Sharks bruiser is Meyer’s man
28 May 2012
JON CARDINELLI says Willem Alberts’ strong performance against the Stormers bodes well for the three-Test series against England.
Alberts’ detractors will be snorting in disbelief. One dominant showing and he’s suddenly back, suddenly the answer to Heyneke Meyer’s blindside quandary? So much for a measured evaluation.
It’s an understandable reaction. Alberts has struggled with injuries over the past year, and when he has actually played he hasn’t been as effective at the gainline as before. He made a terrific impact in the first half of the 2011 Super Rugby tournament, but battled for form in the months that followed.
That was until last Saturday. Backed by John Plumtree in the most important match of the Sharks’ season, Alberts turned in a powerful performance. The Sharks forwards manhandled their Stormers counterparts, and Alberts was particularly effective in that ball-carrying role on attack, and that momentum-stalling role on defence.
It was an important performance in a Springbok context. When two of the strongest teams in a conference clash, the national coach is always going to be watching. If you can make an impact in this contest, you can stake your claim for national selection. If you can make inroads into the best defence in the Super Rugby competition, if you can outmuscle the most physical team in South Africa, you can make a massive statement.
What will help Alberts’ cause is that there aren’t many blindside flankers available at present, at least not the type of No 7s that Meyer is looking for. Juan Smith, Schalk Burger and Duane Vermeulen are all sidelined with injuries while Danie Rossouw has also told Meyer he is not available.
Who else but Alberts fits the job description, at least in terms of what Meyer values in a blindside? He ticks the boxes of experience and size, as the latter lends itself to the dual role of ball-carrying and defending, not to mention providing an extra option in the lineout.
And as he showed this past Saturday, he is coming back into form. He will have one more opportunity to gather momentum before the England series as the Sharks play the Lions this Saturday. While this will be useful for a man coming back from injury, he’s already shown what he is capable of against the Stormers. That performance against the Stormers showed how he could be an important figure for the Boks in that England series.
The Boks are favourites to win that series and some South African pundits have been as bold as to predict a 3-0 result in favour of the hosts. To realise that goal, however, they will need to outplay England at the set pieces, breakdowns and collisions.
Some may be taking the English lightly, and for good reason. They are in a period of rebuilding and will be touring South Africa without several key forwards.
But Meyer has never been a coach to underestimate his opponents, and will pick his strongest available side for the coming series. He will select players that best fit his game plan, which is one of the primary reasons Fourie du Preez will start at scrumhalf and lead the team.
It is also for this reason that Alberts, in the absence of heavy hitters like Smith, Burger and Vermeulen, should be entrusted with the No 7 responsibilities.
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384 Comments
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28 May 2012, 05:58 am
This is more a relief than anything else for HM and Bok supporters… whilst the likes of Elstadt, Coetzee and a few others have had some strongish showings… nobody has yet shown that they’re a good replacement for Juan Smith at test level…
28 May 2012, 06:09 am
@bryce_in_oz(bryce_in_oz)-1: Agreed – Alberts to the rescue, for now.
I find the infatuation that a load of fans have with Elstadt quite puzzling; either I’ve missed his better performances this season, or it doesn’t take much to win over the masses these days.
For me he is a liability from a discipline point of view, and rather average.
28 May 2012, 06:28 am
dear stormers supporters
this is not a bad dream.
s hit got real on saturday
boom
28 May 2012, 06:40 am
Dear Heineke, I will sit this one out and work on my recovery. Feel free to given Willem a chance. Dear Juan, you are still sorely missed – both in white and green. Cheers, Scar
28 May 2012, 06:45 am
As a Spies fan, my hopes of him ever getting back to his best are dying with each game. So why not give Willem the Number 8 jersey. There is enough talent in SA to find a worthy 7
28 May 2012, 06:50 am
Thanks for the concern Fern, but one glance at the ladder gave me all the reality check I needed.
28 May 2012, 06:52 am
Alberts, fit and in form, is the man for the moment. Sustaining this seems to be his big problem.
28 May 2012, 07:00 am
@Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19(Fern)-3: The fact that the Stormers still got a bonus point playing with their C team tells you a thing or two Mr Fern.
As for the Bok training squad Im pretty shocked to seem names like Vermaak, Meisiekind, Elton etc are included but the players of the future who have put the Stormers where they are today are not included? wtf? Kolisi, Kishof in particular.
