but only managed to score five points during that 10-minute period.
The Stormers have also shown a lack of killer instinct. They battled to put a 13-man Hurricanes side away in the first match. It took a 78th-minute penalty by Peter Grant to win the game against the Sharks, and afterwards Coetzee and his captain Jean de Villiers admitted the attack wasn’t good enough.
What has been encouraging has been the intensity and physicality at the collisions. The Stormers will need to be similarly robust against a Blues pack that has the personnel to dominate the gainline and breakdown battles if not the set pieces.
What the Stormers will need to improve substantially if they are going to deny the Blues forward momentum is their accuracy at the breakdown. They can’t afford to give away penalties, as the Blues have a reliable goal-kicker in Gareth Anscombe. And they can’t concede turnovers, as the Blues have the skills and killer instinct to make these rare chances count.
This was the big difference between the two sides at Loftus last week. The Blues were outplayed at the lineout, losing three on their own throw, but their great work at the breakdown and subsequent finishing allowed them to take the lead on the scoreboard. Two breakdown turnovers culminated in two tries.
The Stormers boast a formidable defence, but so too do the Bulls. It is harder to defend turnover ball and so the Stormers should be mindful that attacking precision could in fact help their defence on Friday.
Coetzee has often said that outstanding defence is the bedrock of the Stormers game, and that defensive pressure creates attacking opportunities. But this Friday, good ball retention and discipline will deny the Blues possession and it will deny them the counter-attacking chances that so often produce tries.
It is also not enough to merely keep the ball out of the Blues’ reach. The Stormers must succeed where the Bulls failed; they must capitalise on their scoring chances, be they penalties or tries, and maintain their accuracy and intensity levels for 80 minutes.
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93 Comments
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12 Mar 2012, 10:13 am
@Sasuke(Sasuke)-42: He is one of the players that I can’t believe never got a run or even a invite to the Stormers. Even a better 15 in my onion.
12 Mar 2012, 10:14 am
@Wezwp(Wezwp)-47: Agreed. He had heaps of potential last season and he played well for the under 21 but he just never kicked on this season. It might be nerves. i am glad Peter Grant is back.
12 Mar 2012, 10:15 am
Sasuke yes But if Stormers underestimate them like the Bulls did it will be tickets… Stormers must just stick to the basics and the rest will take care of itself!
12 Mar 2012, 10:16 am
@PapSak(papsak1)-51: Yes he was at Boland right? How could they let him slip through the net. He looks like he can play anywhere in the backline. “Even a better 15 in my onion” In your onion? gross man! lol
12 Mar 2012, 10:17 am
@pompies2(pompies2)-50: RE Carr. Thats just bad news if true!!! But I’m still happy with the signing of Kolisi and co.!!!
12 Mar 2012, 10:20 am
@Sasuke(Sasuke)-54: hahahaha, I love my onions!!!
12 Mar 2012, 10:22 am
@PapSak(papsak1)-55: disappointing really. considering the alternatives, it could a huge loss. Again, Coetzee has a special talent for ******* things up.
12 Mar 2012, 10:22 am
@pompies2(pompies2)-50:
Didn’t know about Carr, but we’re probably saving up the money to buy a really big name like Marius Joubert to replace Jaques.
12 Mar 2012, 10:24 am
@PapSak(papsak1)-56:
Are you a secret Griquas supporter? ;lol:
12 Mar 2012, 10:25 am
@PapSak(papsak1)-55: Maybe Carr still has some years left on his Junior contract? He might sign a new one next year. Remember he is younger than Kolisi and co.
12 Mar 2012, 10:26 am
@PapSak(papsak1)-56: lol
12 Mar 2012, 10:28 am
@David(David)-58: Don’t be surprised. Coetzee now has access to the manbag carrying the moola.
The thing about Carr is that he’ll be silly to stay in CT in the hope of getting a deal. I’m sure some other province\franchise would gladly accept him, but it’s a continued case of losing talent. Granted, there are only so many spots available, you have to keep your best.
12 Mar 2012, 10:31 am
Remember AC mentioning Carr a while back with along with several other youngsters names that he was committed to the WP and the Stormers…
so i think someone’s just trying to create controversy…
12 Mar 2012, 10:34 am
Nizaam Carr is listed on the WP Rugby website along with all the contracted players…
someone’s obviously just trying to stir the pot…
12 Mar 2012, 10:36 am
@ufo(ufo)-63: I’m just going on last week’s newspaper report. There was explicit reference to some players who were offered contracts, but Carr’s name wasn’t mentioned.
12 Mar 2012, 10:38 am
@ufo(ufo)-63: @ufo(ufo)-64: I think someone just got confused with the signings the other day of Kolisi, Etzebeth, Kitshoff and Madherb and assumed because Carr wasnt in that group he wasnt offered a contract.
12 Mar 2012, 10:39 am
@David(David)-58: Ja, and Wikus van Heerden to fill the spot left by Flo!! FFS! I still want to know what they did with all the money that came available after JF went to Japan? Why not offer that same contract to someone like Johan Goosen or Francois Hougaard?
12 Mar 2012, 10:40 am
@Sasuke(Sasuke)-66: is it confirmed then?
12 Mar 2012, 10:45 am
@PapSak(papsak1)-67:
Rassies leaving must have also saved them a packet. I suspect though, that the WP board will put the money to good use and upgrade to JW Blue Label and Beluga caviar snacks at their meetings.
12 Mar 2012, 10:46 am
@pompies2(pompies2)-68: Is what confirmed?
