Carr’s season is done
13 May 2012
Allister Coetzee confirmed on Sunday that Stormers No 8 Nizaam Carr has torn his ACL and has been ruled out for the rest of the campaign.
The Stormers have already lost Schalk Burger, Duane Vermeulen and Nick Koster for extensive periods due to injury. They brought in Canadian loose forward Jebb Sinclair during the week to bolster their back-row ranks, but suffered another blow during Saturday’s game against the Cheetahs when Carr went down with a serious knee injury.
After the game, Coetzee said that he expected Carr’s lay-off to be a lengthy one. It was confirmed following further tests on Sunday that Carr has sustained serious damage and will miss the rest of the season.
Coetzee added that he may have to promote one of the Vodacom Cup forwards for next week’s clash against the Waratahs. There is also the possibility that a forward from outside of the region may be recruited.
Coetzee did say he was impressed with the way Sinclair performed when asked to replace Carr during Saturday’s match.
Sinclair only arrived in South Africa on Wednesday, and has had minimal time to adapt to the Stormers’ structures.
139 Comments
12 May 2012, 22:12 pm
Vuilgat Cheetahs!!First the Bulls came to Cape Town trying to beat us with vuilgat tactics and now these scum from Bloem.Both times they lost ,so what next now boys?
12 May 2012, 22:17 pm
Yip, vuilgat Cheetahs but thanks for the win, and next week they gonna klap those guppies.
12 May 2012, 22:20 pm
Luke Watson?
12 May 2012, 22:46 pm
sinclair didnt know what the fcuc to do on the field today
12 May 2012, 22:52 pm
@saru1983(saru1983)-4:
Disagree
He had to fly in from N hemispehere had little time to practice with Stormers
And had to come in an play 8, with hardly any practice time or game time
He defended well, made a number of tackles including a few defending the line down to 14 men, and carried the ball well and protected it
he was fine at the base of the scrum and never gave away a turn over or a penalty
So explain why he was so Kuk?
12 May 2012, 23:40 pm
thats pretty bad luck! hurry back schalkie we need you!
13 May 2012, 00:03 am
Rynhardt Elstadt is a vuilgat as well.
13 May 2012, 00:07 am
tough luck nizaam…
but time’s on your side… you will be back…
13 May 2012, 01:02 am
Vuilgat Stormers. Vulgar fans.
13 May 2012, 01:03 am
don’t be surprised if bekker is also sidelined….
13 May 2012, 01:04 am
And dom, very dom.
13 May 2012, 01:41 am
And now for the Kiwi teams to moer that other vuilgat team from next week.They will probably nee only to moer 14 bulletjies because Spies is a useless PU SSY.
13 May 2012, 03:25 am
How many weeks is Fourie going to get off for punching?
At least he will be able to keep Elstadt company at the “high-performance centre”.
13 May 2012, 05:46 am
@saru1983(saru1983)-4:
K@k stories, w@nker. Sinclair was solid on defence, and crossed the gain line four times. Voets#k!
13 May 2012, 05:47 am
@Kleuter(Kleuter)-9:
Hello Tea party, to$$er.
13 May 2012, 07:04 am
Seems like a lot of big mouths on here today!
13 May 2012, 07:54 am
I see Saracens have been knocked out so their season is over now,
This means that we can possibly get someone like Ernst Joubert or Schalk Britz if we need too,
13 May 2012, 08:27 am
@saru1983(saru1983)-4: Completely baseless idiotic statement. Same as all the people complaining about him being flown in.
Considering the circumstances, he did really well. Given another week to get used to the structures he might turn out to be a very good cover until some of the others recover.
And, while I’m a Stormers fan, that whole thing was started by Elstadt, who is a renowned vuilgat. Stormers were the guilty party.
13 May 2012, 09:31 am
@CoachPete(CoachPete)-5: I never said he is a kak player all i said is he did not know what to do on the field.Be it that the reason could be everything you mentioned.If you were at the game u could see he looked a little bit more than unsure of where he should be
@lepel(lepel)-18: Im trying to think of a reply for u but people who start sentences the way you do dont usually warrant one
13 May 2012, 09:33 am
@KeurboomPark(KeurboomPark)-14: ur are u his girlfriend.
13 May 2012, 13:38 pm
Luke Watson would be a good option. He knows the players and managment and also has plenty of experience and leadership qualities.
13 May 2012, 13:51 pm
@Rhys7(Rhys7)-21:
I agree and he’d provide a nice balance for Elstadt and Kolisi.
