Stormers won’t end trophy drought
26 Mar 2012
MARK KEOHANE, in his weekly Business Day column, says the Stormers don’t have what it takes to win this year’s Super Rugby tournament.
The Stormers may be the only unbeaten team in Super Rugby but they are looking no better than they did in 2010 and last year, where they relied on defence to get to the play-offs but never had the attacking game to win the tournament.
Defensively the Stormers were again colossal in defying the Lions, but the lack of attacking edge is looking all too familiar for a side whose players draw too much inspiration from making a tackle and not enough from making a break.
Springbok wing Bryan Habana is again turning half chances into points and the set piece is as strong as the team’s defensive desire, but there needs to be greater emphasis on attack if the Stormers are to challenge seriously for their first championship win.
The Bulls are the most complete and balanced of the South African contenders and their ruthlessness is unmatched in this year’s tournament. Twice in five weeks they’ve created the opportunity to demolish the opposition and they’ve been uncompromising in delivering the most lethal of finishes.
The Reds were never going to win in Pretoria. Injury has hurt the Queenslanders’ title defence, flyhalf and playmaker Quade Cooper is hugely missed and the players are finding the wearing of the crown decidedly tougher than the 2011 chase to attain it.
They would never have envisaged conceding 61 points and taking a 53-point beating, and for all the extenuating circumstances the scars of this defeat won’t heal easily. I’d be surprised to see them win the tournament this year. They don’t have the depth to counter the injury situation and so far they haven’t enjoyed the good fortune of last year.
I also can’t see the Stormers winning the title, which doesn’t mean they can’t suffocate the Bulls at Newlands this weekend and score a laboured once-off victory. Home-ground comforts remain an advantage in this tournament, but so do bonus points for scoring four-try wins.
The Stormers will always be tough to beat because their mindset is that of a team that plays not to lose, instead of playing to win. But the manner of victory should no longer be in duping their supporters into believing that the style of play is capable of delivering silverware. It isn’t.
The Bulls are playing with expression and belief, and incumbent Bok flyhalf Morné Steyn has profited from the bulldozing dominance of his team-mates in contact and at the set piece.
Steyn is showing that he can control a game with more than his boot, but the criticism that he has limitations when there is no forward momentum remains as valid as it was a year ago.
He is playing with greater enjoyment than he did a year ago and if his form holds until June, he will start for the Boks against England, with Pat Lambie, Johan Goosen and Elton Jantjies providing options. It has been a long time since the country’s stocks at flyhalf have been this high.
Goosen continues to scamper up the ladder in his first season in Super Rugby, although his decision to end the game against the Crusaders with a kick to touch was a contradiction of his talent. He offers too much as a player to adopt such a defeatist and conservative mindset and hopefully his team-mates gave him a blast at the final whistle.
The Cheetahs, the people’s favourites in New Zealand as much as they are in SA, are still too content with coming second. The same is true of the Lions, who lost again at home.
How long can a team be young? How long can players be commended for their character in a losing cause? How many more Super Rugby excuses for SA’s domestic champions?
Every team suffers injury. Every team battles hardship in this tournament, but there comes a time when a team must be judged on how many games — and not friends — they win.
And that time has surely come for the Lions.
They have the game and the players to defeat the Crusaders in Johannesburg this weekend, just as the Stormers have the mentality to beat the Bulls.
Both results are possible but I am not as convinced of the possibility that the Stormers or the Lions can be potential championship winners.
To convince me that it can be any other way, the Stormers have to change the way they win games and the Lions have to start winning some games. Ditto the Cheetahs and Sharks.
As for the Bulls … don’t change a thing.
355 Comments
Pages: « 1 2 [3] 4 5 6 7 8 » Show All
26 Mar 2012, 12:32 pm
@Couchcoach(GI POT)-84:
not so much a choke but rather a brutal ‘hammer of thor’ style bludgeoning into ‘albeit unwilling and doggedly opposedely to’ style of submission by the bulls over the stormers.
for an apt analogy think ‘siege of stalingrad’ type battle between two ferocious foes with no quarter given and one side eventually just bludgeoning that bit harder… to take it…
26 Mar 2012, 12:35 pm
The Stormers inability to play a better balanced game is as much to do with their mindset as it is with the caliber of players they use in crucial positions.
