Coetzee: Stormers have made strides
29 Jul 2012
Allister Coetzee has lamented a wasted opportunity following the Stormers’ semi-final exit but still considers the 2012 campaign a relative success.
The Cape side went into the play-offs with a 14 from 16 record, an unbeaten record at Newlands, and the South African conference title. It was a run of form that created an expectation, and it’s fair to say that the Stormers failed to live up to that expectation on Saturday.
In the game that mattered, the Stormers weren’t accurate enough on attack. They failed to take their chances in the first half, and were forced to play catch-up rugby in the second.
Saturday’s semi-final defeat is the Cape side’s fourth play-off loss in three seasons. It’s a damning record if you take it at face value, but as Coetzee has pointed out at various stages of the season, there have been some significant setbacks in 2012. In a way, it’s a surprise that the Stormers have got this far.
The Stormers played the Sharks on Saturday without Schalk Burger or Duane Vermeulen. Three players, namely prop Steven Kitshoff, openside flank Siya Kolisi and lock Eben Etzebeth were playing in their first knockout game. The Stormers’ injury situation at loose forward had also forced Coetzee to field Deon Fourie, a specialist hooker, at No 8.
Coetzee didn’t try to make excuses for Saturday’ performance. Indeed there were some unforgivable mistakes made by the Stormers, and not all of those were made by the rookies.
‘The Sharks put us under pressure, especially in the first half,’ said Coetzee. ‘We did not respond well. It’s very disappointing.
‘There were too many mistakes. Our kicking execution was poor and they did well to put our set piece under pressure. We struggled to get out of our own half.’
The Stormers coach wasn’t, however, completely displeased with the performance or the manner in which the team has conducted itself this season.
He conceded that it may be difficult for people to accept – and the Cape rugby public has been waiting since 2001 for a major title – but he doesn’t believe this side has underperformed.
‘If you take the emotion out of it, we are one of the three sides that have improved this season. The other two have been the Sharks and the Chiefs.
‘I think we’ve taken a big step in the right direction,’ he said. ‘It was a setback losing those players to injury, but then we did manage to win some close games throughout the season without them. I’m flipping proud that we were so close tonight, we almost forced it to go into extra time. We stood up to them physically and were never lacking for effort.
‘I know that at some franchises they won’t get that much criticism if they win just three games in a season, but the standards in Cape Town are very high. I respect that, and to all those fans out there, we are hurting just like you. But we will never stop fighting, we are going to get into a final and win that cup. We believe in this group and we will take a lesson from this.’
While Coetzee offered some perspective, captain Jean de Villiers was absolutely inconsolable. The Springbok centre produced one of the best performances of his Super Rugby career and still it wasn’t enough to help the Stormers progress to the final.
‘It’s a very tough one to swallow,’ De Villiers said. ‘We couldn’t have prepared better, and we had the attitude and commitment, but we just didn’t take our opportunities.
‘Believe me when I say, I’m starting to doubt myself and my own captaincy, I’ve been in this situation so many times,’ he added, alluding to the semi-final against the Crusaders at Newlands last year. Burger went down with an injury early in the second half, and De Villiers led the team in his absence. The Stormers ended up losing 29-10.
‘We want to get answers, but it’s tough. I don’t know what to say. We’ve been through some dark times this season and have still managed to pull through, and in that way I’m proud of this team. It’s just a pity about tonight.
‘It’s a feeling that won’t go away easily, and I’m sure we will still be feeling it next week. But I suppose we have to look at the positives.
‘A year ago I sat here talking to you after a loss to the Crusaders. It’s a different situation on this occasion, as we weren’t really in that Crusaders game. We came close [against the Sharks], so we are getting there with very small steps.’
By Jon Cardinelli, at Newlands
185 Comments
28 Jul 2012, 22:44 pm
Dragon Coetzee needs Dragon Smith to come teach his team to score tries
28 Jul 2012, 23:04 pm
Graduated summa cumlaude from the Protea School of Choking…
28 Jul 2012, 23:23 pm
seems AC is already trying to talk his way into keeping his job. I said at the beginning of the season that the stormers won’t win, primarily because their weak link was their coach. I couldn’t be more happy that AC’s stupid picks throughout the season flunked today. Take a bow mini-percy, duvenhage and fourie. you three rank amongst the most hopeless.
The rugby gods today decided enough was enough and that the anti-rugby strategy employed by the stormers was punished. The stormers thought that defense wins knock-out rugby, but forgot that they still needed to score points than their opponents. The sharks showed that defense wins games, but also knew they needed to score points.
Should be a good final rugby wise, but i suspect it might be a bridge too far for the the Sharks.
28 Jul 2012, 23:28 pm
@pompies2-3: You, sir, would have sung a completely different song if the bounce of the ball went the Stormers’ way today.
28 Jul 2012, 23:31 pm
AC really clutching here.
Stormers were good this season, but to say that they improved is just plain wrong.
Nothing changed all year.
Lamenting the loss of players by the author is also poor, it happens.
Sharks started the season with half a team, which is why they are clocking up air miles. No excuses, you play the hand dealt.
WP have great players, they just don’t know what to do with the ball.
28 Jul 2012, 23:40 pm
@Caper-4: Not quite. I’ve been consistent in my criticism of the stormers and AC in particular. I said from the start of the competition that their inability to score tries would cause them problems. The wins and top spot on the log meant zilch in the end, so AC must voetsek.
28 Jul 2012, 23:42 pm
@pompies2-6: Oh ja, and fleckie must find a proper job. He’s been found out. A pure token coach.
28 Jul 2012, 23:42 pm
@Caper-4:
I don’t think he would have. I am a Stormers fan and also think AC has to go. There is a difference between winning and playing winning RUGBY. It is the most frustrating thing to watch a Stormers game nowadays. You know you are going to be bored out of your mind by defence and penalties. At least when watching the Lions, they try to play rugby for 80 minutes, not just when they are behind (albeit that they are 80 percent of the time).
Best of luck to the Sharks next week. I think it will be a bridge too far with all the flying around, but you are the best team in SA currently. I hope HM keeps that in mind for the Rugby Championship.
28 Jul 2012, 23:50 pm
@gussak-8: Compare the Stormers team man to man to the other SA teams and it is clear we are the 3rd best as indicated by amount of springboks selected. AC used what was at his disposal and made them finish not only top of conf but top of log. Counts for nothing but cant blame coach. I admit its not pretty but would you prefer being the Cheetahs?
28 Jul 2012, 23:53 pm
@gussak-8: @pompies2-6: As a Stormers fan, winning 14 out of 16 league matches, 8 out of 9 matches at Newlands, 3 out of 4 overseas, the Bulls at Loftus, the SA conference and a top spot on the log is proof enough that we were very close to winning the title. If we had won tonight, I would have backed us to win the Chiefs. The Stormers have won games comfortably this season, even though the scoreline doesn’t reflect it to look that way. Their defense has been outstanding and if they get their attack figured out they’ll be the team to beat.
Even though I’m gutted that we’re out of the comp once again, it has to be said that we topped the log for the first time ever. Topping the log should definitely be considered a step in the direction of winning the trophy. Firing AC would be messing with a formula that’s working and getting better.
28 Jul 2012, 23:58 pm
Wouldn’t say it was “one of JDVS best performances”. Missed tackle on ludik resulted in try
29 Jul 2012, 00:00 am
@liefling-9:
I think we will do better than the Cheetahs if we play their brand of rugby, as we have better players. We just don’t use them
@Caper-10:
I don’t want to win a trophy playing the brand of non-rugby they are doing now. If all the teams in the competition start playing like the Stormers, I might as well stop watching rugby.
29 Jul 2012, 00:02 am
@liefling-11:
Bismark couldn’t tackle Etzebeth. Would you say Bissie had a bad game? I don’t think so.
