Stormers focus on consistency, not tries
16 May 2012
The Stormers are more concerned with their inability to produce an 80-minute performance than the dearth of four-try bonus points.
The Cape franchise may be the best defensive side in the tournament, and they may boast a record of nine wins in 10 matches, but that impressive winning record hasn’t been enough to keep them at the top of the South African conference.
Coach Allister Coetzee, however, says four-try bonus points won’t matter if the team continues to win. Coetzee is of the belief that defence wins matches, and that an obsession with attack may compromise the ability to obtain the desired result.
Both the Stormers coach and captain believe that the public and media are wrong to obsess about the bonus-point issue. Jean de Villiers said on Wednesday that while the team was disappointed with recent performances, they viewed it as a matter of consistency rather than an indictment on their attack.
Too often this season the Stormers have put early points on an opponent and then failed to hammer home the advantage. The Stormers led the Bulls 14-0, but only managed to edge that encounter 20-17. Last week’s clash against the Cheetahs saw the Stormers leading 16-0 at half-time, but a poor third-quarter allowed the visitors back into the contest.
‘I think from a fans and media point of view, it will always be easy to find the negative,’ said De Villiers. ‘But then [from our point of view] if we are winning every game and our not scoring tries is the negative, then it shows that we are in a good position.
‘I remember a few years ago we would have done anything to have won a game, but the results weren’t coming. Now we are playing winning rugby but the tries aren’t coming.
‘We know what the public want, but we also know what we are trying to achieve. I’m not saying we’re the finished product, we aren’t. I do believe at some stage we will come right on attack.’
De Villiers stressed that a more consistent showing over 80 minutes could be the answer. As seen in the games against the Bulls and Cheetahs, and several other matches this season where the Stormers have allowed opponents back into the contest, the Cape side has been guilty of complacency at certain stages.
‘That has been a big focus for us, we have to improve in that area. We have got ourselves into good positions, but have not finished the opposition off,’ said De Villiers.
‘Some people may see it as the same thing as failing to score four tries. It’s not the same thing. We are looking to put together an 80-minute performance.’
De Villiers suggested that if the Stormers can execute effectively and consistently, they may create more try-scoring opportunities. When a team is playing catch-up rugby, they tend to take chances and leave themselves vulnerable to counter-attacks, and it is here where a more consistent Stormers side can punish a trailing opponent.
The Stormers will persist with their game plan when they go up against the Waratahs this Saturday. The side from Sydney are set to pick a powerful pack and boast a solid defence and kicking game. Wet weather has also been forecast for Saturday, and so another big physical and tactical tussle is expected. A try-fest is highly unlikely.
By Jon Cardinelli
132 Comments
Pages: « 1 2 [3] Show All
16 May 2012, 18:58 pm
I really don’t understand the logic. If the Stormers lose to both the Sharks and Bulls away they could still end up tops. The Bulls still have two tough games against the Chiefs and Highlanders. Have they forgotten?
16 May 2012, 19:06 pm
We back to could should would?
16 May 2012, 19:08 pm
@ufo(ufo)-50:
Yeah, you are winning, but every team slips up, and the Stormers will too. Their lack of bonus points will come back to haunt them.
Like I said, they just need some tweaks to the backline (like firing Fleck). Look what Eddie Jones did to the Boks in 2007….that’s what the Stormers need.
But I get your point, if you win all your games it won’t matter. But that’s gonna be tough!
16 May 2012, 19:16 pm
Stormers rugby makes even the most ardent supporter cringe
16 May 2012, 19:50 pm
Teams should get a bonus point for denying the opposition a try.
That way defense is rewarded as much as attack and all teams will play more like Test Match rugby, not just fancy all-out attack trying to dazzle the TV audience
16 May 2012, 20:16 pm
Looking at the Stormers backline I realize that it’s almost a Springbok backline, with plenty of experience, agility and speed. And yet, they score so few tries. That’s a sign of poor coaching. With that much talent, you should be able to score plenty of tries.
16 May 2012, 20:34 pm
If Ernst Joubert comes to Stormers it’ll be a goddamn gift from out the blue yonder.. not only will Stormers No.8 problems be solved but so will the Boks.. unless Herr Heinkel is too goddamn blindfolded by the Pierre Spies disillusionment disease to not notice what he got hiding under a bushel compared to whats f’ng staring him in the face week by non contributory week.
16 May 2012, 20:39 pm
Imagine
Ernst Joubert at 8
Elstadt at 7
Frans Louw at 6
and Kolisi taking a well deserved rest on bench for a week or 3
so who the fck needs these colony hopping Canucks to come row their birch canoe over here from the icy wastes of the north american tundra
16 May 2012, 21:19 pm
janee, i think ernst joubert would be a bladdy good signing
17 May 2012, 01:59 am
Respect to any foreign player. If we asked for his help, we should not be spitting in his face. We are still a host nation. We are not COSATU at Newlands.
