No cavalry for Cape front runners
9 Jul 2012
The Stormers have been dealt a double blow with news that the injured trio of Schalk Burger, Duane Vermeulen and Nick Koster are unlikely to return for the play-offs and that Jebb Sinclair is ineligible for selection.
The Stormers have already lost Nizaam Carr for the rest of the season, and it could be that more experienced loose forwards like Burger, Vermeulen and Koster play no further part in this year’s Super Rugby competition.
According to coach Allister Coetzee, Vermeulen will see a knee specialist next Monday to determine his availability for a possible semi-final and final. There is a slim chance that Vermeulen will join the Cape side in the knockout stages, although Coetzee didn’t sound hopeful of Burger and Koster recovering from their own injuries to make a timely comeback.
Sinclair was recruited earlier in the season to offset the losses suffered in the loose forward department. The Stormers brought the Canadian into the mix knowing that he wouldn’t be available for the play-offs (the Sanzar law stipulates that a player needs to be signed before the 1 April cut-off to be eligible), but hoped that Burger, Vermeulen and Koster would be back in action by that point.
Last week, Coetzee said it was hoped that Sanzar would grant the Stormers special dispensation to include Sinclair in the play-offs given the Cape side’s high number of injuries in the loose forward department. However, Coetzee told keo.co.za on Monday that this request had been turned down.
What this means is that the Stormers will be without Sinclair in the play-offs, and it’s highly likely that Burger and Koster will be unavailable. If Vermeulen doesn’t receive good news from the specialist next week, he could also miss out.
This will force Coetzee to revisit the plan of starting Siya Kolisi, who is only into his first Super Rugby season, at No 8. It could be that Kolisi is shifted to the back of the scrum for the upcoming match against the Rebels, as this will allow a back row combination that will probably start in the play-offs some time to settle.
By Jon Cardinelli
283 Comments
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10 Jul 2012, 08:21 am
@victoriabok(victoriabok)-209:
sounds like you’re chatting about richard bands…
wasn’t he rumoured to have a couple of shots of klippies at half time…? which apparently affected his career negatively…
not because of a dip in performance…
but because of the the ‘bad’ example he set for impressionable youngsters in the bulls team…
10 Jul 2012, 08:27 am
@ufo(ufo)-251:
I remember Bands scoring that brilliant try against the Kiwi’s.
10 Jul 2012, 08:29 am
@William Webb Ellis is now at home(poppa69)-250: and no condemnation of Zinnie’s by you?
Joost is a chop, don’t know many people who liked him. Met him a couple of times and can understand why.
10 Jul 2012, 08:32 am
@Jeraldjay(Jeraldjay)-252:
yeah… was one of those ‘moments’ many of us remember fondly…
10 Jul 2012, 08:40 am
@trupisero(trupisero)-253:
Ag Trup, wasting your time with this plonker. He is just ‘returning serve’ so well within his rights not to condemn Zinzan, just ask him.
Anyway, hoe loop dinge aan jou kant?
10 Jul 2012, 08:41 am
@rangerman(rangerman)-248: Whatever way you look at it, Joost was a total d o o s, end of story. He was respected by most for the way he played the game – but disliked for the person he was.
Make no mistake, there are fellows with doctorates in arsholegonomy from every rugby playing nation, Joost just happened to be one of OUR most esteemed.
10 Jul 2012, 08:45 am
10 Jul 2012, 08:49 am
@Slartibartfast(Slartibartfast)-255: als goed thanks. Kry darem nie so koud soos die manne in SA nie!
@Slartibartfast(Slartibartfast)-257: must be a Cape Town word
10 Jul 2012, 08:52 am
@trupisero(trupisero)-258:
Dink my bloed word dun, kry deesdae koud as dit bietjie afkoel hier.
Aaaahhh CT, no need for Google then…
10 Jul 2012, 08:55 am
Bad news – still feel so confident about facing the Saders in the final ?
10 Jul 2012, 09:30 am
I don’t believe that Saffa’s and Kiwis hate each other but rather that the rivalry, respect and dare I say it fear is so high that fans of both sides use any chance to make themselves feel superior by denigrating or debasing or ripping into the other nations rugby hero’s. Perhaps one day our feelings of respect for each other will outweigh our fear of being beaten by the other side. Hopefully we will learn to not be afraid to lose with dignity, whilst maintaining at all times a strong desire to knock the living …… out of each other.
10 Jul 2012, 09:32 am
@bananaboy(bananaboy)-261: Nope we hate you …………he he !
10 Jul 2012, 09:35 am
@bananaboy(bananaboy)-261: A game of thugs played by gentleman ………… suggestion to the IRB all fullbacks to be armed with heavy machine guns ….
10 Jul 2012, 09:41 am
has anyone seen gallileo? i’m really getting worried about the guy
hasn’t been seen since the bulls were handed their arses in durban.
10 Jul 2012, 09:42 am
See Etzebeth still struggling with that ankle injury and probably not going to start this weekend. Doubt Stormers will need him against the Rebels and a good thing to rest him for the Semi.
10 Jul 2012, 09:45 am
@bananaboy(bananaboy)-261: “Perhaps one day our feelings of respect for each other will outweigh our fear of being beaten by the other side.”
Highly unlikely
10 Jul 2012, 10:51 am
@Puma(Puma)-265: That concerns me Puma. The Stormers tight five have not looked that great without him and the Rebels if they can compete upfront and get some ball can cause quite a bit of damage with their backline. We saw that against the Lions and bear in mind they were playing at altitude.