13 May 2012, 14:15 pm
just like Jake the fake snake Coetsee will be far too chicken to touch Luke Watson with a barge pole., just imagine Stormers had to go on and win the gdamn competition with Watson at 8 or 6, the Burger clan and their hero worship contingent of arse licker claptrap confederation of supporters wouldn’t live it down in a month of blue moons let alone Sundays.., they far rather import some foreign alien from Calgary or some far off colloquial colony of convenience than stoop to the ultimate obvious solution and pick one of our own sons from next door coz its a far more ‘safe’ non contentious option.
13 May 2012, 14:55 pm
@skopskiet(skopskiet)-23:
I think Watson would be subject to the rule that bars players signed after April 1 from competing in playoffs and semis/final.
13 May 2012, 15:38 pm
Stormers are no angels, but those cheetahs are filthy conniving vuilgatte. Anyway, they’re the sharks problem on saturday…:D
13 May 2012, 16:28 pm
Vuilgatte: Both teams were guilty of niggle with the Strompies (and Fourie & Elstadt in particular) certainly the worst offenders.
Jeb: There is no player on this planet who would shine on debut in a pressure cooker like that. I think he deserves a little more respect than what he’s getting.
13 May 2012, 18:56 pm
I may say something controversial now, but in the bigger scheme of things – if you look at overall value added to a team over the course of a career – I think I actually prefer players that incorporate an element of self preservation into their game,
Yes, a guy like Spies may not engage in suicidal collisions like Schalk Burger does, and may well display a sense of “picking his collisions carefully”, but here he is so far uninjured and fulfilling an invaluable role in our team.
Sure, other players are less cautious, and like to put their bodies on the line, but see the result of that:
Jacques Potgieter – bust knee
Stegman – bust arm
Schalk Burger – bust knee
Alberts – never healing shoulder and now half the player he used to be
Dewald Potgieter – only now recovering from an injury cause by throwing it all into the game when he wasn’t properly matchfit yet.
Vermeulend – loves the collissions and now worth squat to the Stormers as a result of injury
The list goes on and on.
The point is, in terms of value for money, the Stormers are paying a salary to Vermeulen and Burger just like the Bulls are to Spies, but so far we have gotten 10 games worth of value for that money.
Sure, he could get injured in the next game, but I do think that a more cautious approach to protecting your body pays off in the end.
Both for the player and for the team.
13 May 2012, 19:23 pm
Brilliant Tacitus! Brilliant, what a curve ball to support Spies. ‘Picking his moments’ Excellent!
This from a supporter of the quintissential physical team in SA. That’s what flyhalves do! Left Field indeed!
On another point concerning physicallity,, Vuilgat James Haskell had his suspension increased to 4 weeks as the brilliant men on the citing cvommision neglected to look at hais long record outside of the Super 15. Turns out he was banned for a week for headbutting when he was playing for WASPS. Haskell said he did not think this information was ‘important’.
I am astounded. I supose at some point Haskel had to inform the comitee of any previous scrapes with the law. Mkae of this what you will.
Astounding!
13 May 2012, 19:29 pm
@Rhys7(Rhys7)-21:
He will kots on that siff jersey.
Deservedly so.
13 May 2012, 19:30 pm
@hensopper1(hensopper1)-28:
All I’m saying is that it is obvious that Spies doesn’t just “bliksem head first into opposition players” like Schalk or Jacques Potgieter does.
And while it’s nice to have such players in your team, it’s also nice to have guys playing for extended periods without injuries.
13 May 2012, 19:32 pm
The xenophobia of some here is disturbing.
Welcome to SA Sinclair. You played well on Saturday. Next thing stormers supporters will be waving cards at their games saying ‘auslanders raus!’
13 May 2012, 19:38 pm
Point taken Tacitus, but that would mean somebody else in the backrow needs to be doing the hard, injury risk work. The injury toll on players is getting worse every year though.
Not a good trend at all.
13 May 2012, 19:46 pm
@Hens, Xenophobia?? Watch the words you use mate
13 May 2012, 19:53 pm
some of those canucks are tough rednecks make no mistake if he’s good enough play him, but the obvious selection would have seen fourie go to 6, elstadt at 7, kolisi at 8 and liebenberg at 2 – that would still be championship team – but if fourie is banned for punching and sinclair being unknown commodity gaps may be starting to appear, luckily enough they’ve won so many that they probably qualify, but they want a home semi and final to win it.
13 May 2012, 20:03 pm
Papoose.
Xenophobia means the resentment or fear of foreigners. If a line of thought exists that foreigners are not welcome ahead of locals, that is xenophobia.
The Stormers management are not, some supporters are though.
Why must I watch my words? Am I not allowed to express my opinion. You are not my mate as far as I know.
13 May 2012, 20:03 pm
I hope that the Stormers fans who are going on about the Cheetahs on this thread realize that none of them had anything to do with Carr’s injury. It was just a freak accident, with no tackle involved, as he was rushing into a ruck. Watching it I knew immediately he had torn his ACL.
