Stormers face scrap for survival
14 May 2012
JON CARDINELLI says the injury situation can only worsen for the Stormers in the next three weeks and fans should brace themselves for at least one loss.
Coach Allister Coetzee’s worst fear was realised on Saturday when No 8 Nizaam Carr hobbled off the field. The log may not reflect the fact, but Carr’s knee injury has plunged the Cape franchise even deeper into crisis.
The Stormers will be without Schalk Burger and Nick Koster until the end of June, and may have to make do without Duane Vermeulen for the rest of their campaign. It was hoped that they could survive this four-game stretch without conceding further injuries, and that Jebb Sinclair would play a supporting role to the incumbent loose trio of Siya Kolisi, Rynhardt Elstadt and Carr.
But with Carr joining a lengthy list of casualties, Sinclair will be thrust into the starting line-up. It means that Coetzee will also have to promote a loose forward from the Western Province Vodacom Cup team, as apparently there are no other experienced players available.
When asked whether he would seek further help from abroad, a despondent Coetzee replied, ‘Who? Do you have any names for me?’
It was a statement that explained the recruitment of Sinclair. The Stormers had failed to acquire the services of Springbok flank Francois Louw and presumably failed to acquire other high-profile players with unbreakable club commitments.
Outside of Sinclair, a Canadian who plays his club rugby for London Irish, there aren’t many players with a gap at this point of the season.
Saracens enjoy a good relationship with the Stormers, and it was suggested after their recent exit from the Premiership semi-finals that some of those players may be available. Saracens hooker Schalk Brits did after all play loose forward for the Cape side when they were similarly afflicted last year.
But Coetzee’s response didn’t inspire any confidence of a Saracens forward flying to the Stormers’ aid. It is likely that the Stormers will have to make do with what they have until Burger and Koster return at the end of next month.
It’s a massive blow, and you’d have to say they’d do well to stay in contention for a home semi-final. They may have lost only one game to date, but because they haven’t scored four-try bonus points their position in the top six is far from secure.
They need to keep winning to stay in contention for that crucial home play-off. It’s going to be a tough ask with a depleted pack, even more so considering the demands of looming forward-oriented contests against the Waratahs, Sharks and Bulls.
It will be nothing short of amazing if they manage to win their next three matches, two of which are away from home. It will be incredible if they can come through these inevitably brutal physical clashes without losing more players to injury.
They will also hope that the Highlanders and Chiefs do them a favour by beating the Bulls and thus preventing the Pretoria side from extending its lead at the top of the South African conference.
Two defeats for the Bulls will allow the Cape team to stay in touch despite their own (and here I say probable given their depleted stocks) losses in the next three rounds.
The Stormers have a slightly easier run-in to the play-offs than the Bulls with matches against the Lions (home), Rebels (home) and Cheetahs (away) scheduled for after the June Tests. The Bulls will host the Cheetahs and Lions, but face a difficult trip to Durban.
The Stormers will be boosted by the returns of Burger and Koster for those matches, but they won’t want to leave themselves with too much to do in terms of securing a home semi-final. They need to survive the next three matches without conceding further injuries, and they also need to pick up some crucial log points.
A win against an inconsistent Waratahs side this weekend is non-negotiable, as away victories in Durban and Pretoria for a depleted Stormers side seem far less likely.
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475 Comments
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14 May 2012, 09:39 am
@willievz(willievz)-96:
amen brother… will support whichever saffa team makes the final…
and at least one of us will…!!
14 May 2012, 09:40 am
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-71: The Bulls need to beat the Chiefs to ensure that the NZ conference leader slips down the log.
If a NZ team finishes first overall then that team will win the title.
14 May 2012, 09:40 am
@ufo(ufo)-100: Does Roux play 4 or 5?
14 May 2012, 09:43 am
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-103:
Howzit Buddy! Someone suggest Eben play 8 and then bring in a new lock. I’m not usually one for playing people out of position, but desperate times call for desperate measures. Is Roux good enough to adapt to Super rugby?
14 May 2012, 09:44 am
As much as it pains me to admit it, the Lions are pretty much out of the running for the title now.