29 Jul 2012, 00:11 am
@Jinx2-13: No, he made many turnovers, found his jumpers and was collossal as usual. JDV is the best centre in the world and thus for his standards should not miss one on one tackles that resulted in 7 points. He would be the first to admit it. harsh realities of sport – one mistake can ruin ones own performance
29 Jul 2012, 00:22 am
Sorry Alistair. This result represents significant underachievement. The Stormers did not add enough to their game this year to say they have improved. We have a few excellent new players , but the coaching staff brought no progress in gameplan. Good luck Sharks – you have stepped up a gear when it mattered. We, unfortunately, just kept revving harder. Time for fresh blood at Newlands.
29 Jul 2012, 00:30 am
@stormer in a teacup-15:
Agree on the new blood mate. He might be 90 percent kicker, but Grant has to go. Looking at his “play making” today was painful. He stands still when spreading the ball wide and that is not the way to make space on the outside. We don’t have the answer in our current squad. We might have to buy someone from somewhere. Gary van A is not the answer.
Also pity that Jaque and Whitehead left, as JdJ’s defence is not up to scratch. Personally don’t rate Sadie as high as other people.
29 Jul 2012, 02:34 am
9 and 10 must go. A running 9 like Pretorius would be great buy. Hopefully Swiel can come through next season as I am not convinced of Pietersen’s quality and he can play 10. We need Malherbe and Kitsoff to spend the of season loosing some fat and building some muscle. We need a new head oach and back line coach. Fleck could never pass a ball, how can he coach guys to throw it around? The locks are awesome, no issue at loose trio as long as everyone is fit. Centres need to lift their game but are good enough to get the job done. Would like Jacques to come back. The back three are out of balance, two midgets and 1 smallish guy ain’t got to work. Mallett needs to take over as head coach and an experience backline coach needs to be acquired (not AC or Robbie)
29 Jul 2012, 02:35 am
If the Stormers could buy Goosen, it’d all be sorted.
29 Jul 2012, 04:15 am
So those rugby rules wizards, some comment here. I watched the game delayed, so as to get some sleep & had the luxury of live pause.
Watch Minute 34 – Sharks knock the ball on in a scrum – Duvenhage sees it and looks to the AR who puts his flag out. You can clearly see the flag sticking out after the very visible knock. McCloud has a box kick, sharks win the resulting ball – still no word from the ref on the knock, still no advantage. Michelak goes for a run and then passes – Viljoen kicks, Ludic gathers & scores. On the voice over you can hear Walsh talking about after the lineout but lets the try stand.
To me, this is just weak reffing – yes, it would have been unpopular, but there was a clear knock, the AR saw it, why no scrum to the Stormers? Bear in mind this try changed the whole complexion of the game, the Stormers were at least a try down most of the way, even in their very promising fightback in the late stages. Playing catchup rugby is always different to playing rugby when the scores are similar.
When the match officials actually saw the problem and did nothing, that is harder to explain than when they missed the incident entirely.
29 Jul 2012, 05:01 am
@Jinx2-13:
Point taken, mate. But shoo – can’t anyone make one mistake?
29 Jul 2012, 07:00 am
@19 NSW. Point taken.
What so many bloggers said was that this has been coming – a match where the stormers would be behind on the scoreboard by a large enough margin that they would have to attack with ball in hand to get back in it, as opposed to milking penalties to close the gap. We saw forwards at first receiver in the backline & a lot of sideways running,especially by habana. Makes one wonder what their attack drills in practice look like
29 Jul 2012, 07:09 am
BTW, I don’t recall beast conceding a scrum penalty for either his bind or scrumming inwards. And he still managed to give Harris a working over. A proper FU to his detractors.
29 Jul 2012, 09:33 am
Strides to where?
29 Jul 2012, 09:35 am
even as a sharks supporter, i get frustrated watching the stormer’s star-studded backline underperform.
they play in the style of their coach, robbie fleck.
all individual effort but no thought for bringing the next guy into play.
it all starts with peter grant who does everything flatfooted and in slow motion.
29 Jul 2012, 09:49 am
AC game plan is just not good enough!! Period they need to really look to another coach with more vision!! Stormers have some excellent talent in there mitz and this fool will make them leave for another province.
Time for AC to pack up. I said it last season already
this guy is las really!!!
29 Jul 2012, 09:49 am
Need a better flyhalf if you want to win this comp.
And then when you have a center who doesnt like passing and one who cant pass…..:-):-).:-)
29 Jul 2012, 09:52 am
@Brigadier Van Zyl-26: Good assessment of the Bulls, but a week too late.
29 Jul 2012, 09:54 am
@charo 24
the problem is not Peter grant its 9
he’s services is piss poor really and how he got 50 caps is beyond me really!!!
29 Jul 2012, 09:56 am
Brokebacks complaining about injuries, did they lose 22 first choice players?
Face it the Stormers could easily have lost 7 from 16 and rode their luck for far too long.
They talk about finals rugby but the record is zero titles from 22 attempts, in eleven years. What does the WP know about finals rugby? Take away Nienaber and the pathetic mediocre AC will shine brightly.
This team makes me sick just watching them play. I even fell asleep watching my beloved Lions playing them a few weeks ago.
Justice was served and the SA team with the best chance of winning the super title (not some scalled down trinket trophy) are deservedly in the final.
29 Jul 2012, 10:04 am
@ RL 29
The stormers stood the best chance of winning the title!!!
The sharks don’t stand a chance in hell even with the pretty to watch rugby
Better luch next time SA teams
29 Jul 2012, 10:19 am
@Narutokun-30: Sonny Bill would have brought the CapeSaders in their thousands to Newlands. Gone with the home town support. There is no way in hell that this Stormers team can beats team like the Chiefs, Reds or Saders in a final, home or away.
29 Jul 2012, 10:21 am
Huge forward pass from Mvovo to Pietersen leading to the Sharks first penalty as well hole grandstand saw it accept Walsh and linesman,JDV had one of his best games crashing into the centre flyhalf channel
Well Done Sharks btw
29 Jul 2012, 10:25 am
@RL-29:
Do you realise that this team that made you fall asleep when they play have beaten your beloved Lions 13 times in succession in Superrugby?
29 Jul 2012, 10:29 am
@Narutokun-28:
I think both halfbacks need to be replaced. And they need at least one real strongman in the front row asap. Otherwise it will be much of the same next season.
29 Jul 2012, 10:59 am
@NSWStormer-19: Have another look, you’ve got it totally wrong.The incident you are referring to in the 34th minute was at a lineout,not a scrum. The AR did put his flag out,not for a knock on,but because the Sharks player was interfered with in the air at the lineout.This is an infringement where he is permitted to raise his flag i.e. foul play; he would not for a knock on infringement. The Sharks went on to score a try as advantage was being played due to a Stormers infringement. All very clear if you take the trouble to have another look.Maybe take off your rose tinted spectacles when you do though.
29 Jul 2012, 11:18 am
AC is a good head coach. We need a new flyhalf, a new scrummie (Schreuder looked ok when he came on) and a new backline coach.
29 Jul 2012, 11:37 am
@ SDT was just going to say the same…
29 Jul 2012, 11:45 am
Back in February, when the Stormer squad was announced, not very many Stormers supporters believed that they have a team that was good enough to win the SA conference, let alone the competition. Then in the very 1st game, the captain got injured and said fans thought the chances of the Stormers went down the tube with his season ending injury. Not long after that some more senior players got injured and 90% of Stormers supporters were horified by the prospect of being murdered by other teams through the course of the competition.
No one would dare to predict that the Stormers would end up on top of the log by the end of the season in mid April because of these injury issues and a pack with FOUR players 20/21 years old.
Yet, they defied all logic and put in the hard yards and get on with the task at hand. So yes, AC is right when he says that “we’ve taken a big step in the right direction”
What we now need is a scrum half and tight head of international quality to reach our destination ie winning the competitions that we take part in.