As long as they play a halfback combination of Duvenhage and Grant (or Duvenhage and anyone) they will not be able to change this.
I mentioned to someone this weekend I cannot believe the Stormers are top of the log with some of the rubbish they are dishing up pretending to be rugby. They kick the most, they make the least most passes and line breaks which suggests they adopt a typical Jake White RWC mindset of ‘playing the game without the ball’.
The laws are helping them but I agree with Keo, they will not win a trophy and they are one defeat away from a really bad run imo (gut feel).
And on current form – that defeat is coming up this weekend against a pink Bulls outfit.
26 Mar 2012, 12:38 pm
Don’t y’all just love it when Tac says :
“Its hammer time”
26 Mar 2012, 12:39 pm
@pompies2(pompies2)-100:
I don’t think we fear having the ball, we actually look good when we retain possession but I must admit our forwards looks more impressive going forward than our backs.
We get a healthy lead, then we decide to just kick whatever ball we get back,trusting our defence to hold firm. If the opposition gets within 7 we start to attack again until we have a safe lead once more.
Maybe we’re guilty of taking it too easy too soon, but nothing we can’t change in the coming weeks or so.
26 Mar 2012, 12:43 pm
Hahahaha “Time has come for Lions/Have team to beat Saders”….hehehe On what FCKIN planet??
Saders with Carter back at 10 and 13 current AB’s..
They will catch 30 plus
26 Mar 2012, 12:44 pm
@PissAnt(PissAnt)-102:
You can’t fluke your way to the top of the log of Super 15, no ways.
Still the only unbeaten team in the tournament, that in itself has to be respected whether we’ve been pretty to watch or not.
26 Mar 2012, 12:44 pm
@welcome to my life, hugh…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-101:
Are we talking about a “Battle of The Boneheads” where even the victor is rendered senseless by the utter and total brainlessness of the tactics deployed.
The carnage on the field of play, leaving the competion open to the more austutely coached teams.
26 Mar 2012, 12:45 pm
@wpstormerbok(wpstormerbok)-99: nonsnense mate! it is about gameplan/style of play! the stormers are one-dimensional!
the cheetahs whether away or home or against stormers or reds their approach to attack is unwaivering!!!! they back themselves to rip any defence to shreds and the often do as they showed when they stretched the saders defence for goosen’s try – between goosen, le roux & ebersohn, they inter-changed passes with such ease.
fleckie is kak!
ac was long exposed as clueless as a backline coach when jake needed anton eddie, alan zondagh & eddie jones to get the springbok backline working!
26 Mar 2012, 12:46 pm
This article is a joke… Sports journalists and Keo in particular should be th first to admit that anything can happen on the day and by straight out saying that the Stormers cannot win the S15 after only 5 weeks is arrogant and blind. They are the only unbeaten team which must count for SOMETHING. Rather comment on whats happened in the past weeks and what might happen this week than gazing into your non existent crystal ball keo. Have some humility for a change.
26 Mar 2012, 12:46 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-103: no, only you cos you’re ‘jags’
26 Mar 2012, 12:50 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-108:
Cheetahs are a team with nothing to lose so of course they can lose by 50 or 5, there’s no fear of losing if you’re not expected to win anyway?
So for them to back themselves is easy.
There’s no fluency in our backline just yet I agree, but we’ll get better as the season goes I believe.
26 Mar 2012, 12:53 pm
@PissAnt(PissAnt)-102:
Totally agree PA
Duvenage & Grant the most dour halfback combo around.
The Stormers do have weapons in De Jongh,Aplon,Habana,De Villiers and now finally have a dominant/efficient pack-Kitshoff,Etzebeth,Kolisi massive editions(very dissapointed with Bekker though he should be as dominant as any lock in world rugby at present but just isnt stepping up to superstar status)
Most dissapointing thing is seeing Aplon and De Jongh not being utilised effectively playing defensively instead.