13 May 2012, 20:04 pm
Also, Sinclair looked pretty good to me. Some of you guys are blind.
13 May 2012, 20:06 pm
they normally do the acl if skiing, thats a really bad injury, i think its probably worst than a fracture – things always weak – poor bugger, young talent.
13 May 2012, 20:15 pm
@cab(cab)-38: @cab(cab)-38:
Isn’t the cruciate ligament the really bad one?
13 May 2012, 20:18 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-39:
Unless the “C” in ACL stands for cruciate.
As you can see, I’m no medical expert.
13 May 2012, 20:22 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-40: Yes, that’s what the C stands for.
13 May 2012, 20:24 pm
Luke Watson would be an inspirational choice. If not available, what about Kitshof. He has been a very good loosie.
13 May 2012, 20:26 pm
Minimum 6 months, usually more.
13 May 2012, 20:35 pm
I don’t think Watson is eligible. But even if he could play, I wouldn’t pick him. Partly to spite keo and HSM, but mostly because he’s an egotist. Let him learn that there is no “god” in “team”.
13 May 2012, 20:37 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-39:
I think there are 2 or 3 of them, the anterior (A) and medial ligaments, but the anterior one is the one snow-skiers after get when you drop forward onto it from a height, the knee is pretty much kaput and they got problems rehabilitating it.
13 May 2012, 20:40 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-44:
In any case, don’t think the Stormers pay as well as the Kings. There’s no sense in Luke downgrading from a salary perspective…
13 May 2012, 20:43 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-46: Particularly when you consider he hasn’t played for a while (at least not the Kings games I saw). I think daddy’s paying him a tidy sum for little to no results.
13 May 2012, 20:48 pm
after = often, think anterior runs down centre of knee, medial on the sides.
they probably should use Watson if Fourie is out and he’s elligible.
13 May 2012, 20:49 pm
This is sad news, some ACL injuries never come right.
I really hope Nizaam is one of those who do get back to full fitness.
13 May 2012, 20:51 pm
Since they’re poaching Canucks anyway, I reckon they should ship Kleeberger over here. I know he’s more of an openside flank, but he’s damn good.
But if it’s a straight replacement at 8 they’re after, Ernst Joubert or Joe van Niekerk would be my next phone call.
13 May 2012, 20:57 pm
How come it’s always the Stormers bringing in these overseas based players in emergencies?
If the Bulls do it, it is always a planned thing since before the season started, like Jacko getting released from Japan, or Rayno Gerber returning to Pretoria.
Same as Grant returning from Japan. It was always planned.
But that’s very different from going onto an online shopping list and checking which Canadians or Saracens or French League players migh be available to fill in at the last minute?
Remember the Schalk Brits controversy?
What’s up with the Stormers and not sticking to the squads they start with? It’s a southern hemisphere tournament, guys. Not “hire in whatever global mercenary happens to be available from one game to the next”
Sort your sh*t out man.
13 May 2012, 21:05 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-51: I’d like to agree with you here, but part of me (most likely the part that lived there) knows that most international players wouldn’t voluntarily settle in Pretoria for longer than a weekend unless some badass Mexicans were holding their entire family hostage, which is probably why the Bulls never do this.
The Stormers simply have to post an ad on Gumtree offering a Sea Point bachelor flat, the use of a late 90′s Opel Corsa and R300 a week, and the applications come streaming in.
Geographical snobbery is a real fcker.
13 May 2012, 21:08 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-52:
Hehe.
I just have a problem with the idea that you start your tournament with a certain squad and then 2 weeks before the play-offs you buy Jonny Wilkinson, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Luke Mcallister and Frans Steyn out of their European contracts and include them in your starting line up for the next game.
There should be rules against that kind of thing.
13 May 2012, 21:10 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-50: Yes Sarries have just completed their season so Joubert is the most likely choice.
I think Joe still has some rugby to play.
13 May 2012, 21:11 pm
Tac stop with your Stormers whininng already.
13 May 2012, 21:12 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-55:
What? Stop now, after 9 years on this blog, give or take a few months?
13 May 2012, 21:14 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-53: I think there is some kind of rule that says that players have to be signed as squad members by a certain date if they are to feature in the play-offs *
*does not apply to the Stormers because of their sheer marketability and fantastic support.
13 May 2012, 21:16 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-53: There are rules against this sort of thing. Those players not part of the official squad before a certain date can play in the league stages but not in the play-offs.
The fact is, this is actually an exceptional circumstance. 4 front line loose forwards are unavailable. The 5th one that was drafted in as cover from the VC team( I forget his name) got injured as well. That’s never something you plan for in your squad. The fact that we have 6 top class loose forwards is in itself a credit to the Union.