…oh yes, and a different game plan.
29 Jul 2012, 12:18 pm
@SDT-35: I agree he put his flag out for the interference, but there was still a knock on. Should’ve been penalty to Sharks right there for no advantage.
But that is no excuse for anything, those things happen, I’m sure there were some that went the other way also.
Congrats to the Sharkies for the win.
29 Jul 2012, 12:21 pm
@wpjoulekkading-39: Exactly Claytie, btw boet how you doing and hows the married life treatin ya??
29 Jul 2012, 12:23 pm
Tendai Mtawarira
Bismarck du Plessis
Jannie du Plessis
Willem Alberts
Anton Bresler
Keegan Daniel (Captain)
Marcell Coetzee
Ryan Kankowski
Charl McLeod
Frederic Michalak
Lwazi Mvovo
Meyer Bosman
Tim Whitehead
JP Pietersen
It seems the Sharks are able to fly out in aa little while with this squad and it is said to be injury free, this means Lambie and Jordaan will be up for selection, wonderful news
Louis Ludik
Craig Burden
Wiehahn Herbst
Steven Sykes
Jean Deysel
Jacques Botes
Odwa Ndungane
Riaan Viljoen
Patrick Lambie
Paul Jordaan
29 Jul 2012, 12:26 pm
@wpjoulekkading-39: And tough luck there boet, a loss like that is never easy to take,
29 Jul 2012, 12:28 pm
All these doomsayers that want to fire coaches are just ridiculous.
It was a good season by the Stormers, just not quite enough to win it all. But there are 14 other teams all gunning for the title, there is no shame in losing to a good side, as long as you have self-belief and gave it your all. People dissing the Stormers are in fact insulting the Sharks, who had a lot of star power and played well.
Also, the Stormers will get better. The pack is super young (with only a few exceptions).
Kitsoff 20
Etzebeth 20
Kolisi 20
Carr 21
Malherbe 21
Ntubeni 21
Roux 21
Elstadt 22
Koster 23
Fourie 25
Vermeulen 25
Steenkamp 25
Harris 27
Bekker 28
Burger 29
Liebenberg 30
Carstens 32
Surely this pack will only get better. We need one or two more young talented proppies to come through the ranks, and maybe a nice physical hooker.
I think in the end it is upfront where the Stormers lost the game. In defence they are manning up brilliantly, but in attack they seem to be under too much pressure when defending their ball. I’m not sure whether it is technique or size, but it will surely only improve.
In fact, I’m quite sure that is part of the backline problems – the forwards struggle to protect the driving ball, taking too many men, and then when the backs get the ball they are under pressure or outnumbered.
29 Jul 2012, 12:32 pm
@sharks_lover-42: Ja, was a bit tough to take. But if fans are gentleman like yourself, its not so bad. It was a good exciting contest which should have been enjoyed by all.
Good luck for the final!
29 Jul 2012, 12:33 pm
“gentlemen”
29 Jul 2012, 12:40 pm
Not controlling two kick offs cost the Stormers 6points a penalty an a drop kick,not controlling two Gary owens cost them 10points a try an Deon fourie knock on first half,16points in total the Basics cost them.
29 Jul 2012, 12:44 pm
@wpjoulekkading-44: Thanks boet, and i agree, people are quick to want to get rid of players and fire people
I said this on Sharksworld earlier too, as there is that ludicrous call on FB for PLum to be fired,crazy man
29 Jul 2012, 12:45 pm
@AssassinWP-46: what cost them was pressure and better play from the oposition mate, the better team won.
Be proud of your team, Yes they lost yesterday, look at the whole season and look at what they have for the future
29 Jul 2012, 12:47 pm
@AssassinWP-32: Perhaps, not to sure which pass you mean but can’t be worse than all the forward passes from JDV to Aplon. Hard luck Stormers…well done Sharks.
29 Jul 2012, 13:41 pm
AC should be making great strides for the door. He is absolutely useless. The Stormers only got to where they did because of the talent of the players. His tactics and selections are utterly predictable. Yes, its hard to get rid of a guy who won 14 out of 16 matches in the league part of the season, but we failed to score 4 trys in any of the matches. He has never shown any vision in selections, changes have always come via injuries, which have been inevitably high due to his lack of rotation. We have hardly seen anything from Van Den Heever. Why did AC not play Habana, Aplon, Pieterson and Van Den Heever 3 weeks on and one week on the bench? All 4 players would have ample game time to get into form, but also crucial rest. The same could have been done in many other areas of the team.
Nice guy useless coach, he has to go. The players and the supporters deserve better.
29 Jul 2012, 13:56 pm
the stormers scrumhalf who kicked the ball into touch with a minute left on the clock…?..
what a joker
did he seriously hope they’d win a lineout against the throw and steal the match?
who does stuff like that..?…
29 Jul 2012, 13:57 pm
Brok Harris got popped by Beast from the very first scrum. How does he still have a contract? All he does is get munched at the scrums and hang around at centre in the loose.
29 Jul 2012, 14:09 pm
@King Shaka-52:
I did see him make a pass though…which is 1 more than dejong has made.
to be fair…Beast was onsong yesterday.
29 Jul 2012, 14:41 pm
A step in the right direction since 2001? boy this really defines baby steps
29 Jul 2012, 14:47 pm
Newlands has now became the family grave yard for the Stormers reallocate as soon as possible, the place is jinxed.
29 Jul 2012, 14:47 pm
@HongKongSlong-50:
“Why did AC not play Habana, Aplon, Pieterson and Van Den Heever 3 weeks on and one week on the bench?”
That is just a stupid idea. Rotating FOUR senior players all at the same time.
Also, have a look at the Stormers program and tell us which three games you would’ve selected the four players before giving them a rest. Keeping in mind that the Stormers played 16 matches, before yesterday, the players should only have played 12 matches while resting for the other four if AC used your system.
I believe it was that predictability in selection that helped the team to be as (moderately) successful as they were.
We saw what can happen with a team when the coach is very unpredictable in his selections.
Think Rudolph Straeuli as Bok coach.
@wait for it, wait for it…-51:
I nearly threw a brick through the TV screen when he did that. Unfortunately I was watching at a friend’s house.
29 Jul 2012, 15:01 pm
The difference between Grant and Michalak is two days on horseback, the Stormers problems started in the scrums, how long can they afford to keep a guy like Brok Harris?
29 Jul 2012, 15:25 pm
Stormers made no strides. The same plan they started the year with they finished.
That’s going backwards if everyone else is going forwards… I am waiting for…
‘the Stormers will win the CCup’.
AC, seriously… 12 years
29 Jul 2012, 16:09 pm
@Narutokun-30: I don’t understand how you can make a statement like that, the Stormers couldn’t beat the Sharks, who had just traveled to and back from Brisbane, at Newlands packed with 48 0000 supporters, (okai make that 45 0000 supporters allowing for a few black and white supporters) how on earth do you think they could have beaten the Chiefs who would have only travelled to Newlands and who have an attack that is equal to the Sharks and have Sonny Bill Williams who the Kaapies love thus reducing your homeground “advantage”? Makes your assertion that they were SAs best bet against the Chiefs as illogical to me!
29 Jul 2012, 16:20 pm
To all the nice Stormers, my sympathies having gone through those gut wrenching feelings more times than I care to remember especially this year, I know what you are going through and I sympathise.
To my Sharks Welldone boys!!!! You have proved all and sundry wrong so far! Let everyone write you off, you have shown and will show everyone on the field tha you are a team with soul and guts! Well done HG, Wooden spoon and Fernly you stuck unflinchingly to our team even when a few of us weaker lot gave in to doom and gloom! Don’t agree with your tactics and slagging though let that be clear!
To Plumtree I was wrong and I admit it I am happy to eat humble pie! and Welldone to you and your coaching staff as well!