26 Mar 2012, 12:57 pm
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-112:
Pisses me off mate – and have been for some time now.
So impressed with the young forwards, only for the most overrated half-back to screw everything up time and time again.
I am not a betting man but I would put good money on the Bulls giving the Cape boys a decent klap this weekend.
26 Mar 2012, 12:58 pm
@wpstormerbok(wpstormerbok)-106:
Oh yes you can…
Stormers have done it before…
Remember 1999…Home semi vs Otago….Pay dispute??? Skinstad,Marinos and co…
They fluked it most of season-were top of table if im not mistaken…Got a proper drubbing at home
26 Mar 2012, 12:58 pm
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-112: I’m not convinced PG is that bad. I think the knock-on effect from Duvenhage’s play just doesn’t give him, or the stormers backline a chance. A scrummie with a better game awareness and execution of skills will do wonders for PG. Right now, Duvenhage kills all that potential. I’ve spoken to a friend of mine, who’s played with Schreuder, Duvenhage and Groom and he reckons Groom is the better of the lot. Right now, I’d have Groom and Schreuder fighting it out for the 9 spot.
26 Mar 2012, 13:02 pm
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-114:
Was it a fluke though?
Too many teams have ended the season on top of the log without winning a trophy so were those flukes as well?
26 Mar 2012, 13:02 pm
Stormers play mediocre brand of rugby which will hurt them in the long run.
They are the Waratahs of SA
26 Mar 2012, 13:02 pm
@Tarlo(Tarlo)-109:
Best paragraph of the thread Tarlo.
But then again,
Your bank ballance is not influenced by the hits you generate.
8)
26 Mar 2012, 13:03 pm
Last year we finished second on the combined log and the top SA side
The previous year we ended second on the combined log and the second SA side.
We did it playing the same type of rugby we are playing now.
Same 9-10 combo.
No FLO, but we seem to have an adequate replacement in Siya.
More depth (finally a decent “etter” no 4 lock)
More players waiting to slot in (Elstadt, Malherbe etc).
More depth in Flyhalves.
No Ricky January
A decent Front Row and very good scrum (about time).
So why, when you think about it, should we:
(a) struggle to make the playoffs, and
(b) possibly not go even further?
To go further some of the traditional favourites (Crusaders and defending champs) have not started well and actually are struggling to beat a team like the Cheetahs (no offence) at home?
Just a thought
26 Mar 2012, 13:04 pm
@pompies2(pompies2)-115: is duvenhage a worse off scrummy than say tewis de bruyn or michael bondesio?
the cheetahs and lions flyhaves seem to be doing more than grant BESIDES the quality of ball they get. grant has never showed any qualities of a general who can command a game. the stormers halfback combo in its entirety is mediocre!
26 Mar 2012, 13:05 pm
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-117: Well then, considering the log positions that we have occupied in the past couple of years that probably says more about the rest of SA than it does about us.
26 Mar 2012, 13:07 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-120: despite the quality of ball.
26 Mar 2012, 13:10 pm
All im saying is that with outside backs they have in their possession-the brand and execution of gameplan is dour/poor.
Grant is avg,like a diluted version of Tony Brown(at his peak)
26 Mar 2012, 13:10 pm
@cane(cane)-107:
hehehe
just remember cane, the reds won the war for us all…
26 Mar 2012, 13:11 pm
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-114: Bud if you keep doing it, it’s not a fluke. The Proteas are not fluking a drubbing of the Black caps right now. That pay dispute was the worst action by Province players in the history of the comp.
26 Mar 2012, 13:12 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-120: I think he’s worse than those you mentioned. the thing about duvenhage is that he doesn’t know his game and limitations. The other 2 seem to understand theirs. A simple example is Duvenhage’s kicking from the base of a rck or maul. He tried it 4 times in the 2nd half on Saturday and not once did he execute it to allow the chasers to challenge for the ball. he kicked a ball directily into touch. He foolishly chose to pass to JdV on the blind side when he should have played to the openside. This lead to a turnover and the Lions could clear their lines.
