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, 10:35 am
in turbo reverse
28 May 2012, 10:36 am
@Provvas(Provvas)-149: who would have caught aplon in that position?
28 May 2012, 10:38 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-143: I saw another carthorse on the field Saturday.
28 May 2012, 10:38 am
@Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19(Fern)-151: Turbo reversing, yet still on top of you. Is there a term for that?
28 May 2012, 10:43 am
has alberts stopped missing tackles now?
28 May 2012, 10:46 am
@>^..^< katman(katman)-75: Last I saw were number 2 on the log, while the katte are number 15, so I think you are more beaten then me boet, also we lost 2/12 games, we have won the most games (along with the Chiefs) so why would I be beaten by losing one game against a full strength Sharks outfit in Durban while my team has 4-5 injuries to top line players.
At least I know that my team will be playing super rugby next year.
P.S. People in glass houses…
28 May 2012, 10:46 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-155:
made 11 tackles missed none…
not too shabby…
28 May 2012, 10:47 am
@bryce_in_oz(bryce_in_oz)-124:
I agree. But your starting 15 is more important than your bench (that’s why they start). Just ask the Boks in 2011. If the RIGHT players had started, that WC could have been pretty different.
However, my bench would be: JDV,Joe Pieterson,AS,Kruger,Ginger,Spies,Stander.
28 May 2012, 10:48 am
@Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19(Fern)-117: Mhhmmm, yup, sure, whatever you say.
28 May 2012, 10:50 am
Lambie is without a doubt more suited to 10 than 15 (physically).
But his tactical awareness makes up for lack of all out pace when he play’s 15.
28 May 2012, 10:51 am
@Provvas(Provvas)-144: Clearly you only look with one eye, and that eye is half blind, nowhere am i saying Lambie is as fast as Aplon, there isnt one person i think with that gap that would have caught Aplon, Go relook at where Lamb ie starts from and where Aplon is?? dont be silly dude try looking at something fairly
Your team although outplayed in every phacet of play still showed huge heart and fighting spirit, give credit where it’s due
28 May 2012, 10:55 am
Maybe the future is Lambie at 10, and Goosen at 15.
28 May 2012, 10:55 am
i’m a big lambie fan… said way back that morne would be my short term no 10 and lambie and goosen would be my long term options…
but i believe it will be a travesty if joe pietersen does not start at no 15 for the boks… he has been by far our best fullback all season… is safe under the highball, is intelligent, decisive and can counter-attack with devastating effect… and has an awesome boot to keep us in their half…
heyneke said he would reward form… if he does not select joe i will be very disappointed in heyneke… won’t throw my toys of course… heyneke still has my full backing… but will be disappointed for sure…
28 May 2012, 10:55 am
James Haskell wont have a problem stopping Willem Alberts in his tracks. Its been noticeable how since he got suspended the Highlanders have lost their way a bit.
28 May 2012, 10:56 am
@ufo(ufo)-157: not bad. he’ll have to be consistent from here onwards, seeing him up there at the top of the ‘missed tackles’ column isn’t great.
28 May 2012, 10:56 am
@CenturionShark (aka LondonShark)(londonshark)-160: He is not as slow as some are trying to make out though,
28 May 2012, 10:57 am
@ufo(ufo)-134:
if your point is he hasn’t played against them enough times to make such a statement then yes, agreed.
i think he’s only faced nz, oz once each with a 2nd string nz in pe = win
and he played in the 1/4 final loss to oz.
but my point is i feel he’s too one dimensional for oz, nz but will subdue any other test nation we face. i hope he proves me wrong if selected.
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-135:
ummmmm…..ok..?…
maths not your strong point..?..
where the fark do you think you’ll pick up the extra point..?.
against the bulls?