14 May 2012, 09:47 am
I just feel i need to put this comment out there. Even though the Sharks have been inconsistent, but looking allot better now in the last few weeks, Heyneke Meyer’s first mistake of his Bok coaching career WILL be not to pick Lambie as his first choice Flyhalf. He will start with Morne, and thats a fact. Lambie is the Best all round 10 in the country…he is very obviously the best attacking and defensive 10 (you rarely see this guy miss a tackle). The same cant be said about Morne. Then again every ones worry is that Morne is the best goal and tactical kicker. Fair enough, no argument there. But Lambie has proved this season he can do the goal kicking job for the Boks. Here are some stats to show this. Morne up to now have had 76 attempts at goal with a strike rate of 77.63%. While Lambie, with a few less attempts, (remembering he was out for 2 to 3 weeks.) Have 53 attempts at goal at a strike rate of 81.13%. So that to me shows he is good enough to take the goal kicking duties. Why have Steyn Starting if he is not our best player at 10. Lambie is Brilliant and needs to be the first choice. Meyer is going to make a mistake before he has actually made it.(if that even makes sense).
Thats my thoughts, but i know there are many Morne Steyn fans that will completely disagree. And i am not saying lose Morne completely he will still be very valuable of the bench, with Lambie maybe shifting to 15 in the last quarter or when its needed. Well we all have our own opinions i guess.
14 May 2012, 09:47 am
@ufo(ufo)-98:
Yip Rohan impressed me as well, have no idea why they do not rate him.
Same goes for Nic Groom- he was very good imo.
The Greek also did quite well, he even seemed to have develop some appetite for tackling since I last saw him.
Nic Mallet (as commentator) was very impressed with Roux .
Hopefully they will make more use of Mallet in the commentating box – he was quite refreshing, obviously he has immense knowledgeof the game (even did some on-air “coaching”) but is also not scared to call a spade a spade.
14 May 2012, 09:48 am
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-103:
5…
lobberts was playing 4…
14 May 2012, 09:48 am
@>^..^< katman(katman)-105: BWAHAHAHHAHAHAHA!!
14 May 2012, 09:49 am
Poppa said yesterday your country of birth d ictates your nationality.
Skopshyte was born in Israel.
That means he is not South African
Sweet!
14 May 2012, 09:49 am
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-92: Either you or I are in for disappointment. Realistically I don’t think the Stormers and Bulls will play the final. Which is a shame.
14 May 2012, 09:50 am
heh, the bulls did well for years because of their defence, so dont count the stormers out just yet… they just need to up their attacking game a bit and they will still be a handfull.
I think this obit is a bit premature.
14 May 2012, 09:52 am
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-103:
@ufo(ufo)-108:
Although he started at 5 to accomodate Lobberts at 4 I think he is a natural 4. Certainly plays like an enforcer.A mobile enforcer in fact.
14 May 2012, 09:53 am
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-104:
i think he could… certainly big enough… and showed good skills too… also quite a confident in your face kinda of player… though not as much as eben…
also agree on groom… nuggety player who got the wp line moving very well i thought…
haven’t seen the tv version yet… hope they show it again…
mallet knows his stuff for sure… and has had some insightful comments to make in the studio…
14 May 2012, 09:53 am
@Sharkie10(Sharkie10)-106:
Spies will start as well. A shame indeed.
14 May 2012, 09:54 am
@ufo(ufo)-108: Lobberts can also cover 8.
14 May 2012, 09:54 am
@Robzim(Robzim)-113:
yeah… agree with that… looks more a natural 4 to me too…
14 May 2012, 09:55 am
@ufo(ufo)-114:
I watched the delayed broadcast and thought Groom was great. Anyone know why he is not in the Stormer mix?
14 May 2012, 09:57 am
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-115: It is…and that is my other concern about Heyneke. Do not get me wrong i feel he is a great coach and the best person for the job. But i also feel he has a bit of favouritism toward Bulls players. Spies by no means is the best number 8.
14 May 2012, 09:57 am
@>^..^< katman(katman)-105:
14 May 2012, 10:03 am
very worried about andries…
dunno if the tv showed it… but he was in serious pain for most of the game… would not be surprised if he misses the tahs game…
but have to say as well… i was VERY impressed with andries… not only was he playing in pain but he looked like the caption on the field… he was geeing the guys up… going to every player and having words and high and low fiving getting everyone’s gees up even higher… yet he still put his body on the line and put in some huge hits specially when the cheetahs were on top….
always liked him… but my respect for him grew even more… one of his best games that i’ve seen…
good to know that in the long run we have quinn too…
and you’re right again rob… does have that enforcer look to him… very good to see…
14 May 2012, 10:03 am
Is it just me or have the referees been particularly useless this year. Never mind the inconsistency from game to game but from ruck to ruck. Im really worried for my health if they continue in this manner during the test season.