It’s easy to notice these things, but go to watch the games live and you’ll notice his lack of tactical and game awareness. Change Duvenhage and there’ll be a massive difference in the backline play. Their are 1 or 2 other issues which need to be tweaked, but it will need to start at no.9.
26 Mar 2012, 13:12 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-119: People also forget the multitude of records that we have broken over the past couple of years:
Least amount of points conceded in a season
Best points difference
Only team to beat all 5 NZ teams in a season.
Never failing to gain a losing bonus point (when we lost which wasn’t all that often).
This is a very good Stormers team.
The guys in the know all acknowledge that.
Can we beat the Bulls? Of course.
Do we have the self belief to do it?
You mean like when we didn’t believe we could beat the Bulls at Loftus last year?
Or when we couldn’t beat the Crusaders?
Or when we couldn’t beat the NZ teams in NZ?
Ja.
Bunch of chokers we are.
26 Mar 2012, 13:13 pm
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-117:
Nope
Sharks are the Tahs of SA.
26 Mar 2012, 13:13 pm
@pompies2(pompies2)-115:
Peter Grant In 3 games…
Tackles: 21
Missed tackles: 7
Offloads: 1
Kicks: 3
Kick metres: 133
Runs: 5
Run Metres: 54
Ave run metres: 10.80
Line breaks: 1
Try assist: 1
Rucks/Mauls: 9
Turnovers: 2
26 Mar 2012, 13:17 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-127: You tell ‘em SB.
26 Mar 2012, 13:17 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-119:
You have improved upfront,in the backs its still the same stuff.And there has been no expanding on gameplan or adding a creative edge to it.Nothing-Stormers have learnt nothing the last 2 years,have not made an adaptation in their pattern etc. They have graduated some awesome yound forwards but otherwise it the same and most likely-results of a trophyless cabinet will continue.Which is sad because they have ALL the POTENTIAL.
And this is an elongated tournie,the Saders will arise sooner than later.Can put your money on that.
26 Mar 2012, 13:19 pm
@ufo(ufo)-129:
Do you perhaps have say Goosen’s stats for the last 3 games, it’ll give us something to compare it to.
26 Mar 2012, 13:22 pm
Stormers are this and that blah blah…
however…
if we click… if we put it together… if we play for 90 minutes… (adding 5 for end of each half)…
if the players each play to their individual abilities and the team to it’s collective ability…??
watch out bulls….!!
bulls have played to their full potential on saturday…
stormers haven’t even come close….
if (and it is a big if of course but)… IF we do…
bulls will think they’ve been lead to the newlands abattoir…!!
26 Mar 2012, 13:22 pm
@wpstormerbok(wpstormerbok)-132:
no… give me a few minutes…
26 Mar 2012, 13:23 pm
@ufo(ufo)-129: Again, i’m not reading too much into the stats, other than the missed tackle count, whaich has to be said, is hight by PG standards. His 3 kicks is a case of his scrummie kicking too much and a fullback who does penalty line clearing kicks. Given more possession, those stats could change.
26 Mar 2012, 13:24 pm
‘How long can a team be young? How long can players be commended for their character in a losing cause? How many more Super Rugby excuses for SA’s domestic champions?’
This comment clearly shows a complete lack of understanding of domestic
rugby.9 players (60%)of the Currie cup final were absent mainly due to injury.
The Cheetahs and Lions are not in the financial position to purchase
world class players and have to ‘cultivate’ youngsters of which the bulk
are eagerly purchased by the bigger Unions. Who has ever heard of Habana,
Fourie, Deysel, Alberts etc before the Lions gave them a chance to develop their talents?
I am pretty sure the Cheetahs are in a similar position.I wont be long
before some bigger Union will lure their fly half away.Mitchell has done wonders with a bunch of rookies and if the other bigger Unions can keep their
sweaty and greedy paws where they belong the Lions are well on the road
to restore some of their former glory.
26 Mar 2012, 13:25 pm
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-131: No one is saying that the Stormers couldn’t and shouldn’t improve.
What I am saying is that everyone who is writing the Stormers off as pretenders is pointing even more fingers right back at themselves,
Except the Bulls.
