Kick-chase at root of Bulls’ potency
27 Mar 2012
Morné Steyn says the Bulls’ kick-chase approach has paved the way for them to score tries and stressed that they won’t veer from it against the Stormers.
The Bulls, with 17 tries, lead the tournament in trips across the whitewash. That tally has been boosted by multi-try demolitions of the Cheetahs and Reds, with Steyn asserting that their method of crafting those scoring opportunities is justification for their unwavering faith in their renowned kick-chase approach.
‘It’s our belief that defences in general play are too well organised to create regular scoring opportunities and not risk turnovers,’ the Bulls flyhalf told keo.co.za. ‘We have two of the best wingers in the game at catching the high ball – Akona [Ndungane] and Bjorn [Basson] – and Zane [Kirchner] is close behind them. We stand a high percentage chance of getting it back in opposition territory if the kick is accurate. If they catch it, our next attack is against an unset defensive line. People can be critical of the execution but not the tactic because it is what has brought us many tries so far.
‘When we punt deep [i.e not an up-and-under] we back our defensive line to put pressure on the returner if they run. If they kick we have a broken field opportunity. It’s not entertaining in the way some people would like it to be but we have faith in it. We don’t see any reason to change.’
In preparation for north-south derbies the Bulls had previously banked on the Stormers’ inability to suppress their cavalier instinct to aid their cause. But much has changed for the Cape franchise, who now employ a strategy that closely mirrors the Bulls’.
Indeed the Stormers’ primary kickers, Joe Pietersen (38) and Dewaldt Duvenhage (27) rank among the tournament’s top 10 in tactical punts (Steyn is sixth in that category with 33). One suspects that if the Stormers had retained the same flyhalf from the opening game he too would feature prominently.
‘They have definitely changed the way they play in the last three years or so and they are getting better and better at it,’ Steyn said. ‘They don’t get tired of a kicking war. They also have the defensive power and discipline to defend through a lot of phases and force penalties or turnovers that create scoring chances. Their attack has been criticised but if you look at the quality of players there you know they can click at any stage.’
The Blues exhibited uncharacteristic restraint in beating the Bulls early in the tournament, employing a territory-based approach and then taking the chances they created through pressure defence. The Stormers will have to be equally clinical at Newlands on Saturday if they hope to retain their unbeaten record.
By Ryan Vrede
Follow Ryan on Twitter
Follow SA Rugby magazine on Twitter
110 Comments
27 Mar 2012, 12:09 pm
If it works, why change it?
27 Mar 2012, 12:16 pm
I hate to say it but if the tactic works – use it – as long as you’ve got a plan B and you can switch effortlessly to plan B. That is where experiance comes in to play!
27 Mar 2012, 12:23 pm
Morne! Giving away the tactics?? Prepare for plans A,B and C Stormers. Which will it be??
27 Mar 2012, 12:29 pm
@TruBlu(TruBlu)-3:
Well its not really a state secret.
27 Mar 2012, 12:37 pm
@TruBlu(TruBlu)-3: Not much a secret
27 Mar 2012, 12:38 pm
What I find interesting is the similarity in the styles of the Bulls at Super rugby and Currie cup level, and Tukkies in the Varsity Cup.
Tukkies may not have the squad depth and talent of the likes of Maties, but their style of rugby has clearly been influenced to a great degree by Heyneke Meyer’s involvement until his appointment as Bok coach.
Other than the fact that the game is slower, and the players less talented, Tukkies might as well be wearing Blue jerseys.
It’s maul from the line out, kick up and unders and pummel the opposition into submission until the gaps open up on the outside.
Tukkies may well lose to the more talented Maties, but their style of play makes them a good feeder for the Bulls senior team.
It’s nice to see a uniform style of play emerging from Pretoria.
27 Mar 2012, 12:39 pm
This game is going to be a humb dinger. However if the Bulls can absorb the stormers pressure for 60 minutes i see the bulls cutting loose in the last 20.