To the other not so nice Stormer supporters must hurt that the spiritless Johnny come lately’s whose rugby pedigree is packaged in dog food came to Newlands the ground of THE SA team with the only right to premier competition participation and sent THE TEAM on an early rest period.
29 Jul 2012, 16:24 pm
@Sharksgirl-59:
I dont think he is of opinion they would have beaten the Chiefs but only that they would have had a better chance at newlands than the Sharks will have in Hamilton.
Well done to your team anyway, they were outstanding yesterday.
Whether they are good enough to travel across all the time zones again and beat a very good Chiefs team in NZ is another story. Its going to be extremely difficult- the Chiefs have arguably been the best and most consistent team in the tournament and they will be full of confidence after beating the star-studded Crusaders.
Good luck to your team.
29 Jul 2012, 16:27 pm
@nama1-56: You don’t get it do you? Van den Heever sat on the bench for virtually the entire season. That wont have done his confidence any good at all, will he want to stay at the Stormers if this is how he is to be used? He is a talent who is being wasted. Play him 3 weeks in a row from the start, then put him on the bench for a week and the same with the other 3 guys. That way 4 players are getting a lot of rugby, but also adequate rest. AC’s version leaves one player frustrated and the other 3 banged up and worn out.
His player management is more or less non existent and players being run into the ground is one of his hallmarks.
29 Jul 2012, 16:39 pm
@HongKongSlong-62:
Ja, van den Heever was certainly under- utilized- the Stormers might have been better yesterday if the had a bigger and stronger player like him amongst their back 3 to cope with the high balls. AC also over utilized the very average Duvenhage and Steenkamp and should have used the more talented Schreuder, Groome and Quinn Roux more often. Too late for tears now.
29 Jul 2012, 16:44 pm
I see Keos latest tweet, at the top of the page, is to Dorothy Black. News24s *** columnist.
29 Jul 2012, 16:51 pm
I don’t believe the word S e x is banned. It’s like parents having to spell out words in front of children.
29 Jul 2012, 16:53 pm
Best performances of his career? My foot. J de V missed the tackle on Ludick and didn’t make the camera shot when JP scored. As far as captaincy goes: the Bok-captain couldn’t outwit the travel-weary Sharks.
29 Jul 2012, 16:59 pm
@ sharksgirl
talk to me next week when ur team get molested by the chiefs in NZ!!!
Stormers had the best chance coz they were set up a home semi and final if they won. The sharks are not winning next mark my words
29 Jul 2012, 17:04 pm
@AssassinWP-32: What??? Like the 2 forward passes Walsh missed in Apolonikies try? The last one from Donkey DE Villiers was at least a metre and a half forward. Wa.sh did his best to let the stormers win. Or maybe he was pissed….
I just have to say this again……..in the now immortal words of some Sharks supporters…….
BOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Come Sharkies, be the 2nd SA team to take the Super trophy. Bulls will do it next year.
Oh, I forgot. The Stormers already won it.
What do the Stormers have in common with the late michael Jackson?
They also always come in a little behind.
29 Jul 2012, 17:17 pm
Stormers lost this game before kick off.. Long before kick off
The bloody little pansie gentleman Jimmy Coetsee does NOT know how to win rugby competitions
Stormers froze in their own fear of losing psychology.. they were like dead men f’ng walking from the change room onto the field..
Same way Bulls took them apart in the other 2 finals games they had to step it up.. Alister Coetsee is a kiddy winkle bloody hopeless coach who does NOT have a goddamn clue about how to win at the arse end of a rugby tournament
How many more times they going to traipse down this same road until SOMEBODY realizes the archaic game pattern and sh’t scared cowardly conservative mindset is throttling this team from within?
Dumb bloody hopeless coaching which don’t have a foggy faint goddamn clue in the world of rugby coaching.
I could see before kick off these okes are gonna stuff it up by the manner of their psyched out self inflicted fear gripping their overwrought imaginations
That why they fumbled high kicks and couldn’t catch a goddamn cold when the high bombs came raining down
Plumtree out bamboozled Coetsee.. that is how Sharks won this game .. no other deduction about it.. and that IS and was the fundamental difference.. nothing to do with players overpowering.. ALL to do with cowardly selection processes and very weak poor coaching strategies on the day and the entire 2 weeks leading up to the big game.. PLUS the weak kneed capitulation of handing over the psychological platform for Sharks to dominate in the psychology stakes.
Stormers LOST the big games vs Sharks.. more so than Sharks outplayed them when it mattered.
Stormers almost lost to Rebels at home 2 weeks ago.. that is HOW pathetically motivated these Stormers players were.
29 Jul 2012, 17:17 pm
Not gonna applaud Stormers. The same mistakes were made again this year. What was the point of recruiting Deon Carstens and play Brok Harris who has not had enough recent gametime. The Bulls lost semi-finals in 2005&2006 and then got an Aussie backline coach in 2007 who developed their backline play further and they got the trophy year.
We have had similar momentum in 2010,11 and more should have been done to take the team to new levels this year. It should have been clear after 3,4,5 rounds that perhaps an expert backline specialist could be useful. An old hard ******* prop might have been a good addition after being destroyed by the Franks brothers in the 2011 home-semi ,but no , cause down here we’l waste 2,3 years developing Wicus Blaauw and Jc Kritzinger and Brok Harris only to replace them with a fresh set of 20year old inexperienced props. Someone like former French prop Pieter De Villiers could have been used as a scrumming consultant even prior to his appointment to Bok coaching staff. But nooo he’s coaching some Club team.
Only positive was guys like Kolisi , Etzebeth and Kitshoff coming through the ranks. Why is Robbie Fleck in the coaching setup if Chean Roux and John Dobson are the ones winning Varsity Cups and Vodacom Cups.
Gatvol
29 Jul 2012, 17:31 pm
@fitz1ella-69: Wanna share some of the Stuff ur smoking???? Oh wait i dont smoke, but i am sure i could spew what you are spewing if i also smoked the weed
29 Jul 2012, 17:34 pm
Stormers fck’d this up from the TOP.. Players are not to blame.. not ONE player is responsible for this dismal f’ng fall out.. Coetsee and Fleck must shoulder the entire blame.. and I see Proudfoot sitting in his untouchable ivory tower just putting on the kilo’s down in Cape Town..
Coetsee hits panic mode every time he’s faced with a minor problem and dunno where to turn .. the useless half arse JW lackey coach dunno what it takes to get the goddamn show on the road..
He’s got Armand, Roux, Kolisi, Elstadt, Etsebeth, Bekker, Steenkamp and Fenton Wells all firing but he opts for a second grade Canadian to fill in the gaps..then when crunch time comes along and Vermeulen not ready he plays a 100 Kg 5′ 9 ” Hooker at No. 8 instead of taking one of his big mobile units like Armand or Roux or even Bekker or Etsebeth to No. 8
He had every option open to him.. but instead he plays a 4 / 3 bench while his opponent coach plays a vibrant 5 / 2 bench and switches the back line on the day of reckoning..
That is the difference between a coach who KNOWS whats cutting and has the strength of his own conviction to take any situation by the seat of the pants .. and a dumb fck cowardly chicken who freezes up and plays patsy THREE years on the trot..
Same with the front row situation.. Carstens was available and gets couple bit part stand in cameo’s instead of Shouldering and BOLSTERING the front row dilemma.. he comes on for the last 15 minutes off the bench….
Coetsee is a chicken arse coach.. and his results go a long way to prove it.. when he was the Fake’s back line coach at Boks, Boks were so far out at sea they needed an Australian to come and put in a rescue mission at the eleventh hour just before D Day..
