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.
Follow JC on Twitter
Follow SA Rugby magazine on Twitter
384 Comments
Pages: « 1 2 3 4 5 [6] 7 8 » Show All
28 May 2012, 12:02 pm
@stormerforlife1(stormerforlife1)-243: What…? Beast is not the man after what he did…? and lets be CLEAR… Not once… But TWICE!!!
If Kitshoff managed to do that with Aplon you would be pulling you Breezing little wire non stop in hormonal hype man…
Two words…
BEAST LEGEND…
PS… You can translate that in Bergietaal or whatever language you happen to speak as Fark Right Off if you even think otherwise…
28 May 2012, 12:02 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-238: I saw a bit of the game and have to say that Mills was absolutely brilliant.
28 May 2012, 12:03 pm
Hong Kong Slong @ 202.Francoise is a nice girls name.Think Hardie.
Drop the E please..
Do not have facility to do “Smilies”
Regards
28 May 2012, 12:03 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-244: Very possible. I am, what you COULD have been, had nature and nurture been kinder to you.
28 May 2012, 12:05 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-240:
hehehe
you may have died-in-the-woolen-embrace-of-your-latest-sheep supporter…
but i remain a true dyed-in-the-wool wp supporter…
maybe one day when you grow up you too could be a true dyed-in-the-wool supporter…
28 May 2012, 12:06 pm
@charo(charo)-228:
Gio’s 2nd try was the 2nd best of the weekend. (Yes I know but WTF).
Best try goes to the Cheetahs Hooker, a 65 metre sideline dash by the short fat fccker.
28 May 2012, 12:10 pm
@ufo(ufo)-255: Lol… You might be a soppy died-in-the-wool Breezer… But a True Blue Breezer you are… No fairweather Breeze, thats for sure, and thats why I am absolutely certain a part of you dyed on Sat when the Dynamite blew Storming dreams apart
28 May 2012, 12:12 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food(The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food)-250:
Good post – Far too many variables to make calls with any real confidence.
28 May 2012, 12:12 pm
i must say these kiwis has lost some gees since poppa had another breakdown and have been mia
28 May 2012, 12:13 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food(The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food)-254: Yeah, I suppose life could have made me an autistic Hairdresser… That would have been limp wristedly easy… But it didn’t… It made me a Shark forever… Only one of the Best, my boy….
I know you find it difficult to accept, but accept it you will in time…
Now open up wide….
28 May 2012, 12:15 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-251 Point proven as per my previous post.I just pointed out to you the error of your way in saying that Beast got pounded by Stormers chasers while holding Bressler up like that and your response is to foam at the mouth like a crazed dog.I see that i am wasting my time with you.It’s like trying to convince a chimp that he is just a chimp and not a human being.
28 May 2012, 12:17 pm
Indeed poor UFO.
Somwthing touched him deep inside the day the breezers died.
28 May 2012, 12:17 pm
@cane(cane)-256:
I think the final try in the Chiefs/Bulls game set up by SBW was also a beauty.
28 May 2012, 12:19 pm
@stormerforlife1(stormerforlife1)-261: Chap I have seen many, many Chimps who think they are yumanbeens…. I just looks at wot is in Newlands when the Breezers play there… You understand because I might actually be describing you… You know the type – those diehards in Saders or Canes jerseys, who spit at the Blizboks and boo the Boks…
:Breezerbumchumsmiley:
28 May 2012, 12:19 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-251:
Lol, it won’t be necessary for any Stormer to hold Aplon up like that. He can fly. Just ask Patrick L.
28 May 2012, 12:19 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-219: Good god woman, does your hysteria know no bounds? You are an embarrassment to highly struck primadonnas everywhere.
28 May 2012, 12:20 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-257:
yip… a dyed-in-the-wool supporter doesn’t change his stripes…
was not pleasant to watch us get out-muscled and out-played… but was pleased that we stuck to it and played for the full 80… but again… no doubt which team deserved the win…
but not at all upset… said before the game i expected the sharks to win it… and wast just politicking… we had to lose again sooner or later… and the sharks were really pumped up… fired on all cylinders…
stormers do really need to dig deep this week and this weekend against the bulls who are going to be snorting and firing on all cylinders after 2 defeats… so another tough game ahead for us…
but the season still has a ways to go…
if we can hang on somehow till duane and schalk are back… gonna be a whole different ball game… stormers still have not fired on all cylinders… so if anyone believes we have peaked…? save a little humble pie in the freezer…
then things really will get interesting…
28 May 2012, 12:23 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-262:
hehehe…
that’s the last time i let you sit next to me…!!
and you didn’t even wear a rubber glove…!!