27 Mar 2012, 12:39 pm
Last year the Kick ‘an Chase was being singled out as our (Boks) weak point as we had no counter or adequate follow up or the needed resulting defence. The Bulls looked good and the score even better, but the Reds just had no plan to deal with the Bulls game, they were useless on the night. I think you’ll see a different picture at Newlands, the Stormers will not be strangers to Kick ‘an Chase Rugby.
27 Mar 2012, 12:47 pm
I’m a huge fan of the kick & chase. Often I go down to Cavendish Square on a Saturday morning and kick the first random guy I see in the kidneys. I then let him chase me through the centre until he tires. Once you’ve tried kick & chase you’ll never go back.
27 Mar 2012, 12:47 pm
The kick and chase only works if your kicker is acurate and your backs quick enough. Boks tended to kick into the opposing 25 and a simple mark screws it up. Still think Morne too one dimensional but then no ones kicking game is on song at the moment
27 Mar 2012, 12:50 pm
I would say that with any of Frans Ludeke, Naka Drodske, John Mitchell, Allistair Coetzee or John Plumtree as Bok coach, we could have used exactly the game plan we did and we would have been facing NZ in the final.
It was just our misfortune that we had a coaching staff who was worse than the worst of our 5 Super Rugby coaching teams.
27 Mar 2012, 12:53 pm
I think we need to define kick-chase first, before we start a debate about its merits.
Do we mean kicking garryowens only? Does it occur from any phase? Field position?
People forget – the NZ and Aussie franchises (and their national teams) kick more than their SA counterparts.
27 Mar 2012, 12:58 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-11: Huh?
They would have had say over the seeding?
Coz we would have faced NZ in the semi-final.
27 Mar 2012, 13:06 pm
@Taahirah(Taahirah)-13:
Fiddlesticks.
That’s like picking out a spelling error in someones post, instead of looking at the point that’s being made.
What I meant is that we would have made it to the clash with NZ, after which the result would have been a lottery in any case.
27 Mar 2012, 13:08 pm
@willievz(willievz)-12:
i’d say a hefty up and under onto one of the opposing wingers when we have a scrum half way line is a good time.
A return take in the air from one of “our” chasers would immediately put you into the opposing 22 with a very real chance of scoring off the next phase against the unset defence or at least being awarded a penalty for “them” all being offside.
27 Mar 2012, 13:09 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-11: don’t blame the coach if it was the players who decided the strategy. failed execution on the players part was the biggest cause for their downfall.
27 Mar 2012, 13:15 pm
Walked past Morne in Menlyn on Sunday… Seems a geniune nice guy… Had no attitude whatsoever!
27 Mar 2012, 13:17 pm
@pompies2(pompies2)-16: oh please pompies, you are smarter than that.
if you can never get the ball back from a ruck, certainly not at any pace….how can you execute anything? and then when bryce doesn’t award you a penalty……
the very same ozzies got blown off the park a few days later against your mob who enjoyed significately less territory and possession than the boks did.
27 Mar 2012, 13:17 pm
@THE MAULER(THE MAULER)-17: If you’re in Pretoria, go down to Trademarx just before their practice sessions start. They usually have something to eat there. Nice guys, all of them. Most genuine of the lot probably being Dewald Potgieter and Werner Kruger.
27 Mar 2012, 13:18 pm
@willievz(willievz)-12: My observations thus far have been that the 1st option is to kick the ball, regardless of the type of kick. The makes me think that the kick approach has been psychologically prioritized in the players mind. Obviously the secondary aspect of kicking will deal with your positioning on the field, the type of kick you will execute and perhaps the opponent you are targeting. The problem comes in when the execution is not up to scratch. My biggest concern is that peripheral vision and communication between players is compromised in that this specific tactic can be implemented with non-verbal communication.
I’ve attended 3 of the stormers home games this year so far and have counted at least 3 try scoring opportunities in each game which were squandered because of unnecessary kicking. All it would have taken is for some communication from the outside backs. The biggest culprits have been Duvenhage and Pietersen. Just this past week, the stormers continually conceded posession because of poor execution of tactical kicking.