*larf*
i’ll give you the extra point against the cheetahs but this still leaves you with
sharks:
vs – lions away 5pts
bye – 4pts
vs – bulls home 4pts / maybe 1pt
vs – cheetahs home 5pts /maybe 1pt
best case 45 + 18 = 63
worst case 45 + 11 = 56
28 May 2012, 10:58 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-165:
of course transformer man…
but everything in context… and you’re well aware he’s been recovering from a shoulder injury…
but yes i agree… he must produce consistently… as should the other 21 players privileged enough to be selected…
28 May 2012, 10:59 am
@houston, we have a problem…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-167:
that was my point…
and yes… i hope he does prove you wrong…
28 May 2012, 10:59 am
Fark, Life is Beautiful this week so far…
Just remember Johnny-Come-Lately to Super Rugby, Christmas Tree Breezers… Sharks have always been the better team in the Southern Hemisphere’s premier comp right back when since its embryonic start in the 90′s.
And since yesterday that universal Super Rugby truth continues…
Player for Player
Team for Team
Supporter for Supporter
Super History for Super History
Cheerleader for Cheerleader…
The Black and White Shark Dynamite are the undoubtedly the better team no matter which way you look at it….
The Truth Will Set you Free…
Free yourselves…
28 May 2012, 11:00 am
@ufo(ufo)-163:
I hate to say it, but I’m with you on this one. Lambie and Goosen are out 10′s for 2015 (and maybe only Lambie if Goosen can’t stay in injury free).
I’ve never been a huge fan of Joe, but this season he looks very sharp. He would def’s be in my 22. How old is he?
28 May 2012, 11:04 am
@ufo(ufo)-163: i could live wiht a 10 lambie, 15 Joe
Joe runs into spaces well too, but i dont think he will be given a chance
28 May 2012, 11:04 am
@CenturionShark (aka LondonShark)(londonshark)-160: Lambie is nothing special at 15.
@Bokhoring(Bokhoring)-162: Future is Goosen at 10 and Andries Coetzee at 15
28 May 2012, 11:06 am
Frans Steyn still a very good option at 15 too.
Certainly better than Kirchner, Daniller, Joe P or Lambie.
28 May 2012, 11:07 am
There is no better Loose Forward Arsenal in the SA Conference… actually the whole damn SUper Rugger comp than at the Dynamite…
Alberts… Scud
Daniel… Guided Cruise Missile
Coetzee… Wrecking Ball
Kanko… Exocet
Deysel… Tomahawk
Botes… Stinger
Bring it on mofos…
RELENTLESS!!
28 May 2012, 11:07 am
@willievz(willievz)-173: Goosen seems a bit fragile for 10 at the moment
28 May 2012, 11:08 am
@houston, we have a problem…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-167: When you advocate best possible points, it means just that, it does not mean the way you want to see it
28 May 2012, 11:08 am
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-175:
HG GEE GAS
28 May 2012, 11:09 am
@CenturionShark (aka LondonShark)(londonshark)-171:
sheesh… didn’t know agreeing with me as such a terrible thing…
yeah he has had a good season… and lambie will get his opportunities at 10… as will goosen if he stays fit…
joe’s 28… so maybe a short-term plan… but no reason he can’t make the next world cup…
IF he maintains this form…
28 May 2012, 11:10 am
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-172:
sadly bud, i have to agree with you… but will live in hope until he is not selected…
28 May 2012, 11:10 am
@willievz(willievz)-174: Rumour has is a certain fellow flies into Durbs tomorrow
28 May 2012, 11:10 am
@HongKongSlong(HongKongSlong)-164: um, hasCam was benching at the beginning of the season, i think the cheetahs game was his 3rd start of the comp, he was improving but not to the point of “stopping” alberts.
28 May 2012, 11:11 am
@ufo(ufo)-163: Spot on. Lambie is either a 10 or a 15. He is not both. He is also NOT the best in either position in the country at the moment. However gifted he is – Meyer should not be pulling a Graham Henry 2007 and ‘making’ a place for Lambie just because he ‘reads the game’ well. He has deficiencies in 10play and 15 play, and the ‘gift’ he has will not hide these deficiencies. The Sharks either play him at 10 or 15 throughout and work on his weaknesses in the selected position = OR watch his light fade as the years march on (and that would be tragic)
28 May 2012, 11:11 am
@willievz(willievz)-173:
Hey make no mistake, I also think Lambie is 10 (and prob’s the best we have until Goosen’s return).
Big call on Andries Coetzee. He certainly looks promising, but it’s way to to early to label him a future bok.
