Stormers lose star prop
28 May 2012
The Stormers will be without key forward Steven Kitshoff for the clash against the Bulls as the youngster has been drafted into the SA U20 squad.
According to the Cape Argus, the 20-year-old Kitshoff will join the Baby Boks as they come together to prepare for the Junior World Championship. He will not be available for the Stormers’ game against the Bulls this Saturday, and will play for the Baby Boks while some of his Stormers team-mates are enjoying a rest during the break for internationals in June.
Kitshoff has proved to be one of the finds of the season, and has started in all of the Stormers’ 12 games to date. There will be no rest for Kitshoff as he plays for the Baby Boks and then resumes his starting role in Super Rugby when the tournament resumes at the end of June.
The more immediate problem for the Stormers is finding a loosehead to fill the void in the front row. Their squad has operated with just one loosehead for the past 12 matches, with Brok Harris, who is a tighthead, named as the official replacement for Kitshoff.
Saracens and former Bok No 1 Deon Carstens was signed in the off-season, but hasn’t played for the Stormers as yet. Carstens was on the bench for the Vodacom Cup final, and even when he took the field the Western Province scrum continued to struggle against their Griquas counterparts.
47 Comments
28 May 2012, 07:29 am
Oh well. Never mind. The boys will continue to step up to the plate. Bulls even bigger favourites for this game now. The break seems to coming at a good time.
28 May 2012, 07:46 am
What a shame, easily one of the best looseheads I have seen at 20 years old. Will be a great bok in time.
28 May 2012, 08:01 am
@BULLET(BULLET)-2:
I wonder if he can play TH… Boks have real lack of depth there… even the Wallabies have 3 world-class TH’s these days…
28 May 2012, 08:02 am
well, that’s all she wrote for the stormers…
28 May 2012, 08:09 am
Well done Steven, best of luck for the Junior Boks, soon it will be for the senior Boks. The Stormers depleted side are really going to struggle against the Bulls, pity. If there is a weak area in the Bulls side it is in the front row, the penalty count against them in that area is proof in the pudding, the Stormers would have wanted to take them on in that area.
28 May 2012, 08:11 am
Brok got broke like a kite in a thunderstorm.
He makes humpty dumpty look like Carl Hayman.
28 May 2012, 08:18 am
@the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-6: Read the article, it’s really short so you should beable to take everything in, the articles not about Brok, stick to the subject,
28 May 2012, 08:20 am
Big Blow. What to do? Bring Carstens in? Move Brok to loosehead and promote Malherbe to 3?
Schalk Ferreria maybe?
I just hope Kolisi and Joe Pietersen is back for the Bulls game. We missed both of them against the Sharks.
The Stormers will be much stronger after the June break with Burger, Koster, Vermeulen returning. I expect them to get 15 points out of their last 3 games. All those teams have weak defence that can be exploited.
28 May 2012, 08:20 am
Bryce,
Very tough to change from loose to tight, somewhat easier to go from 3 to 1.
Tighthead takes years of refinement, learning to scrum off both shoulders, your bind is fundamentally different (over the loosies arm), and you experience more pressure at 3 than at 1.
Don’t know if he could, but would not want him to try at S15 level and potemtially kill his confidence ala heinkie v-d merwe
28 May 2012, 08:24 am
@Kea-Cat(KEA)-7:
he is talked about as the “official’ replacement loosehead.
“read the article it’s short so you should be able to take everything in”…..
shitforbrains.
28 May 2012, 08:25 am
After being handed a scrum lesson, by Oom Jannie is it fair to say his a star
28 May 2012, 08:41 am
@bryce_in_oz(bryce_in_oz)-3:
Apparently Coenie is going to TH in the Currie Cup once WP Nel leaves for overseas. I think Coenie played there at school, so at least he has a little experience with the position.
28 May 2012, 08:51 am
Brok isn’t a good loosehead at all.
Rather have Deon.
We are playing these guys into the ground though, this is a real concern.
28 May 2012, 08:55 am
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-13:
howdy bud.
he didn’t look like a great tighthead either on saturday imo.