27 Mar 2012, 13:21 pm
@Brigadier Van Zyl(Brigadier Van Zyl)-18: the ref story, while valid, is really old now. besides, were speaking of a prevailing tactic throughout PDV’s tenure. yes, sometimes a different approach was tried, but this never lasted, for whatever reason.
who’s my mob?
27 Mar 2012, 13:23 pm
Taahirah been living here for over 2 years now and its the first time I saw a Bulls player! Lol! The Titans players I have seen plenty!
27 Mar 2012, 13:25 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-6:
Some of those Tukkies boys appear to be more talented than some of our boys in blue! With the same level of coaching, conditioning and qaulity players around them, i think a few of the Varsity lads can be better than our established “stars”.
27 Mar 2012, 13:26 pm
@Brigadier Van Zyl(Brigadier Van Zyl)-15: you’d seriously need to hedge your bets on such an approach I don’t know if they collected stats on kick receiving, but i imgane it’s a 50\50 gamble at the best of times. That might be slightly higher in players like Corey Jane, Basson and Rob Kearney, because they are that good. Otherwise it’s a hit and hope.
27 Mar 2012, 13:27 pm
@THE MAULER(THE MAULER)-22: Lived in Pretoria for 2 years myself, recently moved back down to Cape Town. Worked in Brooklyn so Id often pop down to Trademarx for lunch to have a chat with the players.
Ive seen Werner Kruger help a delivery guy carry stock when noticing the guy is tired. The guy didnt seem to have a clue who he (or any of the other players) is but sure appreciated the help.
27 Mar 2012, 13:34 pm
@pompies2(pompies2)-21:
i would say though in that semi that if ever there was an example of a player being told not to play his natural game it is Morne. Under normal cicumstances he would’ve got dead bored camped on the ozzie 22 with no points to show and just started to slot them…but such was the insistance on the day to hold onto the ball vs the ozzies…
…the cruel irony of it all and there you can blame the coaches as well. After 50 minutes the supposedly cool heads in the coaching box should’ve got the message down to the field…”fck this, drop kick everything”. I would exclude the players in this for the reason that when you are caught up in the action it is all to easy to loose track of the time and concentrate on the “plan”…particularly when you are dominating all over the field except on the scoreboard.
27 Mar 2012, 13:38 pm
@pompies2(pompies2)-24:
yeah, that tactic is definately not for everyone. I’d imagine the bulls kick/return ratio is closer to 60/40. And then you’d need to evaluate how that ratio translates to actual points and with the bulls I’d say it is close to 80-90%.
And it’s not like they do it all game long anyway, their play has great variety at the minute.
27 Mar 2012, 13:44 pm
It didnt seem like the kick and chase was overused or even happened that oftern. It was a well balanced game plan. When they needed to run, they did.
27 Mar 2012, 13:45 pm
@Brigadier Van Zyl(Brigadier Van Zyl)-27: i reckon that’s the tactic for this weekend. The stormers back three are all short, so in midfield wynand or the loosies could challenge against Joe P and the wings will challenge each other. the stormers would be silly to do the same and should focus on attacking channel 2 or three to build momentum, but more importantly, split the defense and then attack the side where the tight forwards are. It would be even more effective to play to the side of Aplon to hopefully get a 1-on-1 with a tight forward. Alternately, they could employ the switch play.
27 Mar 2012, 13:50 pm
Taahirah some guys are nice guys no matter what team they play for and some guys are just Pr!cks like Rory Kocket!! Lol!
27 Mar 2012, 13:51 pm
@willievz(willievz)-12: did you know that the garryown was named after an Irish rugby club and not a person as is the normal misconception?
27 Mar 2012, 13:51 pm
@pompies2(pompies2)-29:
…if they get any ball.