29 Jul 2012, 17:40 pm
@sharks_lover-71: go slit another heifers throat.. don’t come with your high society schmuckadilly idiocy here.. I know EXACTLY where Stormers lost the plot.. BEFORE kick off with a coach that Knows F’All about winning rugby
and where all you chicken arsed Dumtree haters now.. ALL of you crowing much better when if it were up to the likes of you backstabbers Sharks would have been OUT the comp 4 weeks ago with some OTHER coach from your VC team leading the charge of your rearguard action light brigade.
Plumtree been the difference between Sharks and all other SA sides so far.. and you moffo’s reckon its your player power that makes all the diffs.. its simply the head space and the motivational strategics on the day which has turned your season around… and that comes from the coaches box and the change room.. nothing else that compares apples with prickly pears.
29 Jul 2012, 17:55 pm
I ask AGAIN !!
WTF was Burton Francis doing taking up a VITAL bench spot in a make or break knock out semi final when it was NOT a requirement to back up our fly half.. we had PLENTY other options open.. Francis sat on the bench the last 5 games and got about 5 minutes game time from it..
WHAT kind of nervous tension chicken arse cowardly coaching strategy is THAT when you do NOT know HOW to utilize a fully fledged 22 man team for maximum potential and efficiency?
29 Jul 2012, 18:11 pm
@Robzim-61: @Narutokun-67: I get that! But what I don’t get is this, the Stormers were at home this week were they not? They had been rested and faced a Sharks team who had a real up and down season who had just flown to Australasia, back to Durban and then Cape Town not so? yet the Stormers were unable to beat them! What makes their chance of beating a confident Chiefs team better than the Sharks?
This may very well be a bridge too far for my team but then everyone has been saying that the Sharks stood no chance of beating the Bulls with a bonus poiint yet they did, They were not suposed to beat the Cheatahs, yet they did, The Reds were meant to end our dreams, yet they didn’t and then we were crazy even arrogant to think that we may stand a remote chance against the log leading Stormers yet here we are! So this time I will wait till the game has played itself out. The Chiefs are confident and are probably the best team in this comp, but they have more to lose than the Sharks, they have the pressure of expectations that comes with a home final, the Sharks however have come WAY further than any one expected!
29 Jul 2012, 18:12 pm
@fitz1ella-74:
Very good point- perhaps they selected Francis for non rugby reasons.
29 Jul 2012, 18:12 pm
@Sharksgirl-75: i.e: what I mean is what advantage did having a home game give you exactly?
29 Jul 2012, 18:25 pm
Skop, you have to be the world’s biggest chop. It is clear that you are disapointed, but really. Do you need to bang on about your coach, coaching staff and team like a demented idiot. No sports team needs a fan like you. Teams lose, that is sport. Nobody wins every game, or every tournament. Deal with your disapointment, but try to find a better way of doing it.
29 Jul 2012, 18:27 pm
@Sharksgirl-77:
Based on the history of the competitions home teams do always have an advantage. Untill yesterday the Stormers won their matches against the Sharks (since 1998) by an average margin of 5 and lost their away games by an average margin of 1 poin) It can therefore be deduced that there is an 6 point swing as a result of going from home to away. This “advantage” to the stormers does not even include the travelling the Sharks have done. The Sharks overcame this “handicap” yesterday but they will have an even bigger “handicap” to overcome next Saturday.
29 Jul 2012, 18:28 pm
@Sharksgirl-75:
Well said, my sentiments exactly!
29 Jul 2012, 18:29 pm
Another gold for Kazakstan in the women weigtlifting
29 Jul 2012, 18:34 pm
Basically Jean de Villiers kills every single ball the backline receives at 12 (thank god he is playing at 13 for the Boks) and his decision to kick the penalty with 8 minutes to go was beyond stupid. Lineout won on the 5m line would have been their best chance of levelling the game at that stage.
Both his play and captaincy are dubious and its good that he is second guessing himself cos he really needs to have a long hard look at himself as a player. Aimless kicks also cost them.
But to be honest they have been a bit off form for the last few weeks whilst the Sharks have been in form. To do what they did after the travel schedule theyve had is huge. Sharks deserve kudos for great defence and some great attacking play. If they got Lambie and Jordaan back theyd be looking smart. Such a pity Frans Steyn isnt playing too but they have the heart and attitude to put up an almighty fight next week and possibly sneak ithe title. Going to be a big ask against a very VERY fired up Chiefs. Taumalolo was a raging monster on Friday lol. Going to be a cracker of a game and praise the lord no Crusaders or Bulls in sight to annoy. Crusaders have had their cake and eaten it enough. Was fantastic seeing them lose for a change.
29 Jul 2012, 18:35 pm
15 000 people packed in at the Horse Guards Parade to watch some beach bunnies diving around in loose sand.
29 Jul 2012, 18:38 pm
@Robzim-79: Robzim, I am aware of this, and you cannot believe how proud of the Sharks each and every one of them I am for what they have achieved these last 6 weeks, not forgetting that most of them didn’t have a rest in between and have played against England as well ! I realise that the ask of this team this coming week is mammoth, but they have shown guts and spirit so far! I think they MAY surprise everyone on Saturday as they have been doing these last 6 weeks, if not I will still be proud of what they have achieved and be here hoping again next year! Hopefully with a lot more faith than I had this year thus far
29 Jul 2012, 18:38 pm
Yoh this is heavy to read
29 Jul 2012, 18:44 pm
Beach volleyball Russia vs Italia.
One for the purists.
29 Jul 2012, 18:45 pm
@Sharksgirl-75: if it were left to you and your Facebook petitioners Sharks would have been OUT long ago.. thankfully for you and the double take sharks supporters Plumtree went about his business and rejuvenated his team and came up with a winning formula which INCLUDES powerful psychological motivation behind the scenes and a far better approach to knockout rugby trhan Stormers coaching fraternity possesses.
The diference between Sharks and Stormers preparations and on the field and in the change rooms is down to the COACHING.. and nothing more than that. !!
@mako-78:
Bull dust I’ve watched this bunch of hopeless fools philandering along for 3 whole seasons.. they win the early encounters and then go into a dismal psychological HOLE they create for themselves..
Coetsee is NOT a winning rugby coach.. he has PROVED it for 3 or 4 seasons already.. and NOTHING he will do for the next 2 or 3 years is going to change his backward thinking cowardly conservative mindset.. He goes into a panic station free fall fallout at the cutting edge of the competition by simply failing to employ POSITIVE rugby strategics and his natural default program is to fall back on defense wins games NEGATIVE ones.
That is the FUNDAMENTAL difference between Sharks and Stormers this year.. Stormers were hoping to rest on the laurels of efforts they built up through the group stages by doing JUST enough to scrape through.. and when push came to SHOVE Coetsee and Fleck had NO answers and cramped up and froze in the headlights of their own nullified and cowardly inaccurate strategies which FAILED.. because it was NOT a case of players letting them down it was a case of the Coaches NOT knowing HOW to get maximum results from a group of players to Optimum on the day which mattered most.
I know how they could have beaten Sharks but these highly paid ineffective so called ‘professional’ coaches did NOT.!!
29 Jul 2012, 18:47 pm
@Sharksgirl-84:
You have no reason to be so hard on yourself for ” not showing faith”. At the time you were so disappointed in Plumtree you had more than enough reason to feel like that as the team certainly underperformed and he had to take responsibility for it. Those who backed him all the time had no real reason to do so but blind faith- good luck to them that it worked out but you have nothing to feel embarrassed about as you only acted rationally.
29 Jul 2012, 18:48 pm
But Fuckadilly you said the stormers would definitely win?
Where to now for the Realfuck Soothsayer?
29 Jul 2012, 18:51 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther-89: Ha ha, he was pretty certain, wasn’t he?
But the again he was also pretty certain the Mayan calendar was right about us all being dead by now. And about that alien rapture thing back in ’68.
I guess you can’t win ‘em all.