The Bulls have never faced that level of injury crisis, possibly due to the Pierre Spies holding himself tactic that you mentioned earlier.
Also, WP are still contesting the VC and need some loose forwards for that competition too, which is why AC is looking outside of the Union. We have to look elsewhere, simple necessity.
13 May 2012, 21:18 pm
“exceptional circumstances”
Told you the Stormers had their own criteria.
Next we’ll be told they must get 5 points for a bye and not 4 because of the ****** weather they must train in.
13 May 2012, 21:21 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-58:
Well, our Vodacom Cup team was contesting the semis, but that didn’t stop us from having our priorities right and pulling Rayno Gerber and Van Velze out to help the S15 team at the last minute.
Anyway, if that French captain from the World cup final – forgot his name – runs out of the Bulls in place of the injured Stegman next weekend it just won’t feel right. But maybe that’s just me.
13 May 2012, 21:22 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-59: Hahahaha prat.
The Stormers got Britz and the Sharks got Michelak.
So it’s not just a Stormers thing.
Must be a coastal teams thing.
13 May 2012, 21:22 pm
of = for
13 May 2012, 21:24 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-61:
I purposefully didn’t pull the Sharks into the equation, as it is counter productive to my strategy of organising an anti Stormers gang-up on this Sunday evening.
Stop deflecting now.
13 May 2012, 21:27 pm
Didn’t the Stormers also bring in the Aussie brothers Manny and Huia Edmonds not so long ago because of “exceptional circumstances”? Someone had a hurty toe, I think.
13 May 2012, 21:28 pm
One or two foreign players coming in to our squads are a good thing. They bring something new. Too many can cause a problem. Look at Italy not having one front line flyhalf in their clubs to choose for thei national squad. All of them are foreign.
As a rule it is a massive advantage to the Southern hemisphere teams that they are mostly forced to grow their own.
Still, this is good all round, and altruisticaly and hopefully not sounding arrogant, this Canadian Sinclair has had a baptism of fire in a typically intense South African game.
Good for SA, good for Canada. Everybody should be happy.
13 May 2012, 21:29 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-64:
Ja, look, no need to plan your squad for the season. Much easier to take it game by game, buying in whoever you need to fill up any shortcomings when they might develop.
13 May 2012, 21:31 pm
I think Springbok Lobbert is available?
13 May 2012, 21:33 pm
@Hondo(Hondo)-67: Indeed. Alistair Coetzee must be a white supremacist for overlooking him. You two might even know each other.
13 May 2012, 21:33 pm
@Hondo(Hondo)-67:
Hehe.
One of your rare good posts.
Law of averages says your next one will dream up some obscure refereeing decision again that favoured the Bulls again this weekend.
13 May 2012, 21:35 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-60: We already pulled our players put at the beginning of the season. We would never have had place for 6 loose forwards in the squad:
Burger
Koster
Kolisi
Vermeulen
Carr
Elstadt
Both Carr and Elstadt played VC rugby earlier in the season, Carr was pulled in to replace Koster.
The other tall loosie Don Armand who was on the bench 3 weeks ago was also flown out to Aus when Vermeulen was injured (and then he also got injured). That’s 2 players who were playing VC the week before, and were regulars for the season. So we’ve done exactly that, elevated the VC players.
The question is, what would you guys do if those guys also got injured??
Burger
Vermeulen
Koster
Were to be the original starting line up. All are injured
Now
Carr
Armand
are also injured.
Leaving us with
Elstadt
Kolisi
Now I don’t expect you to see this our way, but really. I know we have the reputation of breeding the countries best players, but you can only give so many experience before you have to look elsewhere.
the fact is, AC is now basically forced to look to some more of the youngsters as I don’t really see him flying in another overseas player.
13 May 2012, 21:37 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-70:
Pity the Lions didn’t have these kind of options after losing something like 13 of their first choice players, hey.
13 May 2012, 21:43 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-70:
Seriously though, one has to question the conditioning at the Stormers considering such a freakish list of injuries.
Are the guys really up to facing Super Rugby match conditions?
In the case of the Bulls, two of our loose forward injuries were to guys who in hindsight maybe returned before they were really ready, and one was to a guy who bliksems into contact like a kamakazi and for whom its a miracle that he completes even one game intact.
13 May 2012, 21:44 pm
You whine all the time. Unbecoming. Stormers are there you can’t wish them away.
So live with it. Bulls are better anyway not so.
Paranoid.
13 May 2012, 21:44 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-71: How dare you compare the Lions’ predicament with that of the Stormers. You’ll have half the forum here choking on their Chai Tea.