I was very impressed with how the bulls forward kept holding the ball carrier off the ground with ht e ref then blowing for a turnover. Another tactic that is becoming increasingly popular. As I’ve mentioned before, lineouts could be interesting, if bekker loses a couple he gets all flakey and blames liebenberg who generally starts kakking himself out. all very bizzarre.
i’m kakking it for the bulls scrum…some saterdays the scrum like women and others like spartans.
27 Mar 2012, 13:57 pm
@pompies2(pompies2)-29: That is if they ever spread the ball that wide…
27 Mar 2012, 14:04 pm
Word on the street is the Stormers are planning on spreading the ball wide this weekend to bring Peter Grant into the game.
27 Mar 2012, 14:08 pm
@Brigadier Van Zyl(Brigadier Van Zyl)-32: I hate the tactic of trying to hold the opposition up to force the turn over. I think that is one of the biggest weaknesses in our (SA) rugby. It is one of the main reason our teams often get off second best at the breakdown. The only problem is that once in a blue moon it works and then our teams think they can do it in every contact situation.
27 Mar 2012, 14:10 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-34:
Hehehe.
27 Mar 2012, 14:15 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-36:
9 man rugby
that will be a classic
27 Mar 2012, 14:27 pm
It can’t all be Dewalts fault, true, his kicking has been off and some of his decision making poor, but for me they just don’t get it. Looking for and creating space has to be one of the main focuses in every game. The backline never straightens AND offloads to a runner. It’s drift towards the touchline, take the tackle, committing the remaining back line players to the ruck, thus setting up second phase in the opposite direction with a disjointed backline made up of forwards. Same from the scrum or ruck, no game plan to look for a half gap and let the ball do the work, it’s crash bang into the opposition’s losies. And heaven forbid the player finds a gap, it’s such a surprise that he isolates himself from the rest of the players and gives away a penalty for holding on. stormers by 5, best i can for them
27 Mar 2012, 14:30 pm
The question is, will the Stormers suddenly come out and display a dazzling array of attacking skills on Saturday?
Is Allistair the type to throw caution to the wind and just tell his guys to go out there with wild abandon and let their creativity guide them?
Yes, I can see it now.
27 Mar 2012, 14:31 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-34: i am gonna hunt you down in Cavendish this weekend and Keyser Soze your ***!
27 Mar 2012, 14:34 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-39: To me it’s simple. Someone clearly told Brock to stay away from the flyhalf channel, and since then their backline moves have dried up completely. Grant would kill for his X-factor.
27 Mar 2012, 14:35 pm
skop & jag is back in vogue in Pretoria
sure sign that Heyneke Meyer is gone & the bonehead is on his own
27 Mar 2012, 14:35 pm
I like the tactic of tackling the supporting players at the ruck, forcing them to the ground and thus eliminating their right to put their hands on the ball.
It’s so much easier than contesting with them. Just tackle them whether they have the ball or not.
It’s called cleaning out the ruck, but in reality it’s just tackling a guy without the ball.
Hey, it works for us now as well, so why should we not do what the Kiwis have been doing for some time now.
27 Mar 2012, 14:36 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-39: no, it’s going to be a tight game and i think they are going to adopt the game plan the bulls used against the blues, hang on a minute….
27 Mar 2012, 14:38 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-42:
That is the most moronic post of the day.
In fact, your whole anti-Ludeke crusade has made you bit of a laughing stock this season, what with the Bulls being top try scorers in the competition yet again.
Someday you will get your head out your arse and admit that Ludeke has found his niche at the Bulls. Not for some time yet, cause it will be a difficult admission for you.
But someday you will have the maturity to do so.
27 Mar 2012, 14:46 pm
All the rich people shop at Cavendish
27 Mar 2012, 14:47 pm
I see them there while I’m sweeping the floors, kicking and chasing each other.
27 Mar 2012, 14:50 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-42:
Do you know who was the flyhalf that kicked the most in last years S15?
No it wasnt Morne.
It was none other than Quade Cooper. the guys who apperently never kicks anything.