You might see the Stormers putting everything out into touch from their 22 and contesting the lineouts like they did against the Cheetahs to good extent. The Rebels on the other hand I think will keep the ball in hand.
10 Jul 2012, 10:55 am
@bananaboy(bananaboy)-261: First deal with your fear of the Stormers winning the super title before we tackle the kiwi-bokke issue.
10 Jul 2012, 10:56 am
@bananaboy(bananaboy)-261:
Nah, I love to hate them. It’s more fun that way
10 Jul 2012, 10:56 am
@bananaboy(bananaboy)-267:
The outcome of the Chiefs/Canes game will determine the Stormers’ strategy. If the Canes win, the Stormers will play conservative. If the Chiefs win without a bonus point, the Stormers can still top the overall log by winning with a bonus point.
Regardless of the Stormers’ gameplan, I actually think the Rebels will be kicking a lot – trying to play outside their half without the ball against a good defensive side, and try and force kickable penalties.
10 Jul 2012, 10:58 am
@stormerforlife1(stormerforlife1)-268: No fear, way i see it, it aint gonna happen
10 Jul 2012, 10:59 am
@bananaboy(bananaboy)-271: Although I wouldn’t mind it if Sharks cannot do it.
10 Jul 2012, 11:00 am
@stormerforlife1(stormerforlife1)-268:
If the Sharks don’t win it (which they won’t), my support is with the Bulls. If the Bulls don’t win it (which they won’t), I’ll be 100% behind the Stormers.
If the Stormers end TOP of the combined log, they’ll win the whole thing. If not, I fear it might be a bridge too far (espcially with Schalk and co staying out).
10 Jul 2012, 11:02 am
@willievz(willievz)-270: My concern is what happens without Etzebeth there in the rucks and scrums particularly. Without him I think Rebels may be able to turn over more of your ball and that could be dangerous.
Agree that Rebels may opt to kick a bit as well as they will have no need to be scared of counter attacking from the Stormers.
10 Jul 2012, 11:03 am
@bananaboy(bananaboy)-272:
I would put some decent cash on the Sharks making the final (assuming they beat the Cheetahs).
They should beat the Brumbies, which would leave them with a semi-final at Newlands. And with the Stormers depleted ranks, you never know
But the trip back to NZL would be one too many (espcially with no Frans Steyn).
10 Jul 2012, 11:09 am
@CenturionShark (aka LondonShark)(londonshark)-275: I dont think we should write off Jakes Brumbies – def dark horse for the final
10 Jul 2012, 11:46 am
@stew(stew)-276: Did the Stormers play the Brumbies this year?
10 Jul 2012, 13:34 pm
@bananaboy(bananaboy)-277:
Nope, they missed out on the Stormers and I think the Chiefs (or was it the Saders).
And people say the conference system is fair, bahahahahaha.
The Stormers and the Chiefs also never played. The Sharks missed out on the Saders etc etc.
Yet some teams skip out on the Lions/Blues/Force/Rebels etc when those matches would prob yield 5 points.
10 Jul 2012, 13:44 pm
@bananaboy(bananaboy)-277:
nope, nor the chiefs!
It looks like we still have enough loosies, but the mix/experience is the problem. Odd that we had the same problem last year but called schalk brits in 12 months too soon. We could do a LOT more with him or Flouw now.
It looks like AC has been juggling the peripheral guys already too much, and we should have got a settled combination by now on the planning that none of Burger, Koster or Vermeulen would be ready.
Not that I think they would offer much more than what we have available, but would Fenton Wells and/or Kitshoff(Rohan) be allowed to play if released from contract? They were both contracted to WP at the start of the season, or does it have to be with the Stormers?
could be win-win for both parties, as they would definitely gain valuable experience being in a play off set-up.
both snapped up AFTER 1 april deadline
http://rugby-transfers.blogspot.com/2012/04/bordeaux-begles-sign-namibian-flanker.html
http://www.keo.co.za/2012/06/08/saracens-snap-up-fenton-wells/
10 Jul 2012, 16:01 pm
“Last week, Coetzee said it was hoped that Sanzar would grant the Stormers special dispensation to include Sinclair in the play-offs”
Why is it you guys think he rules don’t apply to you????
Same as the bloody Kings or Spears or whatever they’re called. We’ll make a plan that we know we don’t want, but pretend that we’ll get the rules changed to suit.
Sheesh! Arrogance!
10 Jul 2012, 16:06 pm
So, why didn’t they start introducing the young guys 6-8 weeks ago when the injuries happened, instead of going off and getting a lumberjack??? No wonder they didn’t't get any dispensation. P!ss poor planning – now they’ve got one week to sort a combination out – not the 6 they could of had. Tossers!
10 Jul 2012, 19:43 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-264:
hehe
thanks fpr the concern, transie
i wll not lie to you
it feels like the wc 1/4 finals all over again
my faith is shaken
.
how’s tac doing?
i know he spoke the sharks up for that game but i think even he must have been taken by that ****** seafood surprise
this conference is not for sissies
10 Jul 2012, 20:29 pm
Don’t know what the point of this article was, the 3 of them haven’t exactly played a lot or played at all this season and the Stormers have excelled, just hope they don’t against my Sharkies and we give them a rogering of note
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