13 May 2012, 21:44 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-68:
AC may have his reasons?
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-70:
I am doing fine with my wagers on the Super15, scoring nearly 85% and the affiliation of the match referees are the No 1 consideration
13 May 2012, 21:46 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-71: They have exactly the same options as we do.
The fact that they didn’t utilise them (for various reason, not the least being the fact that the overseas seasons were very much still going full steam ahead and therefore they could not have contracted an overseas player as easily) is not our problem.
The LIons don’t have the depth we do, everyone knows this. Again that’s not our problem.
We didn’t anticipate at the beginning of the season the Siya Kolisi would be the find that he was, or even Etsebeth (Elstadt would be playing 4 lock) or Carr.
These guys were very much untested at this level until this season. Remember all the people who were forecasting a disastrous season for the Stormers without Flo? And then when Burger got injured the same thing again?
13 May 2012, 21:49 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-72: I’ve posted many times this season about the Stormers style of play and the fact that our defence at all costs strategy means that we have to make many tackles per game more than other teams, with the result that injuries are more common and player exhaustion is a real factor.
Simple physics Cornelius.
13 May 2012, 21:51 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-76:
Indeed. I remember it quite well. I was one of them.
If you recall, I said that it was a good thing that the Stormers beat the Sharks by a last minute penalty at Newlands, as the Sharks would be the biggest threat later in the season.
As it turns out, the Stormers at full strength only beat the weakened Sharks by one kick at Newlands. Now the broken Stormers have to go to Kings Park to face a rejuvenated Sharks team that only trails them by 9 points on the log.
Therefore, if the Stormers lose that game and one more game – say the one at Loftus – then the Sharks will indeed overtake them on the log.
Imagine if they’d beaten the Stormers at home in March, then they would REALLY be sitting pretty on the log right now.
The home stretch is gonna be a thrilling ride.
13 May 2012, 21:54 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-78: Yes it is.
Yes it is.
In the words of Mills Lane:
Let’s get it on!
13 May 2012, 21:57 pm
Mark my words. One more injury and the Stormers will be calling for uncontested rucks.
13 May 2012, 21:59 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-80:
Uncontested rucks!
13 May 2012, 22:01 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-80:
13 May 2012, 22:02 pm
Yep, and those tackles where you must rip the sock from the waistband of the opponent’s shorts. We’re not a long way off.
13 May 2012, 23:16 pm
It is amazing to see how many players have injured their knees, ACL is a *****, torn mine five years ago and never recovered.
Must be the guys studs or boots, but also the sheer amount of rugby, once knees can’t hold out for so long.
Also note, that its mainly loose forwards with knee injuries, probably because of the style the play, low to the ground and having to make adjustments.
If I was the stormers I would look at the players technique and ensure that they don’t put any strain on their knees.
13 May 2012, 23:19 pm
I guess if the Stormers don’t win the title they are going to say it was a watered down competition, with all the injuries, and the winners are not really the champs.
13 May 2012, 23:19 pm
For those interested Ab training squad:
Charlie Faumuina.. Maa Nonu, Kevin Meleamu, Piri Weepu, Ali Williams, Tony Woodcock, Sam Cane, Aaron Cruden, Richard Kahui, Tawera Kerr Barlow, Brodie Retallick, Ben Tameifuna, Sonny Bill Williams, Beauden Barrett, Cory Jane, Julian Savea, Brad Shields, Conrad Smith, Victor Vito, Daniel Carter, Wyatt Crockett, Israel Dagg, Andy Ellis, Ben Franks, Owen Franks, Richie McCaw, Kieran Read, Luke Ramano, Luke Whitelock, Sam Whitelock.., Tamati Ellison, Andrew Hore, Aaron Smith, Ben Smith, Adam Thompson
14 May 2012, 00:08 am
@Te Rangatira(Te Rangatira)-86: inetersting suqad..
how the fck can Williams get a start? the bloke has been poor all season, does not deserve to be there… with selections like his I have no faith in Hansen..
Piri Weepu? Nonu? Mealamu? no third young hooker to blood? heard rumours Taimefuna may be the 3rd hooker? but hes played there once or twice only for HB I think.. of the Blues selections (5) I think only Woodcock deserves to be there… not sold on Faumuina, think his defense can be very suspect..
Adam Thompson? WTF? guy is not up to international standard, good super player but cant reach that next level needed..
No Andre taylor? wtf?
pleased for TKB, Retallick, Cane and Aaron Smith… just rewards for good seasons..
not sure on Ramano, Luke Whitelock and Shields…
14 May 2012, 00:13 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-87:
“”pleased for TKB, Retallick, Cane and Aaron Smith…………………”
Thanks Popps,
I’ll send my 2nd AB’s Jersey to you.