12 Mar 2012, 10:50 am
@David(David)-69: You know it. Dronkies, the lot of them.!!!!
12 Mar 2012, 11:03 am
@David(David)-69:
Seriously?
Those fatboys at WP think Beluga is one of them expensive colognes you can by at Clicks.
12 Mar 2012, 11:07 am
@the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-72: Don’t think they’ll go for the Beluga and expensive tipple.
They are more inclined to the Big Jack pie and a case of beers with some kraantjie. It’s cheaper and you get more bang for your buck. Also means they save themselves the embarrassment of trying to eat with utensils.
12 Mar 2012, 11:11 am
I think that the names mentioned in the last article were offered senior contracts due to them making the squad for the games.
Carr isn’t there because he isn’t on a senior contract.
Yet. Or ever possibly. I’ve yet to be convinced.
12 Mar 2012, 11:15 am
@pompies2(pompies2)-73:
Billies and 3 ships whisky.
12 Mar 2012, 11:23 am
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-74:
I reckon he is the business.
We will swap him for Dewaldt “Wedding Crasher” Potgeiter.
12 Mar 2012, 11:33 am
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-74: Wow. Not convinced? Can i ask why?
12 Mar 2012, 11:52 am
AC rates carr highly and has said so many times… so i don’t think we have to worry about losing him any time soon…
he will get his chances this season i have no doubt… a couple of injuries here and there and he’ll be called on…
he is definitely one to hang onto and will have a great future at wp/stormers…
i really do rate him… and happy he’s with us and not any other team…
i also see him as a future captain of the side…
12 Mar 2012, 12:03 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-72:
really..?.
because i could swear i’ve seen tobie try to rub some on his underarms after about…52 whiskies… at a wp do one time.
12 Mar 2012, 12:05 pm
go figure…
12 Mar 2012, 12:25 pm
@welcome to my life, hugh…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-79:
Pap snoek…
12 Mar 2012, 12:34 pm
Stormers gonna fck Blues up easy as pie, show the overrated bully boys how its done, and Duvenhage / Van Aswegen gonna have a blinder at half back just to show HM that sticking with typiese ou doos rugby tactics like metronome Morne ain’t the way to win rugby matches no more, no more, no more, no more
Wynand fckn Olivier wie?.. ain’t it clear yet that has been is a nobody any time ever.
12 Mar 2012, 12:38 pm
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-82: Man, what brought about this latest Duvenhage-van Aswegen trip of yours? It’s all you’ve been saying for the past week now. You been picking mushrooms again? To date those two have done fokkol to warrant any kind of mention.
12 Mar 2012, 12:56 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-76: We’ve got enough Potgieters at the moment. Both Kolisi and Koster do a similar job with similar attributes and I’d rather stick to what i have and gamble with the supposed X factor that Carr reportedly brings.
@pompies2(pompies2)-77: Simply because he’s untested at this level and I’ve yet to see a game where he really stamps his mark on things.
Simple really. I didn’t say he doesn’t have talent or that he cannot come through nicely, just that I’m still unconvinced.
Thus far.
12 Mar 2012, 13:09 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-84: It’s difficult to see him stamp his mark when he hasn’t had a chance yet. Cast your mind back to last year’s CC and you’ll know he has the ability. your argument can be used for another stormer’s loosie, but hey, that guy will come good……………….eventually.
12 Mar 2012, 13:12 pm
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-82: Farking idiot
12 Mar 2012, 13:15 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-83: Agree. Potential? sure but that is where it ends for now. Proof is in the pudding and we’re only past the starters.
Our friend here has gone straight for the Cape Hope it seems.
12 Mar 2012, 13:47 pm
Thing is… van aswegen did look good in 2010 CC… and in the pre-season build up to the 2011 S15…
in those games he looked decisive intelligent and very skillful…
but… (and there’s always a but…)
his injury was very severe to have kept him out of rugby for a year… and he is just not playing with the same confidence that he displayed back then…
personally i think, if he gets his mind right, he could still do very well…
maybe he will get there… but so far this season the pudding hasn’t tasted right…
as far as duvenage is concerned… i don’t understand the heap of negativity around him…
sure… he may not be the best around and may not make it into the bok team… but i’m happy to have him in the stormers wp mix… he has proven he has bmt and skills to spare… and i believe the team has a more settled, solid look to it with him at 9…
though good to have a couple of younger youngsters (he’s only 23) to push him and offer something different later in the match…
12 Mar 2012, 13:52 pm
@pompies2(pompies2)-85: Which other loosie?
I’m not saying he can’t make it, I’m just saying that I’m unconvinced.
I.e. He still has to prove himself.
That’s all
12 Mar 2012, 15:28 pm
It’s either Jonker/Joubert/Lawrence and Co for the Stormers-Blues match or a bust!
Let’s see if SARU can arrange any of those ‘Chefs’ for Friday
12 Mar 2012, 17:51 pm
to all stormers fans-nizaam carr seriously?wat x factor is there.
bulls supporters face it you guys lost to a better team@blues.
12 Mar 2012, 18:11 pm
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-82:
“In Jonker we trust” says the Billboard at Newlands parking lot
12 Mar 2012, 21:54 pm
Shouldve couldve and and at the 80min mark you lost bull fans not even throwing a bottle at kevie was going to change the score line as they say in kiwi land DONE & DUSTED next and lets face it the
Blues in the past have seen those double D words for a while this game against the Stomers is going
to be a cracker then again the bloke who Refs the game could steal the game from the fans.
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