29 Jul 2012, 18:52 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther-89:
He will tell you now he sad this would happen from the start
29 Jul 2012, 18:52 pm
@fitz1ella-87: Hmmm Skop, it sounds like you are the man for the job then! Give it a bash old boy, put in your application.
Personally I think the Sharks played well below their own abilities early in the season, and have hit form at the right time. There are too many players in the Sharks side that are way better in their position than the Stormers, so it was always going to be tough yesterday for the men in blue. The bookies and pundits were banking on travel fatigue levelling the playing fie3ld, but the Sharks had too much class.
29 Jul 2012, 18:52 pm
@>^..^< katman-90:
29 Jul 2012, 18:53 pm
the = then, before Skoppie gets a gleeful typo hard-on.
29 Jul 2012, 18:54 pm
Yep indeed.
Cap’n Cunteye definitely drank his share of the koolaid.
29 Jul 2012, 18:55 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther-95: I wonder where Capo aka stormerforlife and weepee dissapeared to?? i mean according to them Sharks wouldnt make it past the Reds
29 Jul 2012, 18:57 pm
When they were winning Coetzee was the man, now they lose and Coetzee is in da chit
29 Jul 2012, 18:57 pm
yeah I backed my team prior to the game .. of course I did that.. and will continue to do so whether they coached by a bunch of morons or not ..
but my associates and friends who I watched the game with knows how I was watching the psychological freeze happen and how i could see Stormers were not deserving of a win under the cosh of their own inept strategies yesterday.. In spite of their supporters egging them on in their HOME stadium they were the ones frozen by their own fear of losing.. while the VISITING team was hitting their self belief straps..
and this comes down to COACHING and leadership.. where Stormers are weak especially in the self belief stakes when the going gets tough at the top..
As has been proven now EVERY year in succession since Coetsee took the top job.
29 Jul 2012, 18:59 pm
Capo is answering questions from the French Police after being caught in his Formula 1 hotel room with 4 underage poodles.
Unnamed sources suspect a poodle trafficking syndicate is at work.
29 Jul 2012, 19:00 pm
Men beach volley ball is so kak… only marginally better than floor exercises (gymnastics) for men. Only women should be allowed to play this sport.
29 Jul 2012, 19:01 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther-99:
tff boet
29 Jul 2012, 19:04 pm
@mako-92:
Yeah I lost out on my real vocation .. these chicken arsed conservative cowards who freeze at the first sign of adversity and cower into conservative safety first tactics are not up to the S15 coaching task..as they have PROVED 4 years on the trot.
Imagine a coach like Ewen McKenzie coaching Stormers .. this Alister Coetsee would be reduced to the jelly wobble rearguard thinking ‘assistant’ he always was and always will be.
29 Jul 2012, 19:05 pm
@fitz1ella-102: So Kevvie would have saved Brok from having to put Strain on himself in hving to regurgitate his heas outa his @ss ??
29 Jul 2012, 19:07 pm
@fitz1ella-102: Here is a fact, players and coaching staff are all to blame,
And don’t forget skoppie, You say Plum out smarted Coetzee? well true, any sport is like chess, so news flash!!!!!!!! THAT IS HOW IT IS MEANT TO BE
29 Jul 2012, 19:08 pm
@fitz1ella-102: Ha ha, I would vote for you, for sure
29 Jul 2012, 19:13 pm
@Robzim-100:
That’s small beer.
You should check the Vishoek Seniors Thursday morning yoga class when Skopper pops a plum doing his Mighty Dragon.
Not a dry eye in the house.
29 Jul 2012, 19:14 pm
@sharks_lover-103:
I dont think I have congratulated you yet.
So Congratulations!! We were completrely outplayed- u team was brilliant.
IMO the Stormers need at least one real proper hardman in the front row and a new halfback pair. Otherwise it will be the same old next year.
I do not think AC is a bad coach- he won 12/14 during the regular season and deserves credit for it- if i must critisize him it will be for showing too much faith in some players- but not for his coaching ability.
29 Jul 2012, 19:21 pm
DISAPPOINTED.
But it’s not the end of the world.
The sun still came up this morning.
The birds were coughing in the trees outside.
And more important, there’s always next year.
29 Jul 2012, 19:22 pm
@mako-105: thanks .. you wouldn’t be disappointed.. I wouldn’t go placing a dead beat VC fly half on the bench waiting for the sky to fall on my head by accident in case a shitstorm came along by some unsavory misfortune..
I would have gone for the Sharks jugular and played a 5 / 2 bench and LOADED my team and my bench with motivated hard as nails driven enforcers..
Quin Roux was instrumental in beating the Bulls at home.. yet crunch time comes along and these coaches go for an extra fly half who they haven’t used in weeks already.. and a tiny scavenging HOOKER at No.8…
Carsten should have been used more proficiently and much earlier.. if Brok was getting manhandled by Beast he needed rearguard SUPPORT.. from the back..
and as for the one dimensional playing pattern that goes down to the strategy of playing De Villiers at 12 and de Jongh at 13 which should OBVIOUSLY be the OTHER way around…
Nope Stormers have been found wanting at the crunch line of the competition too many times already.. and although my patriotism gets extended when these things are in full force.. its time to recognize that UNLESS Coetsee can realize his own shortcomings just like his mentor Jake the Fake had to do when it was OBVIOUS he got NO clue about unlocking defenses .. then Stormers are going to continue to flatter to deceive every time they come up against real stern challenges where they are down on their luck or their reserve loose forwards are crocked from too much attrition defensive rugby played in the early encounters.
29 Jul 2012, 19:22 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther-86: in this instance…what does ‘purists’ mean..?..
29 Jul 2012, 19:26 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther-106:
Lol, … maybe i was a bit hard on the men beach volleyballers- they are in fact quite athletic and skillful- certainly more enjoyable to watch then Pumas versus Griffons playing rugby in Witbank or wherever they play.
29 Jul 2012, 19:28 pm
@Robzim-107: Thanks Rob, and sorry about the loss, and I agree with you, your guys didnt choke, they actually played their hearts out, but got outplayed on the day, as they could only play as they were allowed to play
29 Jul 2012, 19:30 pm
@IAAS-108:
thats true.
“Nog ‘n dop
Nog ‘n jaar
o here my kop is so deurmekaar”
David Kramer.
29 Jul 2012, 19:31 pm
Indeed Fuckadilly.
You are wasted in the outhouse fabrication business.
For the princely sum of 300 ZAR you can attend the IRB level one coaching course in Cape Town.
And start living the dream.
As my contribution towards nation building I’m happy to sponsor you.
29 Jul 2012, 19:41 pm
@Robzim-113:
Unfortunately our team was just outmonstered on the day. And I could not believe how many spilled balls there were by the Stormers. I got the feeling that the occasion got too big for them. Again. AC should be used to this by now.
29 Jul 2012, 19:41 pm
The Dutch girls are not too bad.
Spaniards have done too much weight work.
29 Jul 2012, 19:43 pm
so much for the womens hockey team being gold medal contenders
they got their rectums released against arg
29 Jul 2012, 19:48 pm
@IAAS-115:
I thought the hit by Etzebeth on Bismark would have fired them up but it seemed to have fired the Sharks up instead. After the first 15 minutes I knew we were going to lose- they looked shellshocked, as if in a daze. Very disappointing, but as u said, life goes on and the birds are still singing (not so loud this morning tho).
29 Jul 2012, 19:50 pm
@Robzim-118:
Rob
29 Jul 2012, 19:51 pm
@wait for it, wait for it…-117:
I will be surprised if we get more than 3 medals.
The target of 12 is a pipedream.