This year Morne 5th on the kicking stats log behind Johan Goosen, Joe Pietersen, James Stannard, Baueden Barrett and Patrick Lambie.
I do think that the Bulls will have to keep dominating the collisions like they did on saturday and am not sure they can sustain that intensity against some of the bigger packs out there but your incesant chirping about this is not a good look for you.
27 Mar 2012, 14:54 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-45: This should be interesting i’m backing Transie on this. Please don’t do your houdini act like you normally do when you gravitas eludes you. It is your time to gloat. well done thus far bulls.
27 Mar 2012, 14:55 pm
“Pretty In Pink” is Tac’s newest favourite movie.
27 Mar 2012, 14:55 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-46: Depends on what we’re after. Sometimes we shop at Constantia Village too.
27 Mar 2012, 14:56 pm
@John Galt(John Galt)-48: so tell me how many up-and-unders he kicked compared to Morne. That after all, is what we are debating.
27 Mar 2012, 14:58 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-51:
Ja but I only casual there.
Cavendish employs me full-time
27 Mar 2012, 15:03 pm
hook, line & sinker
@John Galt(John Galt)-48: when you say “kick” are you referring to cross kicks, chip kicks, grubber kicks, garryowens, touch finders or you’re just regurgitating what someone else said?
do you know where quade was making all those kicks?
remember on defence quade played FULLBACK, go and revisit the game againt the Stormers @ Newlands and see where quade was playing in the first 15 min and then check where you found him the rest of the game.
quade STILL made more runs than morne and probably more linebreak, off-loads or playmaker passes!
it’s about balance!
27 Mar 2012, 15:04 pm
@pompies2(pompies2)-49:
Why do you follow me around like a puppy? I’m not talking to you.
And like the typical “hakskeenbyter” you keep yapping around my ankles, trying to setup imaginary showdowns with me.
I will let you know when I’m talking to you, by clicking the “Reply” button to some post of yours. Like now.
In all other cases, I’m simply not interested.
27 Mar 2012, 15:07 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-55:so you do read and remember my comments? this is not what you said just last week. dementia is a cruel disease. i antagonise because, you’re an easy target.
27 Mar 2012, 15:07 pm
I see here that many of the Bulls fans are talking about “dominating the collisions” as if it’s a fait accompli.
Against the likes of Etsebeth, Kolisi, Vermeulen, Kitshoff?
Think again fellas.
Think again.
27 Mar 2012, 15:08 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-57:
What I’ve always said is that the Bulls gameplan is based on dominating the collisions. Stop us from doing that, and you will most likely beat us.
Nothing has changed in that regard.
27 Mar 2012, 15:10 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-54: exactly. quades variety of kicks certainly created some attacking threats, but his display of territorial tactical kicking vs the stormers caught many off guard. I said it a few times last week. stats without context only tells part of the story.
27 Mar 2012, 15:11 pm
Morne Styen and his Bulls were so talkative when they got a hiding from the under strength Blues 2 weeks ago at Loftus
So what has changed since to make them run up their mouth?
27 Mar 2012, 15:13 pm
@pompies2(pompies2)-56:
27 Mar 2012, 15:14 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-58: true. the samecan be said for any successful team. dominating the collision mean domintating the advantage line and forcing the opposition to retreat to the onside position. The important part of this construct is identifying the time to capiltalise on the weaknesses created by that domination. If all that you attempt to do is milk a penaltyand playing off the advantage, then it can be argued that that is not really maximising the domination.
27 Mar 2012, 15:15 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-58: I guess so.
Simple really
27 Mar 2012, 15:17 pm
We are going to see quite a face off between Potgieter and Etsebeth I think.
Sorry Jacques. Thanks for coming though
27 Mar 2012, 15:20 pm
@pompies2(pompies2)-62:
Vretende kanker
27 Mar 2012, 15:20 pm
@pompies2(pompies2)-62:
I don’t think you’re maximising the slightly below average IQ you’ve been blessed with.