They actually seem a lot better and more consistent in the Northern hemisphere games to be honest
14 May 2012, 10:05 am
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-118:
yeah bill…
a bit strange… but i guess AC reckons duvenage and schreuder are better…
i also think that many of these fringe guys playing for the VC are being kept there to try and win the thing…
so maybe after the VC we’ll see more of them getting chances…
14 May 2012, 10:05 am
57 @ Fern
We all know its called Kings Park. Move along swiftly as it seems you’re a bit delayed
14 May 2012, 10:08 am
@Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19(Fern)-110: you heard of this? this could open up a chance for mallett.
Plumtree in surprising Force link
With Richard Graham having opted to continue his coaching career in Brisbane next year (and summarily being shown the door halfway through the current campaign, as “player power” gained the scalp of yet another Western Force coach), it’s probably unsurprising that a fair few names are being bandied about as possible replacements for 2013.
According to a report in the Australian, though, current Sharks mentor John Plumtree is one of those who is being pursued, with both captain David Pockock and CEO Vern Reid apparently taking the opportunity to sound the kiwi out about a move to Perth next year. Plumtree, who is contracted to the Sharks until the end of next year, is understood to be under some pressure as the Sharks have thus far failed to deliver the expected results at Super Rugby level under his guidance.
14 May 2012, 10:09 am
@Bok fan(Bok fan)-122: I think, and only think it maybe be due to the speed at which the game is played in the Southern Hemisphere especially in super rugby. Still no excuse for the refs, the need to be more consistent and improve. But i do feel reffing a Northern game is a bit easier than a super rugby game. Just my thoughts. but you are correct in saying, overall the refs have been poor.
14 May 2012, 10:10 am
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-104: I’m not sure. I think you’d have a situation where Steenkamp plays 4 with Bekker at 5 and Etsebeth at 8, but then you may as well just play Steenkamp at 8 then. Maybe Roux at 8 if he’s as mobile as UFO is saying?
14 May 2012, 10:12 am
@Robzim(Robzim)-107:
You should have known better why the Stormers didn’t offer Rohan a contract?!
Same reason why Fran & Pieter Louw left abroad, I guess they read the broader picture
14 May 2012, 10:14 am
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-127:
would be interesting… he is mobile indeed…
but different being a mobile lock and being mobile enough for a number 8…
but yeah… don’t think he’d let the side down there… he really was impressive…
must stress though… first time i’ve seen him play…
14 May 2012, 10:15 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-125:
PdV is available, why don’t the Forces try him?
14 May 2012, 10:16 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-125:
I like Plum but he is under pressure.
My instinct though is that Plum, if possible, would ather stay in Durban.
So what do the Sharks higher ups think?
Who do they get instead?
If I was the Shark King I would ask Mallett but Mallett and administrators don’t mix.
Administrators don’t like being told to eff off and with Mallett he will not only do it once a week but because he is so well educated he will do it extremely eloquently
I don’t think SA admins can handle him.
It also assumes Mallett would take the job.
So wh else?
If its not a good step up from Plum we should rather keep Plum
14 May 2012, 10:19 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-125: Ok i know its not your view, thats from an article, but saying that the sharks have not lived up to expectations, may be a fair comment, but they have moved in to the top 6 and with about 7 rounds or so to go and the Sharks playing home most of those, still leaves allot of opportunity to qualify for the play offs and after a weekend of upsets like we had. a home Semi is not a impossibility. I think its rather early to suggest that they have not lived up to expectations. What is every teams expectations? To win the competition, and nothing less. No team will go in saying we aim to finish 4th or 6th or whatever. We will have to wait and see. The Sharks have been inconsistent but, may be peaking at the perfect time and with no real injury problems, the will stay a threat to the title till the end.
14 May 2012, 10:20 am
very interesting that quinn roux is one who slipped through the bull’s kraal…
never knew that…
definitely a huge plus for us…
sort of big like flippie… but way more mobile…
14 May 2012, 10:20 am
Transie I really hope Plumtree leaves,he has reached his critical mass as a coach.
