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
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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
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