They’ve won it.
And by saying that “You have improved upfront,in the backs its still the same stuff.” you are basically saying that our forwards are better than previous years, our backs the same, and in previous years we were able to finish 2nd on the combined log twice?
And now 50% of our team unit is better by your own admission?
And we are being written off as the “Tahs” of Super Rugby?
So what is it that you are actually saying?
Our team looks better than last year?
We are worse than last year?
We won’t make the playoffs?
The logic just doesn’t support that. Sorry.
26 Mar 2012, 13:30 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqlQQEh0g5M&feature=share
Classic hand off by Dean Mumm on Marcel Coetzee. That must have hurt.
26 Mar 2012, 13:30 pm
@ufo(ufo)-133:
you are showing the emotions again… should i be worried..?..
26 Mar 2012, 13:30 pm
@Brentie1(Brentie1)-136: You are missing the Bigger Picture here. Which is, of course, that keo needs to get his man, Lucky Luke, into SuperRugby and then into Bok captaincy so that the HSM investment can start showing a return. So any knocking of the Lions and/or Cheetahs is no accident. They’re just casualties of a very real and present PR war that is being fought in the trenches of the Interwebs. Collateral Damage.
26 Mar 2012, 13:34 pm
@welcome to my life, hugh…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-124:
of course i mean the commie reds and not those dirty ozzy reds
26 Mar 2012, 13:34 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-140: Hit the nail on the head.
Flipping Minstry of Luke Propaganda is this site.
26 Mar 2012, 13:36 pm
Is it just me or does that Reds away strip looks like wrapping paper from Cardies?
I’m not surprised that they are playing like a dogs breakfast.
Their jerseys look like a men’s deo advert, one of those where the guy comes home full of red lipstick kisses all over himself.
26 Mar 2012, 13:40 pm
@wpstormerbok(wpstormerbok)-132:
Johan Goosen In last 3 games… (rushed so forgive me if not 100% but think it is)
Tackles: 26
Missed tackles: 7
Offloads: 9
Kicks: 33
Kick metres: 1244
Runs: 27
Run Metres: 245
Ave run metres: 9.07
Line breaks: 2
Try assist: 1
Rucks/Mauls: 14
Turnovers: 6
26 Mar 2012, 13:41 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-138: was just thinking earlier that there’s been no comments from the sharks section of the posters. come on sharkies,. it’s only a loss. at least you have the bumblebees this weak, so it’s a guaranteed win
26 Mar 2012, 13:42 pm
You only have to compare the two coaching boxes to understand where the Stormers have a tad of a disadvantage.
With 10 minutes to go the one coaching box is pretty much indistinguishable from the way it looked at kickoff.
The other coaching box looks like the Chernobyl control room, a minute after irreversible nuclear meltdown has been confirmed.
Brain freeze, rush of blood to the head, panic stations and clenched **** syndrome, all mixed into one, adrenalin filled experience.
26 Mar 2012, 13:43 pm
*** = a nus.
26 Mar 2012, 13:45 pm
@pompies2(pompies2)-145: Oh yes that totallycrap coach Jake White.
Flukes the 2007 win and all that.
Should be a walk in the park. Not like they hav any stars either.
Anything less than a full 5 pointer with no losing BP to the Tahs would be a downright disgrace.
26 Mar 2012, 13:47 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-146: You should have seen what my TV room looked like.
The children were hiding under their beds,
The wife had gone to stay with her mother “until further notice”
Luckily all’s well that ends well.
26 Mar 2012, 13:48 pm
I expected the Lion’s seasoned fly half Butch to make better decisions.
Surely if you manage to to nearly overhaul your opponents score,you take the points on offer. With 10 minutes to play and 5 points down, you simply
have to kick the penalty and reduce the deficit to 2.
The Stormers have to kick of and with the determination the Lions
showed a penalty or drop kick could have clinched the game.This a far better option ,because if you have a shaky line out and hooker ,possession is not quaranteed.
Pages: « 1 2 [3] 4 5 6 7 8 » Show All
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.