Bekker’s tall order
25 Apr 2012
JON CARDINELLI writes that Andries Bekker will need to outplay Nathan Sharpe at the lineout if the Stormers are going to claim the set-piece ascendancy in Perth.
In the pre-season, the Stormers would have identified the fixture against the Force as the easiest of their four-match tour to Australasia. As it’s transpired, the Force have struggled as the season has progressed, and to make matters worse their coach has quit in the middle of the competition. You wouldn’t expect them to trouble a team near the top of the log.
However, what would have been targeted as one of the Stormers more comfortable wins has suddenly become a big ask. The Stormers will travel to Perth without Schalk Burger or Duane Vermeulen. Eben Etzebeth is in doubt, and the latest news is that Nick Koster has a serious knee injury and will return to South Africa.
Nizaam Carr is expected to replace Vermeulen at the back of the Stormers scrum. It will be of some consolation that the front row remains intact, and coach Allister Coetzee will be hoping for a strong showing at this set piece.
What Coetzee will be less certain about is the impending battle at the lineout, as the Stormers will field a new combination and will be up against one of the game’s legends in Nathan Sharpe.
In Bekker and De Kock Steenkamp the Stormers have two fine lineout exponents, but they will miss Vermeulen at the tail. Rynhardt Elstadt has played a lot of Super Rugby in the second row, and may be asked to play a greater role at this set piece.
Despite languishing near the bottom of the log, the Force boast one of the better lineouts in the competition. In Sharpe they have one of the world’s best individual jumpers and lineout managers, as Victor Matfield himself has claimed on more than one occasion.
The Force are extremely competitive at the breakdown, and again they boast one of the world’s best in David Pocock in this area. Even in their depleted form, the Stormers should brace themselves for another scrap at the rucks and collisions, although if they can gain set-piece ascendancy it will make their task at the breakdown far easier.
Bekker is going to be crucial in this regard. If ever the Stormers needed a massive performance from the giant lock, it is in Perth this Saturday.
Bekker needs to ensure that the visitors win their own ball cleanly, but he also needs to disrupt Sharpe and company. If he proves successful, it will have a knock-on effect and deny the Force front-foot ball. If the Force are denied clean ball at the lineout, it will cut down their limited attacking options.
The Stormers have been far from consistent at the lineout, and were guilty of numerous errors in last week’s match against the Reds. Many of these mistakes were on their own ball, as they failed to secure possession in great field positions and in one instance sent a throw into the grateful hands of James Horwill just metres from their own tryline.
The latest bout of injuries mean the Stormers will field a new forward combination this Saturday, and so there is a chance that they will struggle for synergy at the lineouts yet again. It will be interesting to note how Bekker responds to this challenge, how he rallies his troops as a leader and how he fares as an individual jumper.
The lineout is one of the few weapons the Force have in their arsenal. The Stormers need to nullify this threat if they hope to win what is an important game in the context of both their tour and season.
Follow JC on Twitter
Follow SA Rugby magazine on Twitter
102 Comments
Pages: [1] 2 3 » Show All
25 Apr 2012, 08:30 am
Nathan Sharpe playing very good rugby…
and is top of the lineouts won log with 47…
bekker 5th on 31…
going to have to play above himself this weekend…!
hope his injury is really okay… don’t want him leaving the field early in the game…
25 Apr 2012, 08:47 am
It will also be vital that Liebenberg stays on the field for as long as possible.
If Fourie must throw the ball into this disrupted lineout it might be havoc.
He is a good player but arguably the worst thrower of a ball into the lineout in the whole competition.
Amazing that after all the years of playing at this level he just cannot master it.
25 Apr 2012, 08:53 am
@Robzim(Robzim)-2:
true rob…
also from a scrumming perspective titan needs to play the full 80… fourie just don’t cut it in the scrums… when he is at hooker we always struggle in the scrum…
i was thinking that someone like schalk ferreira or kritzinger… even blaau… should convert to hooker… deon is a dynamo in the loose… but a liability in the tight…
25 Apr 2012, 08:54 am
titan = tiaan…
25 Apr 2012, 08:58 am
so tiaan is a titan now…
wow…
25 Apr 2012, 09:00 am
@ufo(ufo)-3:
Agree, even against the reds the scrum started to come under pressure the moment Tiaan went off.I remember a few years ago Rassie wanted to convert ferreirea to hooker but his injury probably put an end to that plan. I think Tobias is the current Vodacom cup hooker but he is also a bit on the small side, perhaps even smaller than his dad who was a flyhalf. Callie Visagie was a big loss.
25 Apr 2012, 09:01 am
This match is a real potential banana skin for the Stormers. Will be very interesting to see how Nizaam Carr goes. He and Kolise will hopefully work well in tandem and add a bit of sparkle to the back row, but with out being out muscled. Crucial that Bekker plays well, the lineout against the Reds was highly disappointing despite the good result.