Like Trannie, your comments are particularly cringeworthy considering the Bulls are as yet the only team to have crossed the 50 point threshold once, let alone twice this season.
Failing to maximise their domination indeed.
Now leave the grownups to our talk.
27 Mar 2012, 15:26 pm
It looks like Stegman will still be out for this weekend. Gives Stander another chance at 6. I think he must try and specialise at openside. Will be better for his career in the long run and the Bulls need another good fetcher.
27 Mar 2012, 15:27 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-66: as i said earlier. it’s your time to gloat. bulls were dominant.
While you feel the need to introduce IQ arguments, i’ll grateful for what i have. i’m only got a little, but that little allowed me to be grateful, because i see you and think i’d be just like you if i had none.
27 Mar 2012, 15:27 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-54:
Does it really fking matter what type of kick it is? I personally dont like the tactic but you wont find me mocking it because it clearly works for them.
The Bulls being the top try scorers and all.
27 Mar 2012, 15:29 pm
@pompies2(pompies2)-68: wow, guess my iq is so low that i can’t even spell properly.
27 Mar 2012, 15:31 pm
@Beertjie(Beertjie)-67: At this stage they don’t appear to need a “fetcher”
27 Mar 2012, 15:32 pm
@John Galt(John Galt)-69: how can it not matter? a kick can be a clear concession of ball possession or it can be a good tactical implementation, using a players skill. kicking the ball a mile has benefits, but kicking to manipulate a defensive line or forcing an opposition to re-evaluate their defensive pattern in a game could mean all the difference.
27 Mar 2012, 15:36 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-66: “cringeworthy”? like whoopasss? bwahahahahaha
27 Mar 2012, 15:39 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-73: trans, be nice or he’ll disappear. tac, let us rather stick to rugby talk. that way we can at least try to take you seriously.
27 Mar 2012, 15:47 pm
@John Galt(John Galt)-69: yes it does!
you reckon because the stats say stegmann hit more rucks on average than pocock makes him a more effective openside than david?
context is very important when reading stats, now start thinking for yourself.
27 Mar 2012, 15:51 pm
@pompies2(pompies2)-72: he thinks they only kick to chase
27 Mar 2012, 15:53 pm
The bulls lost against the blues, they had a bye weekend while the reds played a physical game against the sharks. The bulls then beat the injury struck reds and now suddenly they are the cream?
27 Mar 2012, 15:53 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-76: that’s why it’s easier to make fun of them. rugby discussions with them are a bit “cringeworthy”
27 Mar 2012, 15:53 pm
Context is very important when reading stats…
Somebody spends too much time looking in the mirror.
27 Mar 2012, 15:54 pm
The only thing I’m worried about is the ref, he’s shiit and obviously biost towards the bulls.
If the ref keeps it fair then stormers will win.
27 Mar 2012, 15:58 pm
@NoRugbyGuru_0_(RugbyGuru_0_)-80: Who is the ref?
27 Mar 2012, 15:59 pm
WTF is biost
Don’t you mean biased?
27 Mar 2012, 16:00 pm
Dawn, thanks for the spelling lesson but try and stick to the point I was making
27 Mar 2012, 16:00 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-79: what stat is in your mirror?
27 Mar 2012, 16:02 pm
@NoRugbyGuru_0_(RugbyGuru_0_)-83:
No problem
Happy to oblige
You can join the ranks of the wafflers who have driven Tacitus away
27 Mar 2012, 16:03 pm
Context is very important….
Cue rumatory stroke of the chin.
Puffs on pipe.
27 Mar 2012, 16:04 pm
At least he can spell.
27 Mar 2012, 16:08 pm
@ beertjie, I heard it was joubert.
@ dawn, thanks again, my heart bleeds for him, in his eyes, if its not blue its not true
27 Mar 2012, 16:10 pm
@NoRugbyGuru_0_(RugbyGuru_0_)-88:
Or in this case, pink.