28 May 2012, 09:02 am
kitshoff needed the break. at 20 and playing every game he is being pushed too far in my opinion. at least U20s will be less intense and he’ll maintain match fitness.
28 May 2012, 09:21 am
@the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-14: Hey boet. Yes the scrums really struggled this past weekend.
Not a good omen.
28 May 2012, 09:24 am
If this is true it is a massive loss for the Stormers only 5 days before the vital clash against the Bulls. Dawie Theron can surely select a team to beat Ireland without using Steven. Really unnecessary to use this bloke and disrupt the Stormers even further.
28 May 2012, 09:28 am
our scrum got owned by the sharks this weekend, no doubt…
but have to repeat… a scrum is not a one-man piece… it takes all 8 to be accurate and coordinated to be effective…
and picking fourie for his ability in the loose is one thing… however with him we basically lose a man in the set pieces… contributing flanks are vital for the front row to operate effectively… especially when operating against an all bok front row and very good pack… which is why i would have gone with fenton-wells to start and deon fourie on the bench…
28 May 2012, 09:30 am
@ufo(ufo)-18: To be honest maybe you are missing the power of Vermeulen at the back. Me thinks your locks went a bit AWOL in the scrums and surprisingly in the lineouts
28 May 2012, 09:33 am
@Bokhoring(Bokhoring)-19:
absolutely…
all 8 need to be operating in unison for a scrum to be effective… and missing guys like duane, kolisi and schalk does make a difference…
28 May 2012, 09:35 am
Agreed, Deon Fourie tried hard but is not a flanker and was out of his league in that position. To make matters worse they also had Elstadt who is a lock at no 7 and the Canadian who is also a lock/flank at number 8. It was a recipe for disaster and it showed on Saturday.
28 May 2012, 09:35 am
@Bokhoring(Bokhoring)-19: My worry is that this is the lock pair I would have selected for the Boks. With Spies behind them in a scrum .. mmm
28 May 2012, 09:36 am
@Bokhoring(Bokhoring)-19:
yeah… our line outs too were very shoddy…
communication…?
tiaan definitely needs to up his game with his throwing in… he did himself no favours with his released-balloon throw ins…
stormers scrum was just not there on the day… and got deservedly shown up…
28 May 2012, 09:36 am
Who would have thought a ginger will be good at rugby???
28 May 2012, 09:41 am
@Bokhoring(Bokhoring)-22:
i’m convinced both beaker and etzebeth are carrying injuries…
eben has been struggling with his shoulder and you can see he simply does not hit the rucks and mauls… or tackle players backwards… like he did earlier int he season…
bekker has a lower back problem… in the cheetahs game he was kneeling in a ball of pain a several points in the game… and when he stood up you could literally see him trying to straighten his back though the pain… i was very surprised he made the field against the warawaras… let alone the sharks…
but what to do…?
when some of our loosies are back we could play steenkamp and elstadt…
but it is a huge problem and does not bode well for the team at all…
28 May 2012, 09:52 am
The sharks completely destroyed the stormers pack on Saturday. Never seen a them being so dominated all season. It could be fatigue but looks like the sharks front row will be our bok front row.
Kitshoff still has a lot to learn, but considering his age which is like an 10 year old playing with boys that are 16 years old and still holding his own.
If I was alastair I would give the boys a break and bring in the guys that has been sitting on the sideline.
JD Moller
Blaauw
De Kok Steenkok
Elstadt
Don Armond
and give likes such as bekker and estebeth a break.
28 May 2012, 10:35 am
@Bokhoring(Bokhoring)-19: Of course we are missing Vermeulen at the back. We saw that last year in the semi-final vs the Saders. Against mediocre scrums, we can get away Duane’s absence. Against better scrums, his absence is huge.
28 May 2012, 10:59 am
@kingcorn(kingcorn)-26: Since the inception of the super 15, coaches of the big 3 SA franchises (especially Ludeke and AC), have promised to utilise their full squads and employ a rotation style policy in selection.
It hasn’t happened. Players are only rested when it’s too late – when they’re injured. They clearly don’t trust their fringe players.