14 May 2012, 10:21 am
@Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19(Fern)-34:
They have ample depth at the Referees’ Department, it has made up for the alleged lack of depth so far
The Super Rugby standards on show this season by the Aus and NZ teams is absolutely shocking, my prediction is both the Stormers and the Bulls will go all the way, my score sheets surely support that statement!
14 May 2012, 10:21 am
@>^..^< katman(katman)-105: Lions are in poll position to win the wooden spoon.
14 May 2012, 10:22 am
Mallet has to be one of the most respected coaches and if Sharks can get him, then that will be great for them and the supporters.. The guy is a pretty good commentator as well.
14 May 2012, 10:26 am
will be great if the sharks get mallet…
great for them and for sa rugby to keep him out of the clutches of other countries…
14 May 2012, 10:27 am
@Hondo(Hondo)-130: i think clear “electrocution” when speaking Eeengleesh is a prerequisite, which automatically excludes Divvy
14 May 2012, 10:27 am
@RL(RL)-136: Ja, coming into the final bend they’re perfectly positioned for that. Fck’em. Again.
14 May 2012, 10:34 am
@Sharkie10(Sharkie10)-126: Know what you saying, however some of those French games are played at a very high pace. Its mostly the breakdown thats become an absolute joke. 1 ruck you can go off your feet or take someone out from the side, and the next you penalised. As for the foul play, theres no excuse for the lack of consistency. Either its a red card for a tip tackle or it isnt. As for punching not getting a red????. Also the amount of stuff the linesman miss is shocking. I was at a game the other day and saw 3 forward passes and I was sitting right behind the linesman. Watching the reviews and hilights confirmed they clearly were forward. They werent very difficult to spot, so not sure what the linesmans excuse was. Just need a TMO with have a brain and most of these bad decisions can be avoided, like the one in the Sharks game on Sat
14 May 2012, 10:36 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-139:
I truly believe he won’t be out of his depth at the Super Rugby level, surely this season!
When I look at Pat Lam, Jaime Joseph or the Force coaches, PdV will do alright there provided the managements there will back him up all the way and will provide him a hatchet man to enforce discipline and compliance.
14 May 2012, 10:36 am
@Sharkie10(Sharkie10)-132: since 2009 the sharks have been tipped by MOST pundits (even keo) to take the title or even be the top sa team but we know they’ve been mediocre since plum took over finishing 2009 – 6th, 2010 – 9th & 2011 – 6th.
that’s how you should view “not lived up to expectations”!
14 May 2012, 10:38 am
@Sharkie10(Sharkie10)-106: I agree completely. Lambie is the only realistic option at 10 and is as close to the complete player as they come. Goosen is a bright prospect, but I will only look at him next season with Lambie moving to 12 to include the former’s brilliance. De Jongh at 13 and wingers who can finish and we may just have a backline to fear…
14 May 2012, 10:38 am
There are several permutations where two teams from the same conference can meet in the final.
Eg 1st and 4th or 5th. 6th beats 3rd and plays 1st. The 4th or 5th team plays 2nd in the other semi
2nd and 5th.
3rd and 5th win. 5th plays 1st and 2nd plays 3rd on the semis.
2nd and 6th. Both teams keep on winning. They will meet in the final.
14 May 2012, 10:39 am
@Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19(Fern)-134: interesting, who do u suggest should repace plum?…
“Sharks couldn’t afford Steyn” – brian van zyl in the witness on friday
14 May 2012, 10:39 am
Sorry Half a brain for the grammar dudes
14 May 2012, 10:43 am
@Couchcoach(GI POT)-144: Lambie will suddenly become a 12.
Hahaha guppies think that he is the perfect 10, but not as good as Goosen but better than any 12 around. Including Frans Steyn.
14 May 2012, 10:45 am
@ufo(ufo)-133: That is very interesting. He would of started ahead of Etzebeth this year if he wasnt injured earlier on.
14 May 2012, 10:45 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-143:
Certainly not by me, and my score sheets’ percentage implies I am some kind of an ‘expert’ too
This season however anything’s possible due the the implosion of most of the ANZAC teams, so the Sharks presumably may fancy their chances, although they don’t feature well at the SARU referees Dept.
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