No respite for Storming forwards
10 Apr 2012
JON CARDINELLI writes the Stormers’ sustained forward aggression and attacking variation will be put to the test when they front the Crusaders this week.
The Stormers may have been feeling the pressure at the start of 2012, but there’s little doubt that each subsequent win has lightened the mental load. It could be said that after winning six from six, a record that makes them the only unbeaten team in the competition, there isn’t too much pressure on the Cape team to beat the Crusaders in Christchurch or the Reds in Brisbane.
During the planning stage of their campaign, the Stormers coaches would have identified these two league fixtures as the toughest. The Crusaders and Reds not only qualified for the 2011 final, but beat the Stormers in the build-up to the play-offs. They did so at Newlands, and so you would expect them to be even tougher to beat in Australasia in 2012.
But this season has seen the Stormers gaining something more than a six from six record. They’re constantly talking about a winning culture and the collective belief that has swelled with every victory. It’s for this reason that they won’t be looking at the coming game as one they can afford to lose, but indeed one they could well win.
The coaching trio of Coetzee, Matt Proudfoot and Robbie Fleck were speaking about the clash with the Crusaders during the Stormers’ bye week in round three. Listening to them talk, you got the sense that they wanted to make a statement against a Crusaders side that had beaten them twice in 2011, the second time through a dominant forward effort.
After the Sharks game, Proudfoot said that he had been impressed with the progress of the pack. In subsequent weeks, the forwards coach has spoken about tweaking the game in certain areas but has always commented on the growth of the unit as they overwhelmed the opposing pack on each occasion.
There were doubts that they would get up for a game against the Highlanders. They’d invested so much into the forward-oriented melee with the Bulls the week before. They’d endured a taxing journey to Dunedin. Surely the forwards couldn’t get up for another bout with a hard-nosed Highlanders pack?
There were instances where the Stormers were overpowered, and numerous examples of inaccuracies at the breakdown point. But apart from a few lapses and moments of indiscipline, the Stormers forwards again showed tremendous heart and no small measure of collective clout.
It bodes well for the coming match against the Crusaders, a match they have been looking forward to all season. They won’t have Schalk Burger, who is recovering from a knee injury, but they will feel confident that they can match the Crusaders, especially since their scrum has done so well in 2012.
The Crusaders started the season slowly but have become more of a force in recent weeks. They so nearly pipped the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld, and the result aside, they showed what they are capable of when their forwards fire.
While the Stormers will have recovered from their jet lag, the Crusaders will come into this match on the back of a long journey from South Africa. And yet, there’s good reason to believe the travel won’t detract from the Cantabrians’ performance.
The Crusaders showed their mettle last season when the effects of an earthquake forced them to play the majority of their matches outside of Christchurch. They eventually qualified for the play-offs, and flew to Cape Town to tackle the South African conference champions. They not only beat the Stormers on that occasion, they blew them away.
So the Stormers shouldn’t be counting on fatigue to slow the Crusaders down. They also shouldn’t be expecting the off-colour outfit that turned out for the first few fixtures. The determined showing in Pretoria was a powerful statement: the Crusaders are back. And after the eye-gouging allegations that have since been proved false, they are angry.
The Stormers will need to play out of their skins to match the Crusaders forwards. From there, they will need to do more with their attacking opportunities.
They were more clinical in turning turnovers into points against the Highlanders, and that showed how an aggressive defence can be used as a powerful offence. But they may not enjoy such dominance against the Crusaders.
They also won’t be let off the hook when they don’t protect the ball. The Highlanders put the Stormers under pressure at times but failed to earn much reward. They affected a series of breakdown turnovers and won numerous penalties in this area, but still struggled to breach the Stormers defence.
The Crusaders may boast a potent attacking unit, but they play a similar game to that of the Stormers and Bulls. They attempt to pressure teams with a dominant forward effort and savvy tactical kicking display.
Much will depend on the performances of both packs this Saturday, but if the respective heavies cancel each other out, then the Stormers backs will need to produce something different in order to compromise that impressive Crusaders defence.