28 May 2012, 11:21 am
I agree good prospect for the future……..although oom Jannie gave him a lesson, and tore him a new @$$hole on sat….LOL was epic
28 May 2012, 11:38 am
For me AC is an extremely poor manager. He doesn’t trust his squad and plays his players into the ground. It was only a matter of time before these guys start showing fatigue.
28 May 2012, 11:44 am
@kingcorn(kingcorn)-30:
Bad manager, bad coach.
But although this call up for Kitshoff is a huge blow to the Stormers, surely playing a 20 year old front ranker into the ground should be of far greater concern.
Did AC object?
Does Dawie Theron have a conscience?
Have SARU, as well as being inept, turned a blind eye?
Shocking decision to call him up. The lad needs a rest ffs.
28 May 2012, 11:48 am
nice comeback Kea-Cat
28 May 2012, 12:02 pm
Do not stress Stormer Fans – Kaplan is the ref on Saturday. I suspect the same selection criteria was used when Bryce Lawrence was chosen to ref the Boks 1/4 final at the WC. Forgone conclusion – 4 pts in the bag for Stormers.
28 May 2012, 12:04 pm
@JamesNkomo(JamesNkomo)-33: You could probably send Paarl Boys H
28 May 2012, 12:14 pm
@JockBok(JockBok)-31: AC did object. The minute the Baby Bok squad was announced. But Jurie Roux made it clear that country comes first……….
28 May 2012, 12:15 pm
Sometimes one wonders about the intelligence of some bloggers!
I see that Plumtree refuses to release Jordaan! Can he refuse?
28 May 2012, 12:16 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food(The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food)-35:
Then why did Plumtree refuse to release Jordaan?
28 May 2012, 12:17 pm
@JockBok(JockBok)-31: So you are saying AC has not played this guy every game this year ????
28 May 2012, 12:31 pm
@capebull(capebull)-38:
AC is his manager, of course he’ll play him if he’s fit. You can’t blame him for that. Good he objected though, he’s done his bit. Because he can’t legislate for if’s and buts. That’s up to SARU now who must surely take all factors into account such as his age and position with a view to his development.
Win at all costs obviously takes precedence over a young guys welfare though.
28 May 2012, 12:46 pm
@JockBok(JockBok)-31: kitshoff should have a rest considering the rules of the junior tourney stipulate that all the players in the squad should play.
the sharks are also losing paul jordaan to the baby boks.
28 May 2012, 12:53 pm
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-37: I read that now. I remember when this squad was announced Alistair wanted certain guarantees from them (Theron etc), and at that stage it was said ‘country comes first’ but that they will try and be ‘fair’. Now I see the latest news is Plumtree refusing and surely Alistair will as well now?
28 May 2012, 13:27 pm
@bryce_in_oz(bryce_in_oz)-3:
What THREE world class Tightheads? Who Kepu,Alexander.Slipper???
Hahaha GTFOHWTBS!!! The same 3 tightheads who have been playing for Wallabies the last 18 months and still had a weak scrum?
Just like Oz has “all the tall timber” locks as you claimed start of the year? Yet NONE of them have really impressed barring Scott Fardy who is a retreaded 6. Pyle,Carter,Timani and co are just average period.
Your claims are laughable
28 May 2012, 14:07 pm
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-42:
Before you piss yourself like a little lap-dog you should learn your TH from your LH…
Ben Alexander was arguably ranked as one of the best TH’s in the world last year by many pundits… then Ma’afu and Dan Palmer who is destroying all and sundry with the Brumbies at scrum time… and then the young Slipper…
Sit Ubu sit… rrruff… good little lap-dog.
28 May 2012, 14:10 pm
@bryce_in_oz(bryce_in_oz)-43:
I’d kill for those three over ummm Jannie Dup and then who… WP Nell and then who Patric Cilliers… nope Boks are bare in this position no matter how much you jump up and down pissing yourself little man…
28 May 2012, 16:09 pm
Holy smoke, you have to read this crying c r a p to believe it was actually written. The “gathering” seeks an empty thread to bemoan their sorrows and hardships.It is only a game, fools.