17 May 2012, 04:56 am
The biggest problem with a defencive mindset like this is the toll it takes on players over a long tournament like the Super 15, the results at the Stormers support this and it will potentially get worse in the next few weeks with some very tough local derbies.
See Allister is correct in that defence wins matches but that worked well for the Boks in 2007 WC with a few prelim rounds and a knock-out comp. Problem for him is that the S15 is not a WC and by the time he gets to the knock-out stages his team will be limping and potentially will have to go overseas to play…just because they did not get any bonus points
17 May 2012, 05:01 am
defencive?! Ja, I just made that up and it means more than 100 tackles every game, like the Stormers…mere mortals have a defensive mindset and equates to less than 100 tackles a game…unlike the Stormers!
17 May 2012, 06:27 am
@Jinx2(Jinx2)-110:
100% behind you on that mate!
17 May 2012, 07:26 am
Whats with all the WP articles?????????????????????
get a fair ration please Keo.
thank you.
still waiting on that CJ Stander article
17 May 2012, 07:38 am
skopshyte is xenophobic when it suits him
has no problem hiring illigals and paying them with food.
17 May 2012, 08:20 am
I wonder if one were to put a half brick in skopshyte’s hand would he feel the urge to throw it at the nearest DA supporter.
17 May 2012, 08:52 am
of course all the colony hopping expatriates will be 100% behind the notion of hiring mercenaries from out of old mother hubbard’s cupboard because although they already emigrated to some other colony they hopped over to, they left their heart dangling somewhere over the ocean.
Once you take citizenship of another sovereignty you cease to represent any affiliation to that sovereignty you discharged from your association. In other words you wanna represent Africa then remain in Africa, once you sow your wild wandering seeds all over the foreign continents or islands your associate affiliation ceases to hold any sway whatsoever.
17 May 2012, 08:55 am
@skopskiet(skopskiet)-117:
Only in your head skoppie, only in your head!
17 May 2012, 09:14 am
@skopskiet(skopskiet)-117:
What the fk are you on about?
Do you want Joubert to come back or not.
Seeing as though he wants to play for England and has recieved residency there recently, I doubt he’ll be here for long.
Or are you talking about Sinclair coming over here?
My goodness you are an idiot sometimes.
17 May 2012, 09:14 am
@Jinx2(Jinx2)-110: what is wrong with COSATU?
17 May 2012, 09:18 am
@Great White Shark(Predawn)-116: skop handles brick elke dag, he’s never hurled them at anyone!
17 May 2012, 11:46 am
@umfolozi(umfolozi)-105: Then we might as well watch soccer *yawn*.
17 May 2012, 12:32 pm
@King Shark(King Shark)-122:
Great defense should be recognised. I’d rather watch a 11-9 match between the Stormers and Crusaders than a 43-39 between the Lions and the Rebels. Tries are less impressive when they are being offered on a plate by weak defenses.
17 May 2012, 12:49 pm
@King Shark(King Shark)-122:
The winner of the second match would get 5 points whereas the winner of the first match would get only 4 for a superior all-round rugby effort. That is not right surely.
17 May 2012, 13:07 pm
@Pee Wee(Pee Wee)-101: Well the Stormers were always expected to lose away from home at the Shark Tank and Loftus. There is no pressure on them to perform in those stadia.
@umfolozi(umfolozi)-123: Likewise.
17 May 2012, 14:53 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-120:
Their roots are firmly grounded in Justice. But they have become tyrannical. A bit like Joey Barton of QPR.
17 May 2012, 14:59 pm
@Jinx2(Jinx2)-126: it’s called militancy
17 May 2012, 15:29 pm
A team with out a winning mindset will normally choke in a final.
Stormers are more concerned with not losing than winning.
Attack is the best means of defence,defence is not the best means of attack.
The day always comes when the refree doesn’t blow it your way and you have to utilise a little more than your oppositions mistakes to win.
Everytime that day come around the Stormers they choke.
And its been like that for 11 years now,in all tournaments they have played in.
17 May 2012, 16:47 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-127:
Militancy can be Activist or Fascist. Stoning a peaceful protest is hardly Activism.
17 May 2012, 16:52 pm
@Riaan26(Riaan26)-106:
As if the Bok backline scores plenty of tries
17 May 2012, 16:52 pm
@Jinx2(Jinx2)-129: just yanking ya chain Jinx, their actions were deplorable
17 May 2012, 17:35 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-131:
Cool bananas, Mr T.
Pages: « 1 2 [3] Show All
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.