28 May 2012, 12:26 pm
Snaaks UFO.
28 May 2012, 12:26 pm
@ufo(ufo)-267: BTW when is Duane expected back
28 May 2012, 12:26 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-262:
Oh, and there we were all in one place
A generation in Kings Park space
With no time left to start again
So come on Gio be nimble, Gio be quick
A Breezer sat on a candlestick
Cause fire is the Sharks only friend
And as I watched them on the stage
My hands were clenched in fists of rage
No Breezer born in Hell
Could break that Shark spell
And as the flames climbed high into the night
To light the sacrificial rite
I saw Beast laughing with delight
The day the Stormers died
He was singin’….
Bye Bye Miss Brokeback Pie…
28 May 2012, 12:28 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-269:
@Bokhoring(Bokhoring)-270:
not sure mate… talk is after the break… schalk for the first game duane the second… neither soon enough though…
28 May 2012, 12:29 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-260: That was a poor comeback……You leave me feeling disappointed somehow…. (Guess you get that a lot as well) Anyhow, that’s the way you roll I take it, in rugby, in love and in life. Promising much….delivering little – much like your beloved Sharks.
28 May 2012, 12:29 pm
@stormer in a teacup(stormer in a teacup)-266: This aint no highly strung primadonna… This is a hopping, strutting, I told you so Shark BantamCock… Be in no doubt
28 May 2012, 12:30 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food(The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food)-242:
OH so the stormers without Vermulen has nothing to do with the DHL stormers imploding from a one dimensional pragmatic approach that is surely taking its toll on the player personnel, a team can only enjoy aggressive defending for so…..then i will become tedious and taxing mentally and physically…..(just look at the injury list)
So no Vermulen is still overrated in comparison to the rest of the SA lose FWD stock
28 May 2012, 12:32 pm
@Robzim(Robzim)-265: Hehe… Fred did well to put him space with a 10meter start… He thought Lambieghini would show who’s who in the zoo, but Fred misjudged… Next time a 5m headstart for the midget and then we see…
28 May 2012, 12:34 pm
@FFF(FFF)-275: Well what you say there is exactly why you are posting comments on this website, and Heyneke/Rassie and co are coaching the Boks.
28 May 2012, 12:34 pm
@ufo(ufo)-267: Yup, it aint over ’til its over… But since I have been spreading the Shark gospel for weeks now while admittedly some real fairweather excuses for Sharks fans were talking “Dumbtree” and slating Daniel as “a ***** Cappie”, humble pie can wait… For now.
28 May 2012, 12:35 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food(The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food)-273: Ahem… Gargle?
28 May 2012, 12:36 pm
No excuses, Sharks have been improving and we haven’t and out of all the SA teams they’re best positioned for a late charge for pole position in SA Conference.
I for one thought that by now our backline would be a well drilled unit but AC & especially Fleck must give some answers as to why the tries aren’t coming as they can’t justify the lack of a decent attack on ”we got the 4 points.”
28 May 2012, 12:37 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-264: Is that the best you can come up bud?You are a real wanker of note.
28 May 2012, 12:39 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food(The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food)-250:
Yeah, it is crazy.
Coenie looks good, plus he can play both sides of the scrum. Plus he’s a monster with ball in hand. I won’t pretend to know the in’s and out’s of scrum time though.
28 May 2012, 12:39 pm
Am out for now…
Will be back to Spread the Word…
The Gospel According to the Sharks
Book of Daniel
Book of Bismarck
Book of Patrick
And finally the
Book of Beast…
Otherwise known as Revelation…
28 May 2012, 12:41 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food(The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food)-277:
No what i am saying is Rassie should be coaching the Oakland Raiders in the NFL and……..What the hell are you talking about god dammit, do it just f kking do it already……Dog food ***** man
28 May 2012, 12:42 pm
I bet the Stormers wish they had a few more bonus points.