8)
14 May 2012, 00:22 am
@cane(cane)-88: they are all deserving mate… but will be interesting to see who doesnt make the 30 man squad, lucky for us that Ireland have been ordinary up north…
14 May 2012, 00:32 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-87:
When I really take a good look at that squad it is rather good. The young guys….Cane, Retallick,Savea, Shields,Tameifuna,Kerr Barlow, Aaron Smith, Luke Whitelock, Beauden Barrett, Luke Ramano have the potential to play test rugby.
But Hansen taking a gamble on Ali Williams and Thompson to grow another leg when they put the black jersey on.
As for those who missed out…. Andre Taylor, Messam, Jose Gear etc ….thems the breaks…….. Kahui’s injury leaves an opening though.
14 May 2012, 00:36 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-87:
As for third hooker…… probably three candidates…..Hika Elliot, Coles or Corey Flynn…. can call one of them in at any time.
14 May 2012, 00:37 am
@Te Rangatira(Te Rangatira)-90: shame for kahui, always seems to be getting injured.. could have been a true great if not for this reason…
I do like the fact he has brought in a number of young guys, just being in the AB culture will or should provide the incentive for them to continue to work on their game… it also shows he is building for the future…
14 May 2012, 00:40 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-92:
Yeah……. wont see many of those young ones fronting in the first test though….perhaps Retallick only
14 May 2012, 00:45 am
@Te Rangatira(Te Rangatira)-93: agree… will stick with the tried and tested.. I imagine something like this
Dagg
)
Jane
Savea/Ellison/Smith (since Kahui wont claim his spot)
C Smith
Nonu/SBW
Carter
Ellis (better form then Weepu, how sad is that
Read
McCaw
Vito (better than Thompson)
Retallick
Whitelock
Franks
Hore
Woodcock
at most two new ABs, one forced by injury imho..
14 May 2012, 00:49 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-94: thats B Smith as a wing option in the above list..
14 May 2012, 00:58 am
Dagg
Jane
Ben Smith
Conrad Smith
Nonu
Carter
Weepu (to take the kicks if needed)
Read
McCaw
Thompson….. cross your toes
Whitelock
Williams
Franks
Hore
Woodcock
14 May 2012, 01:03 am
@Te Rangatira(Te Rangatira)-96:
Bench- Retallick, Franks, Cruden,Sbw,Vito. Ellis,Romano
14 May 2012, 01:04 am
@Te Rangatira(Te Rangatira)-93: @poppa69(poppa69)-92:
My Team would be:
Woodcock,
Hore,
Crockett.
Retalik,
Whitelock,
Thompson,
McCaw,(if 100%)
Reid,
Ellis,
Carter (if 100%),
Kahui,
SBW,
Conrad Smith,
Guilford.
Jane.
Bench: Tameifuna, Coles, Donnelly, Vito.
Kerr-Barlow, Cruden, Kahui.
I’m still happy enough with the squad just the same.
14 May 2012, 01:05 am
@Te Rangatira(Te Rangatira)-96: please god noooooo… Thompson at 6???? seriously bro? lol
we are doomed…
Weepu shouldnt be there at all !!!
14 May 2012, 01:11 am
@cane(cane)-98: not sure on Crockett, he seems to be a bit of a penalty attraction in the scrums lately… poor technique? too tall?
Guilfords not in the squad though.. I know he could be called in, but I would have thought you name your training squad with a view to formulating your team from that… still a month away so I expect one or two changes due to injury..
14 May 2012, 01:12 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-99:
Yep…..Thompson to be a late bloomer….in the Frank Bunce mould……..as for Weepu….he needs to stick to his diet and he’ll be fine
14 May 2012, 01:18 am
@Te Rangatira(Te Rangatira)-101: nah, reached his ceiling imo… Vito is the future, especially with Kaino off to line his wallet.. why not give him the opportunity to build a long term partnership with Read? two dynamic runners with decent skills… potential alone would have me select Vito over Thompson…
you think thompson should play for Samoa first, ala Bunce?
I expect we may get a bit of stick for hijacking a Saffa/Stormers thread guys..
14 May 2012, 01:20 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-100:
Not a fan of Guilford…. just something about him… can’t put my finger on it…… yes expect some injuries…… one day we have to say goodbye to Richie and Dan….so picking some young ones is a good move. As for Wyatt Crocketts scrum technique don’t really care cause scrums such a lottery these days… don’t know what referees are looking at …when it comes to scrums
14 May 2012, 01:25 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-102:
Thompson needs to put his amazing stats in the gym out on the field….. I know we’ve been waiting a long time for that to happen….. but in the words of Sam Cooke…….Theres a change a comin….. otherwise send him off to Apia.