29 Jul 2012, 19:53 pm
@Robzim-120: Ok sharks chances just dropped to aboput 1% chance of winning. Steve Walsh to ref the final, A Kiwi reffing in Kiwi :wtf
29 Jul 2012, 19:54 pm
FAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRKIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIING HELL
29 Jul 2012, 19:55 pm
@sharks_lover-119:
Thank goodness I was not at Tyger valley this morning.The last thing in the world i needed to see was a beaming bloke dressed in a Sharks rugby jersey
29 Jul 2012, 19:56 pm
@Robzim-123:
29 Jul 2012, 19:59 pm
@sharks_lover-121:
At least my wife will be happy- she reckons Steve is quite handsome
On a more serious note I dont think its so bad- it was always going to be between him and Craig and the pressure on Craig in NZ would have been immense, so perhaps it is better to have Steve.
29 Jul 2012, 20:01 pm
@IAAS-115: AC got no balls for this job.. its proven itself 4 times now…
@sharks_lover-121: No wonder Walsh was backing Sharkshits yesterday.. he knew he was getting another chance to ref his home team at home in the final..
MORE IRB – Sanzar conspiracies popping out the woodwork.. so who would have believed it..
29 Jul 2012, 20:02 pm
@Robzim-125: you could be right
29 Jul 2012, 20:03 pm
@Robzim-125: and he’s actually a better ref.. though Bryce Lawrence should have reffed the final..
29 Jul 2012, 20:03 pm
@fitz1ella-126: NOw how did i know you would say that??
If thats what comforts your little old paining heart no problem
29 Jul 2012, 20:04 pm
@Robzim-120:
ja probably.
even nikita wont swing it for the womens hockey
hopefully cameron vd burgh comes good later on
29 Jul 2012, 20:07 pm
@sharks_lover-121: Thought he would. As they think he is a Aussie now. Should be totally neutral refs for a final.
29 Jul 2012, 20:08 pm
@sharks_lover-129: my heart and paining make no mistake.. but yours should be after what Sonny Bill and his Chieftains gonna be doing to yours truly…
Out now gonna go catch some Olympics.. the real sporting stage of the real BIG dreams…
29 Jul 2012, 20:13 pm
@fitz1ella-132: Hey SKOP, Here is a fact!!!
Sharks vs Stormers this year?? 2-1 to the Sharks, and who is in the final????????????
JUST THOUGHT I WOULD ASK
29 Jul 2012, 20:13 pm
@sharks_lover-41: Great news if there were no injuries from the game yesterday. Pleased to see Jordaan and Lambie going too.
29 Jul 2012, 20:22 pm
Much b itching on here from losers.
29 Jul 2012, 20:23 pm
@sharks_lover-133: yip the 2 best teams are in the final.. the way its supposed to be.. but don’t take away from the FACT that Stormers gave the game to Sharks by Choking on the big finals stage ..just like they been doing year after year… so you and WS and Puma and Sharkslady and.. and.. and.. STILL want Plumtree exchanged?
Outa here proper now.. Olympics time.
29 Jul 2012, 20:26 pm
@fitz1ella-136: UHm Wrong, Go read my posts on SW, i have stated it here and there that calling for Plum to be fired is pathetic, So nice try Skoppie
29 Jul 2012, 20:27 pm
@fitz1ella-136: You talking rubbish. I have never ever said once I want Plumtree exchanged. NEVER. Not me pal. It was some on sharksworld saying that. I never did.
SL and myself said that Plum just needs some help with a defence coach. WE never said he must be replaced ever.
29 Jul 2012, 20:28 pm
@wait for it, wait for it…-130:
Nikita seems to be a tall girl (ok, she stood next to Mark), so maybe she would be better at netball.
I reckon we will get 2 medals in swimming…. and with a lot of luck Burry Stander might get a bronze in mtb……and with even more luck we might get one for the triathlon….. and perhaps van Zyl will sneak in a bronze for the 400m.
29 Jul 2012, 20:28 pm
@fitz1ella-136: Also yes Sharksgirl did say that, but she also was big enough to come here today and say sorry she was wrong!!!!, kinda big of her aint it??
You should try that Skoppie. when ur wrong?? BE BIG ENOUGH TO ADMIT IT lol
29 Jul 2012, 20:29 pm
@Puma-138: exactly bro
29 Jul 2012, 20:31 pm
@sharks_lover-141: Yip Skop is talking clap trap again. Not once did you or I say we want Plum to leave. Not once. Some other bloggers on sharksworld did not us. Jeez some like to fib out their backsides really. Mind just boggles.
29 Jul 2012, 20:32 pm
@Puma-134:
Is Bismark ok? Hopefully his ears are not still ringing- he took a good hit from Etzebeth, i was surprised he got up.
29 Jul 2012, 20:33 pm
@sharks_lover-141: So see you said there were no injuries picked up from the game yesterday. That is good news.
29 Jul 2012, 20:34 pm
@Puma-144: Yes it seems they all got the all clear and left the Shores, thus no replacements called up etc
29 Jul 2012, 20:35 pm
@Robzim-143: He took a big knock from Etzebeth. But the mighty Bissie got up and just dusted himself off…hehehe. He is fine bud. I would be worried if we lost Bissie to injury to be honest. We need him. Actually we need our whole team to be injury free to have a good chance.
29 Jul 2012, 20:36 pm
@Robzim-76:
perhaps they selected Francis for non rugby reasons. – your words buut a gem, ne?
And that would have saved the Stormers?
Maybe it says you are your father’s boerseun, ne?
29 Jul 2012, 20:37 pm
@sharks_lover-145: That is very good news.
We on our way. Finally their last trip across the Indian Ocean for the S15…………heeeeeeehaaaaaaaaaa. Well one more coming back…lol. Just 80min left and we could have the cup. If we don’t still will be very proud of our boys for getting this far.
29 Jul 2012, 20:38 pm
@Robzim-107:
correct – coetzee’s only problem is he is a tad too conservative, but he did not lose that game – the stormers are buggered and fatigued and played poorly – there last few games were not up to par – injuries took their toll and also I dont think they were anywhere close to the standards the pack put in throughout the comp.
One thing tho this kickchase **** must come to a compete – these guys all are concvinced it is this that is the reason for their success – when it clearly is not – grant should be attacking the gainline flat with de jong next to him, not hoofing the gdam thing at every turn.
29 Jul 2012, 20:39 pm
@Puma-148: True boeet, they have already gone beyond expectation
29 Jul 2012, 20:40 pm
OK im off, take care everyone, have a good one
29 Jul 2012, 20:42 pm
@Puma-146:
Yeah, Bissy is a warrior for sure- imo he is the best rugby player in SA- our only player to walk into a world team. The guys are probably in the air at the moment – I think it is good that they will stop over in Aus for a few days and then cross the Tasmanian only on Friday- going to be a massive match.
29 Jul 2012, 20:43 pm
they better come back with the cup after beating the stormers out of a home final.
29 Jul 2012, 20:47 pm
@sharks_lover-150: They sure have.
To think about it we have no played 3 knock out games and come away with a good win. That is pressure and we have also travelled to Oz and back in a week between the last game. I take my hats off to the players, really they have made me proud. You could just see how much it meant to them after they won. Bissie was crying. Damn man, shows how much it means to the players. Their adrenalin will be pumping for the final. Hope the ref don’t spoil though. Also the weather. See it is clear for Saturday in Hamilton.
29 Jul 2012, 20:49 pm
@Puma-154: no played = now played
29 Jul 2012, 20:51 pm
143@Robzim……..lol loved watching that Etzebeth hit on Bissie, was so unexpected, we actually jumped up and sort went whoaaaa ! Had to watch it again this morning.
I think that hit would have broken every bone in my body.
29 Jul 2012, 20:52 pm
@cab-153: Cabbie,
Stormers played only one knock out game and they got knocked out. Sorry but that is the way it works. They would never have beaten the Chiefs bud. Sharks have a better chance even being jet-lagged and tired. Then we may not but you can never blame them for playing to win and play in a final for themselves.
