Blues wary of Stormers heavies
14 Mar 2012
Blues coach Pat Lam has been impressed with the performances of Steven Kitshoff, Eben Etzebeth and Siya Kolisi and doesn’t believe the lack of experience will count against the Stormers pack on Friday.
While Lam and his captain Keven Mealamu were all smiles on Wednesday, all is not well at the Blues. They may be coming off a big win against the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld but the team will travel to Newlands without several key players.
All Blacks hardman Jerome Kaino will miss the rest of the Super Rugby season with a shoulder injury. Wing Rene Ranger has been suspended for a dangerous tackle while reserve flyhalf Michael Hobbs was released to join his family in New Zealand following the death of his father, former All Blacks captain and NZRU chairman Jock Hobbs.
On Wednesday, it was confirmed that lock Anthony Boric would miss the game against the Stormers because of a neck injury. As Lam admits, Boric’s injury couldn’t have occurred at a less opportune time.
‘It was a big blow to lose Anthony, it always is when you lose a player of that experience,’ Lam said. ‘Having said that, it now gives a few of our younger players an opportunity.
‘We saw what happened last week with Gareth Anscombe at Loftus [the young flyhalf scored all 29 of the Blues' points] . That’s what you want to see as a coach, young players making the most of their chances when they get them.’
The Stormers’ young players have certainly made the most of their opportunities in the first two matches of the Cape team’s campaign. The 20-year-old Kitshoff has scrummed well, Etzebeth (also 20) has embraced the role of enforcer and added some height to the lineout, and Kolisi (also 20) has flourished as a robust ball-carrier.
Lam said the trio has impressed him and that the Blues wouldn’t be taking these players, nor the Stormers pack as a collective, lightly on Friday.
‘He [Kitshoff] was particularly impressive in that match against the Sharks, so we will have to be on our toes at the set piece,’ he said. ‘We’ve been working hard on our mental approach to this game because it’s going to be a very physical battle. They’ve got some young guys in that pack but they’ve shown they can make an impact at this level.’
Despite a win over the Bulls, a team renowned for its forward play, Mealamu believes the Blues will need to lift their standards at the set piece if they are going to overcome the Stormers.
‘It’s very hard to win in South Africa, it’s always very physical,’ the All Blacks hooker said. ‘We’ve had a short turnaround now but we will be prepared for that challenge at Newlands.
‘While we did well against the Bulls there were still too many errors. We’re hoping for a lift at the set piece, because you want to supply a good flow of ball to your backs. We have a plan and now we have to go out there and execute it.’
By Jon Cardinelli
55 Comments
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15 Mar 2012, 06:29 am
i see uct/us player jj gagiano has been signed by and is playing for the lions vodacom cup side this weekend…?
15 Mar 2012, 06:30 am
good buy…
15 Mar 2012, 06:53 am
um, ufo why is it not uct/uc/ep kings gagiano?
You know he was a King, you do!
15 Mar 2012, 07:11 am
hehehe…
yes… I knew that but made his name at UCT and got wider recognition for the US during the world cup…
but just for you the morning UCT/Kings/US player jj gagiano has been signed by the lions…
Btw… how many games did he play for the kings…
You’d think they would’ve hung onto a good player like this…?
15 Mar 2012, 14:20 pm
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-48: Skoppie, I think us Saffas are generally too scared of Gaffieing a young player.
The Gaffies are the exception. And if Gaffie was better supported by Mallett, he would have got better.
Gaffie’s downfall was to blame on Mallett for that post-match conference.
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