So it is injuries,real or guessed(“carrying”),to all the locks(4),loosies(8,is that number enough for you?), fronties and much more and it is the scoreboard, the very well-disposed ref., the later rain, plus everything else but that the opposition being better prepared and executed their gameplan perfectly for your loss?
Is this the sick attitude that reflects “another gathering of the Cult of the Noble Loser”
To understand how demented and totally out of touch with reality you are read #634 as it placates you:
“There is plenty of evidence, both eyewitness and digital, attesting to the fact that season after season the Stormers do not win the Superugby Championship.
Yet to hear the yearly reviews and the next previews, a casual reader might be led to conclude that the runner-up, or worse, deserves at least as much credit, if not more, than the seasonal Champion.
Welcome, then, to another gathering of the Cult of the Noble Loser, whose members worship a select group of valiant competitors known for gallant efforts in a lost cause(many examples in sport,let alone life at large) and whose numbers are large, too large to the point of reflecting utter stupidity.
Admission to the Cult of the Noble Loser is not easy. A combination of qualifying factors must be in place. The candidate( Stormer’s team) must have a loyal and vocal following, especially in the national, and especially, local sporting media and public. He must be among the seasonal favorites in the big-time event, if not the outright choice. And there must be extenuating circumstances, as many as possible, that he did everything in his power to overcome to attain that victory in a contest. A razor-thin margin(penalty close to or after the siren that gives that 1 or 2 point win) also helps but is not absolutely required.
The Stormers earned cult status with their growing membership with perfomances that were deemed unique and particularly appealing to the testosterone-charged “all in” approach that pervades not only the culture of fun and games but the wider world as well, as in, “Yes, they are idiots, but at least they have the courage of their convictions.” Does the game-plan not reflect this? Defence alone does not win games.
If the Stormers gets to be part of the Cult of the Noble Loser because of historical performances and especially other factors, what about the Sharks, who came so close, closer than the Stormers ever did? Why do some become part of the Cult while others do not?
Where then does one draw the line?
Is it okay to be a little skeptical?
What can one really say in their favour?
They went very fast last season(5/5 and more) and this one(6/6, 10/11), then they got tired and injured(all teams suffer this) and they lost(and will lose again). They lost, by the way, last season to teams who left the starting blocks at the same time(time zones notwithstanding) as they do, every season.
But the raw data or stats tell the story differently and it drives you utterly crazy.
Still, one man’s Noble Loser is another’s dead-tired runner-up who had everything his own way for a while and couldn’t hang on. Here is hoping they do win a Superugby Cup sometime, even soon. Until then, cult or no cult, there’s another team out there who beat them fair and square between the white lines of a rugby field every season thus far.”
28 May 2012, 16:48 pm
Is it just so difficult for the “gathering/s of the Cult of the Noble Loser” to accept that there is always “another team out there who beat them fair and square”? And that it has happened in all your “Superugby” history?
I guess I will never know for I do not subscribe to the mentality of the “Cult”, ever.
28 May 2012, 19:28 pm
@Jokerstotheright(Mostofyou)-45:
“Holy smoke, you have to read this crying c r a p to believe it was actually written. The “gathering” seeks an empty thread to bemoan their sorrows and hardships.It is only a game, fools.”
I’m not sure if you’re aware, but this site is full of stories about South African rugby teams and after each story, the respective supporters often chat about the article or the aforementioned team in general terms.
This often leads to continued and prolonged wailing, and the gnashing of many teeth, especially after said supporters teams lose.
I’m quite sure that this is a common situation around the internet and roughly speaking, for example, motor racing fans go to motor racing blogs to discuss/fight/be armchair experts and football fans go to football blogs for the same reason. I think you’ll get the idea, you appear to be a bright chap.
In conclusion, on a thread about a young front row forward being (allegedly) over extended and consequentially being unable to play for his franchise on Saturday in a key game, the supporters of the Stormers in this instance, are understandably bemused.
And so you don’t get a surprise the next time you read a story about say, the Bulls, expect to have a few Bulls fans discussing that story in the allocated space underneath said article.
If you need any other advice or help, for example on how to out on your shirt without poking yourself in the eye, please don’t hesitate to give me a shout.
HTH
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