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193 Comments
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10 Apr 2012, 08:41 am
I Luv the Stormers…
Not.
Actually,
I Hate the Stormers…
But a good win on Saturday… if a trifle lucky with a very sympathetic ref…
10 Apr 2012, 08:42 am
Farken Brokeback Bubble will burst sometime soon…
And I will be luvving it
10 Apr 2012, 08:44 am
I see our buddy in China has made a comeback.
Still trying to find validation on a South African website.
How them noodles noodle?
10 Apr 2012, 08:45 am
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-52:
Will the Kings replace the Sharks next year?
10 Apr 2012, 08:47 am
@greentea(greentea)-50:
is it the last two sentences that stick in thine throat..?..
suit yourself… the crusaders at some point will have to own up to the fact that they’ve won sweet fokkawl in the last four years and only one ltitle in the last six…
for the crusaders that’s pathetic…really…once were warriors…
10 Apr 2012, 08:49 am
@houston, we have a problem…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-55:
it most be so difficult for teams from the republic to play other sides with your high levels of sportsmanship and morality, you guys have everything when its comes to rugby except the silverware
10 Apr 2012, 08:50 am
and when the review is done and dusted there’s only one name really that should be left on the plate….slackbladder….
10 Apr 2012, 08:53 am
@greentea(greentea)-54: When your little Donkey led Brokebacks get pumped 15+ points by Crusaders and that bubble starts deflating nicely then we speak properly.
But to answer simply… En Owe… spells No.
Sharks, surprisingly enough for your obviously anti-refugee metrosexual peanut upstairs, will be there in the knockouts… Remember this post. Copy and paste it too.
10 Apr 2012, 09:01 am
@stew(stew)-43:
Here we go again, you talking history and all…
Cheetahs ended with 2/4 with the other two within 7 points.
Stormers 2/2 so far…
Sharks 1/3 but if you want to talk history they are on average the best ‘travelling side’ from SA.
Other two teams still to travel.
Then again it is hard to compare pples with pears seeing SA teams tour for 4 weeks and NZ teams usually 2.
10 Apr 2012, 09:01 am
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-58: whatever loser. You’ve got enough problems without worrying about us.
Ready for a resurgent Blues team next week?
I normally don’t like to laud it over other bloggers when their team loses.
But on your case I’ll make an exception.
10 Apr 2012, 09:01 am
Where are my noodles?
Chop chop.
10 Apr 2012, 09:02 am
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-52: “Farken Brokeback Bubble will burst sometime soon…” hahaha this is getting close to Skop-like game predictions. you’ve been predicting this “burst” for a while now, i bet next monday i will be “anytime now”
mhlathi wembuzi!
10 Apr 2012, 09:03 am
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-58: Seeing the Bulls managed to beat the Crusaders, it should be a walk in the park for the mighty Stormers.
10 Apr 2012, 09:05 am
@greentea(greentea)-56: Huh…? Silverware? You seem to forget that a few RWCs have been played before the corrupt, fixed to high heaven excuse for a fcked up World Cup in 2011.
SA won two of them pieces of silverware fair and square, long before the sheepshaggers ref assisted gimme cup last year.
10 Apr 2012, 09:09 am
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-60: I think you meant to say “Lord it”… But you can “Laud” the Sharks any time you want, as it should be…
Nevertheless it is understandable that you mountain brokebacks keep trying to “Lord” it over those other refugee teams outside the brokeback bubble… Only in your own minds… like mother leader Godzille
Dumbfck Keo “Captain” of Industry….
10 Apr 2012, 09:20 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-62: Watch… This weekend the brokeback slow puncture starts… Courtesy of the Crusading gougers…
10 Apr 2012, 09:20 am
It is said that defense and tackling is more about attitude than anything else… the stormers game revolves around their defense and Jean de Villiers said that the players demonstrate their commitment to the team by their defense…
So interesting to note that in tackles this weekend….