29 Jul 2012, 20:54 pm
@cab-149:
ja… u make some very valid points.
For me the key is to get some new players- we need a real ugly hardebaard prop to “help out” in the scrums and I really hope the rumour that Jantjes is coming to CT is true.
Are you going to watch some life Olympics being based so close to the action?
29 Jul 2012, 20:55 pm
@Robzim-152: For sure.
I also think it is a good thing to stop off in Sydney. Gives them a break before taking another 3 and a half hour flight.
Clever thinking by Plumtree.
29 Jul 2012, 20:57 pm
@Robzim-158: I think the Stormers would do a whole lot better with Elton. I don’t really rate Grant that much. Should have used Carstens yesterday too. Stormers struggled bad in the scrum.
29 Jul 2012, 20:59 pm
@Treehugger-156:
Eben comes from a …… let’s say “very hard” family….. the type of blokes u dont want to meet in a dark alley
U must be so happy bout u team … and with good reason….. lets hope they can overcome the travel and stuff and do it on Saturday.
29 Jul 2012, 21:06 pm
@Puma-160:
same here… Grant is too predictable and just does not have the “vision” that top flyhalves should have – brilliamt kicker for posts at short distance and thats where it ends.
I am out for a bit now- want to watch the Olympics swimming… talk later..
29 Jul 2012, 21:08 pm
@Robzim-162: Elton is a brilliant kicker for posts too. Also Elton’s all round game is better. Would be a good buy if they got Elton.
Cheers Rob. I am out of here too.
29 Jul 2012, 21:14 pm
@Robzim-158:
think u right on the props, could do with a haardebaarde one at TH, but they got a v good selection of young props. malherebe must improve quickly if he gonna be used as scrumming TH, but i like his aggro in tightloose, kitshoff played well today, will be v good in couple years.
i think grant is better than jantjies but should be used in abrasive honiball mode with stormers attacking teh gainline using their traditionally running strengths allied to their new-found forward competitiveness.
olympics dont really do it for me, but yeah keeping an eye on the womans 100m breastroke here – not exactly a spectator sport ekse.
29 Jul 2012, 21:16 pm
Cameron !!!!!!!!!
29 Jul 2012, 21:17 pm
what a swim, fark !!!!!!!
29 Jul 2012, 21:20 pm
@Puma-157:
Pumes, i reckon u may be talking thru your hol following the booze gister, sharks lost to chiefs in durban nogal – stormers were unbeaten at home before yesterday – stormers wouldve been favoruties to beat chiefs at home, sharks are heavy underdogs now.
29 Jul 2012, 21:21 pm
If the shars pick lambie over ludick they will lose
ludick is ten times the player lambie is
29 Jul 2012, 21:24 pm
@saru1983-168:
i agree
I think Ludik give 200% and rarely lets his team down and is one of SA most under rated players
29 Jul 2012, 21:40 pm
@cab-167: Cabbie,
Not sure what you going on about bud. Stormers were the favourites to beat the Sharks yesterday too and the lost bud. They can’t hold a final if they lose the semi. Or were you wanting Sharks to throw the game so Stormers could win? Because I have no idea what you going on about. Sharks wanted to be in this final as much as the Stormers did. They came to play and came to win. Jeez Cab give the players credit bud. They travelled all the way from Oz too and still went on to beat the Stormers.
Sharks played the Chiefs without Alberts and Beast. This time round we have both those players. We only just lost to them and we also had a kiwi ref reffing us against a kiwi side at the Tank. We were the better side that game but we lost.
Look we gonna be tired for this game make no mistake but if we can get up for it like we have for our other 3 knock out games we could win. We have a good chance to beat the Chiefs.
Okay now I am out. Cheers buddy.
29 Jul 2012, 21:58 pm
Pumes u been taking lessons from comical Ali aka HG – alberts was there – they lost in Durban. Forget the refs. You okes becoming more one-eyed than anyone else – maak al die saarks bokke ekse – ouja they already are.
I got no problem ppl backing their team but they def not the best sa team.
29 Jul 2012, 22:09 pm
@cab-171: You right Cabbie. Just checked we had Alberts for that game. Coetzee was on the bench and Keegan at 8 with Botes on at 6. We now have a much more balanced loose trio with Kano at 8 Coetzee at 7 and Daniel at 6. We never had Beast. Once we got Beast back our scrum was working very well. Also remember with Kanko there our lineouts are sorted and working well. Our lineouts was our weak point before Kanko started against the Bulls.
Just have to see how we go. We have a good chance with the team we have.
haha. We in the final bru. That says a lot. We done it the hard way. Had to win all our games since the Bulls with 4 tries we did. Had to beat the Reds away and then the Stormers after the travel too. We did. Odds were against us for 4 weeks now and we just kept on winning. Next week will be tough after the return flight over the Indian Ocean. BUT we can and I am hoping we do.
We started our season without some of our best players. Once we got them back things started to go well for us.
Okay now definitely out of here.
29 Jul 2012, 22:15 pm
Cameron Vd Berg what a champ
Gold medal AND WR
How’s that for big temperament on the biggest stage of them all
And SA 4 x 100 men’s relay came in 5th behind
France who took out the USA dream team and Russia took out Aussie for bronze
So France, Usa, Russia, Australia, SA in that order are the 5 fastest free style swimmers in the world.
France showing all the favorites the way in the Olympic pool so far, all the favorites being blitzed by the plucky French girls and boys.
29 Jul 2012, 22:40 pm
Spain lose the soccer.
Some fairly unpleasant scenes.
29 Jul 2012, 22:41 pm
Cameron what a legend.
Go Waterboks.
29 Jul 2012, 22:47 pm
My nic has been stolen. How do they do that? This is an absolute low for me in the 8-9 years I have been visiting this site. Please realise I last posted on this thread in the very early morning. To my dismay, a foul mouthed impostor has been posting with my nic & possibly harming my reputation. Unbelievable
29 Jul 2012, 23:06 pm
@135; @147 Impostor! You’ve been Busted
29 Jul 2012, 23:22 pm
Yip this nic-stealing going round is complete bullshit and unacceptable – it’s the one rule any blog should have and should not be flouted.
30 Jul 2012, 10:42 am
@35 SDT
Thank you for your interpretation – your sarcasm is a bit OTT as I was clearly seeking an explanation; it probably says more about you than it does about me.
If this is correct as has been pointed out elsewhere, the knock on should have been called. At best then a three point gain, not seven.
Let’s see what the SAReferees website has to say. I find them very informative, very balanced views on events.
30 Jul 2012, 12:02 pm
Well done to the Sharks team. You were the better team on the day.
30 Jul 2012, 13:15 pm
Siya Kolisi is arguably the best tackler in Superrugby
His technique,power in contact and work rate is nothing short of phenomenal.He put Deysel on his peepholes twice with ease,and stopped Sharks carriers at will
At 1.87m 101kgs he may not be the biggest but boy oh boy does he pack a bang!!! Schalk Burger at his peak in the tackle ain’t got sh*t on this kid.
Possibly the best tackler I’ve ever seen,consistently denies carriers the advantage line
31 Jul 2012, 08:34 am
@Robzim-152: What about Spies, Morne and WO? Open your eyes man!
31 Jul 2012, 08:38 am
@mshiniwami-181: Great comment. I am getting fed up with people on this site praising the bejeesus out of ‘lesser’ loose forwards, and permanently saying Siya is overrated.
There is no other who tackles and forces oppo players back yards and yards like he can. He tackled an entire 5 man Bulls “pod” backwards earlier in the season, and was the only one still standing at the end of it – Bulls pod on their jacks. Siya on his legs
31 Jul 2012, 08:51 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.-183: Schalk could learn a thing or two from Siya.
31 Jul 2012, 09:00 am
I see Goosen will be playing in the beginning of September. That’s such good news so we don’t have to play Steyn or Grant.
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.