28 May 2012, 07:06 am
@RedMan(RedMan)-2:
He’s a strong lad… but that’s it really… not good in the LO, slow, his tackle stats suggest he’s behind the rest of the pack in work-rate… so I agree…
28 May 2012, 07:10 am
If Heyneke Meyer really does rate Duane Vermeulen the thought of a loose trio with him, Alberts and Burger is terrifying. Can’t say its balanced, but who cares with the hits those guys would put in. Fingers crossed for 4N
Unfortunately I doubt Spies will ever be dropped.
28 May 2012, 07:16 am
@Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19(Fern)-3:
chop.
28 May 2012, 07:19 am
JC – your rugby knowledge is pathetic.
Not only do you start this article so that the initial impression is that Meyer made some sort of statement, but you then speak of Alberts “manhandling” his opposition?
Are you conveniently overlooking the fact that the “opposition” was missing Burger, Kolisi and Vermeulen?
If you cannot shine with those odds, then you do not belong on a rugby field.
Fortunately our national coach is not as daft as you.
28 May 2012, 07:20 am
horses for course i suppose.
but as stated, its just one big showing.
28 May 2012, 07:20 am
@Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19(Fern)-3:
Dear Fern
We played badly and deserved to lose. We have put it past us mate and focusing on the next one. Best the Sharks do the same!
28 May 2012, 07:21 am
@Hofter Son(pattyfries)-5:
I have to agree!
28 May 2012, 07:47 am
14 @ Bill Reyts
The Sharks win on Saturday was the equivalent of them winning a cup. Let them bask. The reality of playing for a wildcard position will soon whack them!
28 May 2012, 07:51 am
it is all about momentum and depth now
sharks on the up,stormers on the down
28 May 2012, 07:54 am
@Pee Wee(Pee Wee)-16:
When you haven’t had much to cheer about anything is great! Give them their week of glory mate…
I will be off to Loftus on Saturday so I’m hoping the boys can pick themselves up from a dismal performance. Even though they played so badly the scoreline was tight, but flattering…
28 May 2012, 07:57 am
@Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19(Fern)-17:
Well done Fernly! Your team has the Lions and then the bye! Easy I say. Then the Bulls – home not a problem for the Sharks I say…
On the other hand we have the mightly Bulls, Lions, Cheetahs and Rebels. Tough to say the least…
28 May 2012, 07:57 am
them chassisbender scrums
been calling them the whole week
28 May 2012, 08:01 am
stormers without kitshoff.
i just dont see it happening.
bulls back to the top.
28 May 2012, 08:04 am
@houston, we have a problem…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-21:
Will I see you at Loftus on Saturday? Getting crowded at the top of the log hey! Fortunately the Bulls frontrow is something that doesn’t puts fear in any team lately…
28 May 2012, 08:04 am
chiefs def to drop against crusaders and maybe even the hurricanes after that.
28 May 2012, 08:05 am
@houston, we have a problem…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-23:
So Stormers could still top the log. That would be great
28 May 2012, 08:07 am
@houston, we have a problem…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-23:
drop points against crusaders.
28 May 2012, 08:12 am
The Stormers bubble is bursting. Remember a couple of people on this forum calling this scenario come crunch time.
Sort of like golf. No use going bif off the tee and you cannot nail the short putt.
28 May 2012, 08:14 am
@KWAGGA ROBERTSE(KWAGGA ROBERTSE)-26:
Yeah we called the Bulls bubble bursting too. Two loses in a row says it all. True Kwagga!
28 May 2012, 08:16 am
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-27:
The Bulls didn’t have a bubble to burst.
As you were Omar.
28 May 2012, 08:16 am
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-22:
no sorry bill, wont be going.
to tell you the truth i’ve gotten to a point where i can only enjoy the big rugby games when i’m in front of a tv and completely ‘zoned out’ from everyone around me.
i even sort of ignore male friends and just muffle things to them when asked something, most of the time the talk is not even about the game and is just ridiculous distractions. women folk i dont even acknowledge.
instead i’ve learnt to enjoy live matches only when there’s a nothing game on because then i just enjoy the spectacle and focus on getting drunk as much anything else.
i approach bok tests in the same way, if they’re playing the big guns i watch it rather but would go to see a dead rubber or smaller opposition live.
enjoy the game though, its gonna be a full house.