14 May 2012, 01:25 am
@Te Rangatira(Te Rangatira)-103: I do like his workrate and his speed, not always confident in his ability under the highball, I think his size is probably the reason why he wasnt selected..
Dont think Crockett has maintained the form he showed last year..
14 May 2012, 01:33 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-105:
Yep, Crockett not as good with the ball in hand this year… hopefully he can recapture that form.
Guilford can win you a game or lose you one…….. those sort of guys never become long term Abs unless they sort out there mistake rate….. eg Maa Nonu
14 May 2012, 01:47 am
@Te Rangatira(Te Rangatira)-106: agree… think Nonu has been on the wane, but that could also be due to the fact hes playing outside an inexperienced 1st five and is not receiving good quality ball..
14 May 2012, 02:42 am
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-27:
defending non rugby values and a second rate loose forward in Spies. Rugby is a man’s game. It is all about risk. Otherwise nobody would watch it.
14 May 2012, 02:46 am
@kaksioek(kaksioek)-37:
Agreed. Sinclair stepped into the coal face with no hesitation. And the Cheetahs are a great side. I love their attitude. It is do or die. Strauss is a top man, and he leads by example. The Stormers needed a kick up the arse.
14 May 2012, 02:50 am
@>^..^< katman(katman)-52:
This is the most original comment I have read in weeks. I lagged my gat af. Lekker humour, Katman
14 May 2012, 02:52 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-107:
Sorry Pops had some paying customers come in unexpectedly………Maa is a proven asset…… shown some aggro the past few weeks…..will lift his game when he goes into Ab mode… where there are better players around him.
14 May 2012, 03:00 am
@Te Rangatira(Te Rangatira)-111: agree, thats why I think he will get the spot.. a lot of people think SBW’s will get the starting role, but Hansen is also known to be pretty loyal to those who have done the job in the past… I remember when it was harder to get into the ABs team then to drop out…
exciting times for us, and overall I do like the look of the squad chosen… just one or two borderline selections worry me, as stated hooker and A. Williams mainly…
14 May 2012, 03:18 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-112:
I’m a fan of Sbw, but you have to question his plans for the future……. if Abs can deal to the Irish in the first test, may look to blood a few more young ones in the second……. will probably have to rotate squad come the Championship and with the Northern tour bring in a few more young ones from outside this training squad…..Tj Perenara, the hooker from Hurricanes?…
14 May 2012, 03:22 am
@Te Rangatira(Te Rangatira)-113: Perenaras the halfback… you mean Dane Coles? yeah still pretty raw but does look promising.. first test will be the most crucial in the Irish series, and agree if we get the result the team could look very different in the second test..
14 May 2012, 03:28 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-114:
Yep…everything hinges on that first test….I stated it would be close to catastrophic if we lose to Ireland for Hansen and co. One day we will lose to them…..hopefully not in this century.
14 May 2012, 03:30 am
@Te Rangatira(Te Rangatira)-113:
Oh TJ Perenara and the hooker , Dan Coles
14 May 2012, 03:30 am
@Te Rangatira(Te Rangatira)-115: hopefully not in my lifetime, and I plan to be around for a while yet..
re the hookers, I hope we can unearth one that can hit his jumpers, because this is a skill lacking almost across the board really..
14 May 2012, 03:42 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-117:
So true, our hookers seem to get the yips , usually the difference between winning and losing. Sometimes Abs get too technical with their moving around of the jumpers. …….. Read is so important come line out time…..and with Kaino gone……looking for a fourth…..but McCaw can get a few.
14 May 2012, 03:53 am
@Te Rangatira(Te Rangatira)-118: yeah, but hey Shag was the man who devised the play for Woodcock to score in the WC final, so maybe he can right this aspect (not holding too much hope though lol)..
hence my inclusion of Vito before Thompson, think he offers a bit more skill come lineout time..
gotta run bro, will be back in a couple of hours..
ka kite ano..
14 May 2012, 04:01 am
Ae……..catch you up….
14 May 2012, 04:20 am
What is the idea of the training squad, are they egtting together at some stage? I assume NZ has the same short turnaround time as SA…
How is the truce holding up pops?
14 May 2012, 04:27 am
@Slartibartfast(Slartibartfast)-121:
Those players come together at some stage, then they have a cull down to 30, I expect………then Hansen will choose his 22 playing squad…. with the other hanging around or going who knows where.
When does HM pick his squad?
14 May 2012, 04:32 am
What an interesting weekend of rugby, what was the odds of the Blues being the only NZ team to win against overseas opposition?
In the other matches I thought the Cheetahs got closer than what I expected and the Sharks just blew the…err Force away!