27 Mar 2012, 16:29 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-85: well tell the apple of your eye to hou his bek, when he starts mouthing off about “moronic” & average IQs & cringeworthy” he is opening a moerse can of whoopasss he can’t handle.
27 Mar 2012, 16:32 pm
Add some highlander style mauling and cheetah counter attacking and the bulls might make it again this year.
pink or not ^^
27 Mar 2012, 16:46 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-90:
Yay
Tetchy
27 Mar 2012, 16:59 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-55:
oh snap…
you can be such a *******, tac.
27 Mar 2012, 17:04 pm
basturd
27 Mar 2012, 17:14 pm
@groen(groen)-91: Highlander style mauling??
There can be only one!
27 Mar 2012, 17:37 pm
Anybody checked Nick Koster’s column on the Supersport website?
Love the part about Eben and the dumbbells
Derbies and dumbbells
by Nick Koster 27/03/2012, 09:09
Outside of university, this is my first serious attempt at writing since leaving school. I’ve been warned though, that readers of sports blogs are far more demanding than university professors!
We started so well against the Lions. Tiaan Liebenberg scoring a try in his 50th game for the Stormers was something special. He has been such a wonderful stalwart and role model in so many ways for us younger players.
Bryan Habana also produced a fine display. He has his critics – which I think is unfair if you consider his record at Super Rugby and test level – but his kick and chase was brilliant.
When I threw the pass to Bryan flying on my outside, I knew that if there was one player in the world who could score that try it was him.
There isn’t a player in modern rugby who chases kicks as conscientiously as Bryan does, so no one deserves the rewards more.
I think the ferocity of Saturday’s derby must have been quite an eye-opening experience for referee Glen Jackson. The physical and emotional intensity on a rugby field doesn’t get much more demanding than that.
It’s a bonus to have a former Super Rugby player in the top ranks, because he understands the pressures of the game so well at this level. I’m sure he’ll go on to become a test referee.
Much to their credit, the Lions came back effectively after a dominant first 30 minutes from us. They retained possession zealously and put our defence under constant pressure. We did well, however, to restrict them to a solitary try, displaying not only our excellent defensive systems, but also huge character and commitment.
The Lions’ momentum was helped of course by yours truly dropping the kick-off receipt after Joe Pietersen had fired us into an 18-0 lead.
I can’t use the sun, pressure or eyes off the ball as excuses. It was just a case of my elbows being spread too far apart.
I quietly vowed to myself that I would endeavour to never repeat the same mistake. I hope my 28 tackles, a personal best, helped atone for that error.
Our forward pack on Saturday included five 20-year-olds and a 21-year-old. What a wonderful prospect for the Stormers’ future.
One of our talented 20-year-olds, Eben Etzebeth, is a belligerent force on the field who would wreak all sorts of havoc if it weren’t for the wise counsel of Andries Bekker.
So naturally strong is Eben, our conditioning coach had to purchase extra-heavy dumbbells during the off-season to push him to his limit.
While a bully on the field, he’s the perfect gentleman off it. He was the only one of us to take flowers to Schalk Burger’s wife Michelle, on the announcement of her pregnancy.
The Stormers are a happy group of guys and we have gelled well both on-field and off.
We worked incredibly hard on our conditioning throughout the off-season and our week-long Hermanus camp in January was key.
There we devised strategies for the season and fostered amazing camaraderie and team spirit.
If we lose games this season, it certainly won’t be for lack of planning and preparation or effort and commitment.
The Bulls match at Newlands this Saturday promises to be a titanic tussle. I’m told that seating has been sold out for two weeks, with just standing room available.
The North/South derby is always memorable, and our visitors from Pretoria will provide a massive challenge, especially after their clinical demolition of the defending champions the Reds.
The Bulls will attempt to overpower us physically and use up-and-unders as a tactic to gain field position. They are unlikely to run at us from beyond our 10m-line.
While we’ve studied and understand their game plan, our major challenge is to disrupt their supply and execution.