Siyamthanda put in 25… more than any other sa player… and missed 4
Duane put in 21 and missed 3
Jean put in 16 missed 3
Rynhardt put in 15 with no misses…
Andries and Frans Malherbe put in 14 each missing 2 and 1 respectively…
Tiaan put in 13 with 3 misses
Eben 13 with no misses…
And Brok Harris put in 13 with no misses… in 29 minutes on the field…!! Which translates to about 1 tackle every 2:15 minutes…!! Really no other tighthead prop (or prop) in sa puts in as much effort around the park to get into position to make so many tackles… says much about his attitude…
Other tightheads…
Cilliers – 4 with 2 misses and 0 penalties (after putting in no tackles – according to the stats – the week before)
WP Nel – 11 with 3 misses and 0 penalties…
Werner Kruger – 5 tackles no misses 3 penalties…
Jannie… 9 tackles 1 miss 2 penalties
Loose heads
Dean grayling – made 9 missed 3
Caylib oosthuien – made 7 missed 1 and 1 penalty
Coenie – 11 tackles 0 misses 3 penalties…
Chadwick – made 8 missed 2 1 penalty
KidShove – made 11 missed 1 0 penalties…
It becomes obvious which props are really commited to putting in the hard yards… I know most dismiss brok harris… but for every tackle he makes… someone else doesn’t have to… for every tackle the other props in other teams don’t make… someone else has to…
Which props are demonstrating the best attitude…? Which props are really putting in the most effort for their team? Which props are a burden on their team…? Which props are not…? Which props should get a look-in at for the Boks…?
Now I know people will get all emotional and be quick to dismiss the stats and talk about effective tackles, knocking the player back in the tackle, preventing offloads etc…
but first and foremost… players have to commit to making a tackle… and then complete it… those are the only stats available at the moment…
But whichever way you look at it… Jean is correct… the players are showing their commitment to the side by the way they defend…
Good stuff… good to have 3 of the best props in the country playing for the stormers…
10 Apr 2012, 09:21 am
@garth(garth)-63: Yeah… right…
10 Apr 2012, 09:22 am
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-52: Keep it up, tje more you wish, the better for us. Sharks aren’t play off material for now so good luck to them balsak!
10 Apr 2012, 09:26 am
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-65: You are right. Lord it over …..
if you weren’t such a stranger to reality I’d offer you a job as one of my assistants.
You can check my spelling.
Nothing too testing though.
Maybe wash my car.
10 Apr 2012, 09:26 am
@ufo(ufo)-67: All that bunch of bullshitbaffles brains statistics tells me is that with the Stormers, the other teams are playing all the rugby…
Consequently this also tells me that reffing interpretations are fcked… The attacking sides obviously don’t get the benefit of the doubt and the Stormers have basically got away with murder by very sympathetic refs so far.
By contrast the other SA teams, in particular the Cheetahs, are really taking it to the opposition…
Actually playing rugby….
Soon teams will unlock the Stormers “D” and then they are fubarred… Because they actually can’t play rugby.
10 Apr 2012, 09:27 am
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-70: Like a good little Refugee ne?
10 Apr 2012, 09:29 am
hehehe
your balls must be turning blue they’re in such a twist today…
monkee…
10 Apr 2012, 09:31 am
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-51: So nice of you to make your customary “mid week” appearance again. Please stick around over the weekend. I’m sure you’ll have lots of fun!
10 Apr 2012, 09:34 am
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-65: If losing a game means breaking our bubble then you okes must be a little soapy mess on the floor by now,
I’m withdrawing my consideration of you as a possible employment option.
ET is threatening to strike if I take him away from his car washing job. I don’t know why he’s so upset, I keep telling him that washing dishes is not much different from washing Petri dishes. But he’s talking constructive dismissal and I don’t need the hassle.
Besides, I have enough whiney b itches working around me.