28 May 2012, 11:12 am
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-181: Who, Fransie?
28 May 2012, 11:12 am
@ufo(ufo)-180:
may be i am biased but i think gio aplon is a better 15 than joe p.
problem is, you cannot play both in the back three – poms would kick on them all day.
28 May 2012, 11:14 am
@willievz(willievz)-173: nee man, daai andries coetzee is nowhere currently…really needs to shape up…hype around him is unjustified…
28 May 2012, 11:14 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food(The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food)-183:
I certainly think he is the best 10 in SA (Goosen will be our number 1, but he needs to sort out his shoulder, and properly this time).
What do you site as Lambie’s major weaknesses at 10?
28 May 2012, 11:15 am
@CenturionShark (aka LondonShark)(londonshark)-184: I’ve seen enough of him. He look exceptional. Rather give me a guy who performs exceptionally in one season and play him in that season, than pick a guy who has been around for 5 years but has been average or mediocre for those 5 years.
@charo(charo)-186: I won’t pick Aplon at 15, he doesn’t get distance with his kicks.
28 May 2012, 11:15 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food(The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food)-183:
agree… he has been messed around in terms of which positions he’s been selected to play… have been saying for a long time that sharks should play him at 10 and let him settle there…
i believe he has the character and determination to work on his weaknesses and still be good enough to be the bok 10… rotating with goosen…
it would indeed be tragic if he is allowed to fade into (relative) obscurity…
28 May 2012, 11:16 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-187: Well he doesn’t exactly play for the most structured outfit in the world at the moment, now does he?
28 May 2012, 11:17 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food(The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food)-183:
I’m not worried about the switch when he plays for the Boks. From experience, I found it pretty easy to play fullback after playing flyhalf.
So in terms of his career, I don’t think playing 10 for the Sharks and 15 for the Boks will be a problem.
It’s the other way around that cause problems.
28 May 2012, 11:19 am
@willievz(willievz)-189:
He’s been good (Andries Coetzee), but hardly exceptional. But ja, let’s wait and see.
Regarding Aplon; the guys gets 45-55m on most of his kicks. It’s Peter Grant who can’t get more than 40.
28 May 2012, 11:20 am
@willievz(willievz)-185: yip
28 May 2012, 11:21 am
Lambie is the best all round FH, attribute for attribute in the whole of SA…
Gainline play – Grant probably comes closest
Distribution – Steyn and Jantjies probably comeclosest
Defence – No 10 comes close
Speed – Second only to Goosen and level with Jantjies
Line Breaks – Level with Goosen and Jantjies
Territorial and Bomb kicking – Second to Steyn
Drop kicking – Can improve
Kicking for Poles – Second only to Steyn and level with Goosen… (Bullshit all you like about Grant’s credentials, the guy rarely kicks beyond 25m)
BTW… In all attributes relevant to FB he is superior to every other FB in the country other than speed behind Aplon…
Is this clear to you dumbfck doubters…?
28 May 2012, 11:21 am
@CenturionShark (aka LondonShark)(londonshark)-158:
All 22 need to be your best and the coach needs to use them correctly… the difference between the Bulls and Chiefs this weekend was exactly that…
22man 85min rugby…
Your team is also too white.
28 May 2012, 11:21 am
@charo(charo)-186:
why would you be biased bud…?
tough one for me… i’m a huge aplon fan… argued on keo that he would be good enough for international rugby when most here said he was simply too small… think he has more heart than just about any player in south africa… pound for pound if other players put in as much as he does boks would be unbeatable…
but he has been playing on the wing this season.. and joe has been the best 15 in south africa… this season… imo…
so i believe the coach should reward form… or should not say he will…
28 May 2012, 11:21 am
@CenturionShark (aka LondonShark)(londonshark)-188: BAd question, it is purely because Lambie is a Shark
28 May 2012, 11:23 am
@ufo(ufo)-163:
Glad he has made the squad this year at least…
28 May 2012, 11:23 am
@CenturionShark (aka LondonShark)(londonshark)-193: Aplon could not cut the mustart against Aus in Durban last year. He certainly is a threat from the back and a very courageous player, but not a test 15 in my book.
I will start him at wing though, no problem.
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