28 May 2012, 08:17 am
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-22:
same fot the locks ar present.
they’re missing those few inches at the moment.
28 May 2012, 08:17 am
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-27: Being a Bulls supporter I am feeling quite satisfied with the performance thusfar considering the season as a whole. We expected a hell of alot worse but the young guns are stepping up to the plate.
28 May 2012, 08:19 am
Are the Strompies light 5 back ?
Sharkies hammered them in Scrums Line outs and loose,
How about the 3m forward pass ?
8 Spies
7 Alberts
6 Marcell
28 May 2012, 08:20 am
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-27: 11 points taken from their overseas leg. Most teams will take that with a smile. Hardly a burst bubble.
28 May 2012, 08:20 am
where is snoekskiet
28 May 2012, 08:21 am
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-24:
honestly, i dont see it happening.
but they will go down fighting, no doubt.
@KWAGGA ROBERTSE(KWAGGA ROBERTSE)-26:
true, true.
one or two more key injuries again
and if they dont get any key players back
then its over if you ask me.
28 May 2012, 08:22 am
@KWAGGA ROBERTSE(KWAGGA ROBERTSE)-31:
Same here mate! Feeling quite comfortable. You are expected to win your home games and hope for away wins. We have lost two away – but I’m quite sure we will pull off the rest…
28 May 2012, 08:22 am
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-27: Billy, they were on tour they lost to the number 1 team at home , no big deal.
The Lost to the Blues at Loftus that was not acceptable
28 May 2012, 08:22 am
@capebull(capebull)-32: If the Bulls forwards hit their straps on Saturday, it will be more of the same for the lentebriessies.
Looking forward to a big one. Got a couple of mates flying up from CT on Friday. Got the feeling Liquor City might just make their budget this weekend
28 May 2012, 08:23 am
@Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19(Fern)-34:
Let sleeping toothless dribbling old dogs lie…
28 May 2012, 08:23 am
@Olivergm(Olivergm)-8: theircteam?
BWWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
so because the stormers were missing vermeulen joe p and kolisi it was a c team?
nice.
the other 12 players must be loving comments like yours haha, what a fan you are!
28 May 2012, 08:23 am
Off to meeting. Chat later…
28 May 2012, 08:24 am
Stormers were missing Vermeulen big time on Saturday. Fourie selection at fetcher failed. Bekker looks overplayed
28 May 2012, 08:24 am
bryce
syphilis is causing his rants
28 May 2012, 08:25 am
@capebull(capebull)-37: Just afraid that loss will come back to bite is in the ‘rusty sherrif’s badge’ later on.
28 May 2012, 08:26 am
@rangerman(rangerman)-40: Well done on you team bud. Showed some serious intent on saturday. Lovely to watch.
28 May 2012, 08:27 am
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-41: Cheers Bill
28 May 2012, 08:27 am
@KWAGGA ROBERTSE(KWAGGA ROBERTSE)-38: Easy game , make sure to get in front, Strompies then have to play , they don’t have a clue how to score tries.
28 May 2012, 08:27 am
The Sharks are like one of those cheap Chinese firecrackers. Takes a helluva long time to light the thing……then when it’s lit, there is a moment of absolute brilliance when the thing sparkles and flashes, then just when you are expecting is to erupt into a million coloured sparks, it fizzles out. But for Sharkette fans, it is this brief moment of ‘sparkling brilliance’ that they live for. Season in – season out………mediocrity remains king. Plumtree is now being heralded again, as is Daniel (both who I believe have been walloped by Sharkettes all season). Come August, the calls for Plumtree to be axed will be stronger than the Sharkette’s arrogance. Disagree? If the Sharks (pre-season SAFFA conference faves) were as good as they claim to be, they wouldn’t be chasing the Saffa conference, just like last year and the year before that. You chaps need a dose of reality – as by some Sharkettes reckoning, the Sharks will be getting a bonus point for their bye week.
28 May 2012, 08:28 am
i must say, on the whole the stormers fans have been pretty good losers.
but some just cant seem to accept that the stormers were smashed upfront?
brok, etzebeth, bekker and the gingerbreadman (kitskop) all subbed after being handed a proper pakslae.
the stormers were manhandled, no doubt.
but to be fair to them, not many teams are capable of doing this to their pack.
28 May 2012, 08:29 am
@capebull(capebull)-37: Blues loss will be coming to getya……….
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