And just to make certain I have the correct context, I looked up the phrase in the Urban Dictionary and it fits like a glove, especially that last bit
“Whiney B itch
Someone who exemplifies rather large amounts of crybaby-bullshit in order to: 1) get sympathy from the people around him/her.
2) make them self feel like less of a dumbass”
10 Apr 2012, 09:35 am
@Pee Wee(Pee Wee)-74: Always my pleasure, Herman…
10 Apr 2012, 09:35 am
A mate has just popped over i’ve just put on a fresh pot of green tea and we’re settling into a rerun of the WC AB semi, perfect.
10 Apr 2012, 09:36 am
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-70:
wax on wax off.
10 Apr 2012, 09:37 am
@ufo(ufo)-67: Great post.
Brock the defensive Rock!
Has Eben missed a tackle the whole season yet?
10 Apr 2012, 09:37 am
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-75: WTF you talking about… You off on a tangent now… Actually you’re sounding more than a little like ET…
Which is good… Makes your posts more interesting at least…for a change.
10 Apr 2012, 09:38 am
@greentea(greentea)-77:
enjoy my china.
it’s great to have you back.
you sour littlecock.
10 Apr 2012, 09:40 am
Great try Nonu.
10 Apr 2012, 09:40 am
@the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-81: I’m not surprised, have you tasted that stuff?
Bitter as hell.
10 Apr 2012, 09:42 am
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-79:
cheers bud…
eben’s only missed 1 tackle the whole season
brok has missed none…!!
10 Apr 2012, 09:43 am
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-83:
he’s leaving his teabag in too long.
probably distracted by his noodles.
10 Apr 2012, 09:48 am
@the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-85:
10 Apr 2012, 09:48 am
@greentea(greentea)-77:
what’s your mates name? mr han?..mr lee?.. chop su?… does he even understand rugby..?.. or does he just furiously nod approvingly with a smile on his face everytime you scream in excitement when reechee goes off his feet..?..
10 Apr 2012, 09:50 am
The Boks without Brokebacks…?
Refugee All Stars.
10 Apr 2012, 09:50 am
On this conference system:
As it stands on points at the moment the top ranked Aussie team, the Brumbies would not even make the play-offs, never mind a semi spot. They are 7th on the points table (level with the Saders but behind on points difference).
10 Apr 2012, 09:51 am
@houston, we have a problem…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-87:
He’s probably ordered a take-away
Cream of Sumyunguy.
10 Apr 2012, 09:52 am
Brilliant coaching Ted, Pocock nulified.
10 Apr 2012, 09:54 am
@ufo(ufo)-84: Ja amazing isn’t it?
The tight five are really making their mark this year!
10 Apr 2012, 09:54 am
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-64:
Poisoning the ABs
dont sound too fair and square to me
you ******** get your head out of your ***
10 Apr 2012, 09:55 am
Droppie learn’t the lessons from 07′ clearly.
10 Apr 2012, 09:58 am
@the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-90:
better watch out he doesn’t get squirted in the eyes with some Fu King hot sauce then.
i hear it burns like a beetch.
10 Apr 2012, 10:07 am
@houston, we have a problem…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-95: You “hear”?
You sure?
10 Apr 2012, 10:09 am
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-92:
they certainly are…
but the great thing about it is that it’s not just the 5 starting guys… but the backups as well…
anyway… back-to-earth time…
we are gonna have a hellluva game this weekend…
crusaders would have learnt from the highlanders game…
gonna be very tough…
you’re right about your comments on the aus teams… and this is exactly why the conference system was introduced to ensure the aussies always do have a ‘qualifier’ no matter what…
super 9 is what we should go for… and yes, even if it means stormers don’t qualify some years…
10 Apr 2012, 10:11 am
@houston, we have a problem…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-95:
we’ll take your word for it.
if that’s the case then our buddy in china should look into soem goggles.
10 Apr 2012, 10:13 am
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-96:
ja thats right, i heard it from friends in the cape
10 Apr 2012, 10:17 am
@houston, we have a problem…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-99:
your friends in the bar who felt you up…?
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