The bonus points, more than anything, allow you to slip up every now and again. I can’t believe Fleck still has a job.
They still in poll position, but one more loss and there’s trouble.
28 May 2012, 12:43 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-274: A bantamcock? That’s a tinylittecock, right?
28 May 2012, 12:43 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-271: There is no way in hell you are a straight man. You tell me in a previous post that life could have made you limp wristed, but that it made you a Shark instead – I believed that, until this post…….. You have the time, the energy and more sadly, the DESIRE to replace the lyrics of a song with your own Ra-Ra words? Ok, time to wipe the tears from eyes, tone down the laughter, and get on with some work. Tata. XXXX CT hugs.
(For all your talk of Cape Homosexuality – I have yet to see any Cape fan round here do anything as pink as this….a frikkin song, with your own lyrics……dahlingggggggg)
28 May 2012, 12:45 pm
@FFF(FFF)-284: Why do I upset you so much? xxxxxx CT kisses.
28 May 2012, 12:45 pm
@CenturionShark (aka LondonShark)(londonshark)-285:
Believe me us Stormers really do wish we had more Bonus Points.
28 May 2012, 12:45 pm
@CenturionShark (aka LondonShark)(londonshark)-282: I was not aware that Coenie could handle tight head – that would make him a useful replacement on the Bok bench
28 May 2012, 12:46 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-225: Taute makes a lot of elementary mistakes from the back and does not display the counterattack I would like to see from a “running” 15.
Andries does.
But I can see you will not be sold on this
28 May 2012, 12:48 pm
@wpstormerbok(wpstormerbok)-280:
Yeah, it’s going to be tough for the Stormers. I can see a few Stormers wearing blue (or pink) when the Bulls play the Sharks (assuming the Bulls beat the Stormers next week).
28 May 2012, 12:49 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food(The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food)-288:
FFFFFF$^%^%^%*%*%*&%%^$£$@@@@$£$&^%^&!!!!!!!!!!!
……………….K, im all better now
28 May 2012, 12:49 pm
@Bokhoring(Bokhoring)-290:
I think Naka’s long term plan with Coenie is to make him a full time tighthead.
28 May 2012, 12:50 pm
The Artist @ 262
HG 271
And the good ol,boys were drinking whisky & Rye.Singing Bye.bye etc.
28 May 2012, 12:51 pm
Well at least the Stormers ended their bonus point drought on Saturday.
28 May 2012, 12:51 pm
I can say one thing, when the Saders play the Chiefs, I’ll be in red and black!!!
The Chiefs need to lose one game to allow one of our guys back into the race for the number 1 spot.
28 May 2012, 12:54 pm
@Bokhoring(Bokhoring)-290:
Particularly with De Villiers there to help him…
28 May 2012, 12:55 pm
@CenturionShark (aka LondonShark)(londonshark)-292: The classless nature of Sharks supporters like Hg,Woody and Gws would probably drive us to support the Bulls irrespective of winning or losing on Saturday.
28 May 2012, 12:59 pm
15. Lambie
14. JP
13. JdV
12. F Steyn
11. Habana
10. M Steyn (Goose when fit)
9. FduP (c)
8. K Daniel (look at Schalk or Vermeelen when fit)
7. Alberts
6. M Coetzee (Schalk when fit)
5. J Kruger (Bekker when fit)
4. Etsebeth
3. Jannie (Give Coennie more time at TH)
2. Bismark
1. Beast
Coennie
Strauss
Bekker
Flip
Broussow
Hougard
Aplon
(Lambie can cover 10 and JP 13)
Fringe players
Joe Pieterson
J Taute
Whitehead
Kitsoff is still too young
CJ Stander
Mvovo
To come back from injury
Burger
Duan Vemeerlen
Bekker is not right at the moment
Goosen
Look at Spies on the wing, he is no loose forward
Looking thin at 9 after FdP and FH
Looking thin at TH as usual (need to convert Coennie – Os must stop making all THs LHs – Marcel van der Merwe is another Os moved from TH to LH!!!)
Pages: « 1 2 3 4 5 [6] 7 8 » Show All
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.