25 Apr 2012, 09:14 am
Before all the injuries this game looked to be the easiest for the Stormers on their Australasian tour, but now…..
Etesebeth
Vermeulen
Koster
Aplon
De Villiers
Huge game influencers.
Laaaank nervous.
25 Apr 2012, 09:16 am
Go Force!
Sharpe is cunning old warrior
25 Apr 2012, 09:16 am
The Stormers in reality should put this side away – if they are going to be contenders they have to secure games like this
25 Apr 2012, 09:21 am
If you want to win this competition you must trust in your depth.
25 Apr 2012, 09:26 am
We should be fine in the lineouts and have the upper hand in most other areas of play.
25 Apr 2012, 09:29 am
This is great as long as Bekker is fit.
If he aggravates an injury then we are in deep shite.
25 Apr 2012, 09:30 am
@houston, we have a problem…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-5: He is a titan and you are not very bright.
25 Apr 2012, 09:30 am
@greatest13gerber(greatest13gerber)-9: Aaah the OB ******** strikes again.
25 Apr 2012, 09:35 am
@Ufo, Tiaan “the Titan” Liebenberg. Lol
25 Apr 2012, 09:36 am
Love your work G13G.
25 Apr 2012, 09:39 am
Isnt it too soon to play bekker?we dont want to close the tourney with club players.
25 Apr 2012, 09:40 am
@houston, we have a problem…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-5:
hehehe
stoopid autotext… doesn’t know afrikaans names…
@Robzim(Robzim)-6:
yeah.. visagie was a big loss… but we def need to find a stronger hooker or two to back tiaan up… who can throw straight…
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-8:
yeah bud… i’m really nervous too… right now i think we will probably lose this… the force will see a chance to take stormers so will play above themselves…
the young guys have to step up… again… niazaam’s gonna have to show everyone why we rate him…!
at the beginning of the season i had no expectations so was very relaxed before our games… now…? sheesh, you don’t wanna know…
oh, the price we pay for supporting a great team…!!
25 Apr 2012, 09:41 am
@Slappes(Slappes)-16:
yeah… ghosts in the machine keep calling him that…!
25 Apr 2012, 09:41 am
@dr dre(dr dre)-14:
do you have a thing for kurtley..?…
25 Apr 2012, 09:47 am
@ufo(ufo)-19:
well if brick can be a rock and robbie fleck can be a legend then i suppose tiaan can be a titan… the intweb has spoken… a legend is born… hehehe
25 Apr 2012, 09:47 am
@ufo(ufo)-19: I haven’t seen enough to rate him highly. What little I have seen hasn’t overwhelmed me.
25 Apr 2012, 09:50 am
brick = brock (honest mistake)
intweb – interweb
25 Apr 2012, 09:50 am
@stew(stew)-10: poms starting to think now!
Wayne Smith in talks with England rugby coach
DUNCAN JOHNSTONE Last updated 08:53 24/04/2012
The ball is apparently in Wayne Smith’s court after the World Cup winning coach held “productive” talks with new England boss Stuart Lancaster about joining the Twickenham setup.
The meeting took place in South Africa last weekend as Smith, as assistant coach to the Chiefs, helped the New Zealand Super Rugby franchise complete an unbeaten tour that leaves them top of the table.
The Chiefs remarkable revival is further proof of Smith’s coaching abilities and why he is being head-hunted by an English system desperate to get some fluency into the game as they get set to host the next World Cup in 2015.
25 Apr 2012, 09:55 am
@houston, we have a problem…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-24:
ain’t karma a beach…?
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-23:
well… let’s hope that changes this weekend…!
25 Apr 2012, 09:56 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-25:
You are a big fan of Smithy, hey?
We have our own version of him in SA. Hawies Fourie.
25 Apr 2012, 09:56 am
@Robzim(Robzim)-6: Hi Robzim – trust that you are well. I have not made any comments for a long time. Callie Visagie is also battling with his lineout throwing. Agree about Fourie – the lineout from which the Reds scored should never have happened. It’s fine if you take a shortened lineout on your own 5m line, but (and I blame Steenkamp for this) you can’t bunch the men in the lineout so close to each other. All 4 Stormers were within 3 or 4 metres from 1 to 4, while Horwill was just waiting for a mistake at the back.
Although we need Bekker on Saturday, he should not be risked if he isn’t 100%!
Getting to the backs:I can’t understand why J P du Plessis stays on the bench. The Force match is the ideal opportunity to give him game time. Poolman has been called to Perth and will most probably start. Why not play Habana on the wing and Du Plessis at centre ? Du Plessis was taken on tour as back-up centre but Habana has been playing there. If another province wants to contract Du Plessis, he should take the opportunity. It can’t be good for his confidence when somebody from outside the initial touring party gets picked and he remains on the bench
25 Apr 2012, 09:58 am
Yepp. a bucket load of injuries, but i don’t think there’s a better team than the force to blood youngsters like Carr against. Is it just me or are Kolisi/Kitshoff not rookies anymore? They certainly don’t seem new to top flight rugby.