27 Mar 2012, 17:43 pm
@wpstormerbok(wpstormerbok)-96: Remember what i said to you yesterday?!
108.Transformation said:
26 Mar 2012, 12:45 pm
@wpstormerbok(wpstormerbok)-99: nonsense 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 they 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!
now read on.
Hurricanes: Underdogs no more
Tuesday, 27 March 2012 5.45 p.m.
The Hurricanes could be in rare territory on Saturday afternoon.
After flying under the radar for the opening five rounds of Super Rugby Mark Hammett’s side are likely to go into their clash with the Cheetahs as favourites.
The Cheetahs are sitting 13th overall on the ladder with just one win from their five games, while the Hurricanes are fifth thanks to last week’s nail biting win over the Blues.
But Hammett remains wary of the Naka Drotske-coached South Africans, particularly considering only one loss – against the Bulls in week two – has been by a significant margin.
The others defeats were by two points (Lions), one point (Brumbies) and seven points (Crusaders).
“As anyone who knows anything about rugby knows the Cheetahs are a very well-coached team,” said Hammett. “They don’t bring the traditional African game.”
That was never more evident than in the length-of-the-field try they scored in Christchurch. Robert Ebersohn and Willie Le Roux were in the move twice. Andries Strauss also got in on the action before first five-eighths Johan Goosen got his hands on the ball for the second time to finish off the remarkable five-pointer.
But it is the variety in the Cheetahs game that makes them a difficult opponent to prepare for.
“I’ve seen them drive lineouts one week and then other weeks they throw everything off the top,” said Hammett. “I’ve seen them use the blitz defence and at other times more of a staggered-type defence.
“What that shows me is that they are very well prepared. I think they’ve only had one game where the score has blown out a bit. We are not underestimating them at all. They are going to be a tough game.”
27 Mar 2012, 18:38 pm
@wpstormerbok(wpstormerbok)-96:
“One of our talented 20-year-olds, Eben Etzebeth, is a belligerent force on the field who would wreak all sorts of havoc if it weren’t for the wise counsel of Andries Bekker.
So naturally strong is Eben, our conditioning coach had to purchase extra-heavy dumbbells during the off-season to push him to his limit.”
Nice to read.
27 Mar 2012, 19:53 pm
Extra heavy dumbbells.
27 Mar 2012, 19:57 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-99: And so a legend is born……
27 Mar 2012, 20:04 pm
What a larf.
Why have the stormers not needed extra heavy dumbbells before?
The other teams have been using them for years.
27 Mar 2012, 20:08 pm
Extra heavy dumbbells are the ones Pierre Spoes can’t not pick-up.
27 Mar 2012, 20:31 pm
M, can you spot Eben when using the ‘EHD’s?
27 Mar 2012, 20:35 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-103: I’ll give it a try, but somehow I doubt it
Besides. weight is for the youngsters.
I’m in my 40′s.
It’s all about form for me.
But if he does the job on Saturday, I might let him spot me.
27 Mar 2012, 20:49 pm
Old Langers counts as an Extra Heavy Dumbbell, doesn’t he? Stick him and Proudfoot on top of the scrum machine and that ginger fatty won’t get into first gear.
27 Mar 2012, 20:50 pm
Its all about form in your forties!
Post of the fuckingday!
27 Mar 2012, 20:55 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-106: Thangyewverymush.
Form is everything.
27 Mar 2012, 21:31 pm
stormersboy#98 Talking of dumbells the bulls are playing are playing 15 of them at newlands on saturday,hehehehehehehehehehehehhehe/
27 Mar 2012, 21:41 pm
@blueboy(blueboy)-108: The bulls are playing are playing????
You a rap artist now?
28 Mar 2012, 11:08 am
@>^..^< katman(katman)-51: Have you seen the skinny beardy hipsters who shop at Cavendish? Mate if you kicked one in the kidneys he’s not gonna chase you anywhere, he’s going to thearically collapse, arms waving and shrieking like a schoolgirl
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.