Results opens up the log very wide now with anyone from 9 up still in the run for that elusive 6th spot!
14 May 2012, 04:38 am
@Te Rangatira(Te Rangatira)-122:
No idea TR but he had those sessions with all the unions not so long ago, of course that included every man and his dog. The idea I got though is that he will pick a team who will get together a week before the first test and that is that. Maybe I missed some article to the contrary though…sure someone will correct me if I am wrong.
14 May 2012, 04:41 am
@Slartibartfast(Slartibartfast)-123:
Very interesting….The Bulls may have a say on which Nz Franchise gets in or fades away. Looking forward to Nz & Sa teams beating up on each other……May leave a hole for the Reds to slip into 6th spot.
14 May 2012, 04:46 am
@Slartibartfast(Slartibartfast)-124:
Someone will know , seems a week isn’t long enough.
14 May 2012, 04:57 am
@Te Rangatira(Te Rangatira)-125:
Reds need to keep on winning to make it, if they get on a roll that is quite possible with their hardest away game against the Brumbies and if they build momentum then the Worrytahs will be no problem at the end.
Noted the Bulls next two games will have a massive impact on the standings, Winning is imperative for the Highlanders and a little less for the Chiefs…
14 May 2012, 05:00 am
@Te Rangatira(Te Rangatira)-126:
I know but the reason given for him visiting the franchises…or more specific the ‘training camps’ was because of the limited time to prepared. Just very hard to get the boys together when they spread across 3 countries and two oceans.
14 May 2012, 05:14 am
@Slartibartfast(Slartibartfast)-127:
If Reds win their next game…..could see them gathering momentum and pushing for a spot….. Genia is the key for them.
Bulls v Highlanders is a huge game yes……make or break for Highlanders@Slartibartfast(Slartibartfast)-128:
I still don’t get the reliance on overseas players……..seems like a high price ( lack of preparation) to pay for their involvement.
14 May 2012, 05:32 am
@Te Rangatira(Te Rangatira)-129:
No overseas like playing in the S15 , not Europe.
That much hated #10 is getting ready to come back for the Reds as well…
14 May 2012, 05:37 am
@Slartibartfast(Slartibartfast)-130:
Not getting re: overseas…..S15…..not Europe
As for my Maori brethren……. looking forward to his return……..will see some real skills.
14 May 2012, 06:14 am
@Slartibartfast(Slartibartfast)-121: truce? I just said to Fern if he talks rugby I will too… I also stated that others may still earn my ire, but I will level the muck individually, rather than generally
changing the world one Saffa at a time mate…
14 May 2012, 06:55 am
@Te Rangatira(Te Rangatira)-131:
Sorry TR, had to run off quickly. What I meant is with the Super 15 players all over the place it will be hard to get the squad together to train. My understanding we only have 1 week to do it all. I checked so we have two home derbies and one team on a bye before the 1st test, so at least all players will be at home. One of them Bulls/Stormers so don’t think there will be a lot of “bok” talk in the week before…
But the Meyer is not PDivvie so I would expect he already know his top 30 and would have spoken to them re ‘getting ready’.
14 May 2012, 06:58 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-132:
Well done, keep up the good work, only about 45million (give or take a few million) of us!
As for individual ‘ire’, at least a step in the right direction and moving away from generalisations. Of course, keep in mind if you throw mud you will get some on you…
14 May 2012, 07:21 am
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-61: The Lions had Todd Clever as well.
14 May 2012, 07:48 am
So Jebb will start this weekend with Don Armand coming onto the Bench. When the Vodacom cup is finish this weekend they should draft Rohan Kitshoff and Nick Fenton-Wells into the Stormers squad along with Don Armand who will be drafted this weekend vs the Waratahs.
14 May 2012, 08:18 am
@stormer in a teacup(stormer in a teacup)-135: Ja forgot about him.
@Sasuke(Sasuke)-136: Have you seen this Armand guy?
I see your Superbru is having a Lions moment.
14 May 2012, 08:34 am
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-137: Nope havent seen him play but they called him up when they were overseas so he has to be next in the pecking order.
Ahhhhh dont remind me man! Shocking weekend for me. Great pick on the Reds win. I will be back this weekend. The season is taking a change now for superbru and fantasy. Teams and players that use to good are not good anymore?
14 May 2012, 09:00 am
@Sasuke(Sasuke)-138: Ja, I had a feeling after watching how close they ran the Saders at home.
I knew it was somewhat of a contrarian pick but thought they would pull it through. Got the MP as well.
The other 2 upsets (Canes and Rebels) were real upsets that very few people picked so it didn’t really affect me so the Reds game was my big one.
I’m at 4th position on the Rugby Talk log. Sweet.
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