Also, Tiaan”Titan” Liebenberg’s lineout throwing hasn’exactly been impeccable this season or ever, forthat matter. If your target is the tallest lock to don the green and gold ever, but you still manage to make a hash of it ever so often, then how good a lineout thrower is the “Titan” actually?
25 Apr 2012, 09:59 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-25:
Still obsessing…??
25 Apr 2012, 09:59 am
@dr dre(dr dre)-15:
Support
first: NTvl
second: Any team against province
third: SA
25 Apr 2012, 10:01 am
@Die_Bleskop_Waarheid(Die_Bleskop_Waarheid)-29:
they do have an impressive maturity to them for such young guys… would say they both have years of experience… etzebeth too…
25 Apr 2012, 10:06 am
@willievz(willievz)-27: True. You cannot help but be impressed with their skill level and backline play. they are easily the team with the beast handling backline. I was under the impression it had something to do with Michael Horak as well.
It’s interesting to see quite a few young coaches emerging. Even the Boks’ new forwards coach is fairly young.
25 Apr 2012, 10:08 am
@ufo(ufo)-30: where’s JK coaching?
25 Apr 2012, 10:10 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-34:
hehehe
touché…
wish it was in cape town…!!
25 Apr 2012, 10:11 am
@Die_Bleskop_Waarheid(Die_Bleskop_Waarheid)-29: Kitshoff and Kolisi have stepped up big time!! No it is Carr’s opportunity to show his worth. What I don’t understand about Bekker’s lineout calling is: it has often happened that the Stormers’ first lineout of the match is on their 22m line. Bekker then often goes to the back of the lineout. I know they are all professionals, but I still think the first lineout should be thrown to the front or else to Bekker himself. The guys warm up and do lineouts etc. but then they go back to the changing rooms. The fisrt lineout is often about 15 minutes later. The bottom line is that it’s fine to throw at the back when you’ve had some lineouts in the match. I agree that Liebenberg did not have a good match regarding the lineouts, but Bekker often shows his frustration with Liebenberg or Fourie when they miss the target – it does not help the hooker’s confidence when he is “dissed” by Bekker. In that regard, Bekker sitll needs to mature before he can take over Matfield’s role for the Booke
25 Apr 2012, 10:12 am
@willievz(willievz)-27: yep, massive fan.
i was over the moon when i met him last year and had a chance to pick his brain, very affable man. mad respect for him.
yeah i rate hawies too!
was suprised when heyneke said he poached pine pienaar from the cheetahs to spark the bulls’ ball-in-hand high tempo approach.
25 Apr 2012, 10:12 am
@ufo(ufo)-26:
hehehe
25 Apr 2012, 10:26 am
I feel for deon Fourie
playing flank and hooker
common Province thing.
25 Apr 2012, 10:35 am
@greatest13gerber(greatest13gerber)-31: It must burn you that WP beat Ntvl a few weeks back haha
smoke that !
25 Apr 2012, 10:58 am
@greatest13gerber(greatest13gerber)-39: ya, he’s a bit like uli schmidt in that regard…..
25 Apr 2012, 11:05 am
@CharlesM(CharlesM)-28:
Hi Charles,
I am fine thks, hope you are well too.
Re the lineouts– i spoke to Wikus last year at gym and asked him about the throwing etc. He obviously did not blame anyone but gave me a long complicated story about different new combinations, responsibilities etc.. He seemed to know what he was talking about and i was not going to argue with him (he is very big as well, lol)
I agree with you re the backs- Poolman had about 8 starts last year and never really impressed- seems to be a yard too slow as well-huge pity that AC seems reluctant to give the exciting but inexperienced du plessis a go instead.
Lets hope for the best for Sat.
25 Apr 2012, 11:10 am
Becker’s ‘Tall Order’
See what Cardinelli is doing there??
Like your work Jon…..
(Eyebrows raised smiley) !
25 Apr 2012, 11:11 am
@Robzim(Robzim)-42:
Do you ever do any work Robzim?
(Just asking) !!
25 Apr 2012, 11:12 am
I was so worried about the Stormers ‘Loose Trio’, I hardly got a wink of sleep!!
25 Apr 2012, 11:29 am
@greatest13gerber(greatest13gerber)-31: Know what the defintion of a Western Province player is?
Somebody whose ancestors failed the Medical for the Great Trek…
25 Apr 2012, 11:31 am
@carol(carol)-45: loose trio = 3 australian chicks
25 Apr 2012, 11:32 am
@BrumbiesBoy(BrumbiesBoy)-46: thank g0d my ancestors failed that test.
25 Apr 2012, 11:43 am
@the peanut gallery(peanut)-47:
Where are they?
25 Apr 2012, 11:47 am
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-49: any three. you know what they say – there are only 2 things in life you can be sure of: death and australian farm girls…
Pages: [1] 2 3 » Show All
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.