Perspective required when rating Stormers
30 Jul 2012
JON CARDINELLI writes the Stormers’ campaign was compromised by a high injury count rather than a characteristic lack of composure.
The manner of defeat was disappointing, but was the result really that unexpected? This is the question Stormers fans should be asking following Saturday’s semi-final defeat.
It is usually the case that a team’s success is determined by how far it progresses in a particular tournament. For a regular play-off contender like the Stormers, a Super Rugby title win should denote success.
The Cape side has lost two finals and three semi-finals in the space of three seasons. Their title drought has spanned 11 long years. These are the numbers that critics and fans care about, and these are the facts that will be cited when most deliver their damning post-season reviews.
But to accept this view is to subscribe to a perception that is simplistic, narrow and more than a little hysterical.
I don’t believe the Stormers’ game plan and selections have been flawless, but I do believe the 2012 season has been different to those of the past.
It’s unfair to marvel at the manner in which the Stormers have responded to the challenges of the past five months and then denounce a play-off failure as just another in a long line of mental mishaps.
Indeed, what the Stormers have succeeded in doing this year is convincing a lot of people that they could survive without several key players. In reality, how can a team be expected to go on and win a championship when they’ve lost the quality of Schalk Burger and Duane Vermeulen? The Crusaders are always a less daunting prospect when Richie McCaw and Dan Carter are unavailable, and as the recent season will confirm, the Bulls are easier to beat now that Victor Matfield and Fourie du Preez have moved on.
Every team must cope with injuries and losses, but the Stormers’ loose forward stocks were depleted to the point where they had lost their capable reserves as well as their stars.
Nick Koster and Nizaam Carr were ruled out, forcing Rynhardt Elstadt to move from lock to flank. Sanzar turned down the Stormers’ request to include Canadian Jebb Sinclair in the play-offs, necessitating Deon Fourie’s shift from hooker to No 8. Club players like Don Armand and Tyrone Holmes were also promoted to the greater squad.
The Stormers’ results may have convinced the rugby public that they were capable of absorbing the losses, and credit must go to the coaching staff as well as the youngsters for fueling that belief.
Eben Etzebeth, Steven Kitshoff, Siya Kolisi… these are the rookies who made it look so easy during the regular season; they convinced everybody that the gap between junior rugby and Super Rugby was really not that big. On Saturday, however, we were reminded exactly why experience is crucial in play-off matches.
Etzebeth was the exception in the semi-final, showing a temperament and attitude that belied his years, but the other youngsters in the Stormers side didn’t rise for the big occasion. As a result, the Stormers weren’t successful as a collective.
I’m not suggesting that the Stormers are absolutely without fault. I maintain that their kicking game is inadequate, and it was certainly a weakness in their most recent defeat.
Peter Grant has proved a match-winner in front of goal, but his line-kicking is not up to standard. Coach Allister Coetzee complained that the Stormers couldn’t get out of their half in Saturday’s semi-final, and Grant’s boot was partially to blame.
Usually this weakness is offset by the contributions of Dewaldt Duvenage and Joe Pietersen, but when those players don’t come to the party, the Stormers struggle to win the territorial battle.
The set piece is still an area of concern. Kitshoff has emerged as one of the finds of the season, but as a unit, that Stormers scrum has been too inconsistent. The lineout is not the force it was in 2010, as the hookers are struggling to find their jumpers. The much vaunted maul has also delivered an underwhelming showing.
While these shortcomings and areas of concern need to be addressed, there should also be some perspective. The injury situation has forced many forwards to play out of position, and the changes in personnel has often prevented the pack from settling, even if that lack of synergy has rarely been reflected in the results.
Somehow the Stormers managed to top the log with what they had, somehow they managed to convince many people that they had a shot at winning the title. And who knows, if they had won through to a home final, it may have been possible.
There are reasons to feel encouraged if you consider that Burger and Vermeulen will be back for the 2013 season and a number of youngsters will be going into their second season with plenty of starting experience.
While there should never have been an expectation to win the 2012 trophy following the loss of so many key players, there will be great expectations for the Stormers to go all the way in 2013.
For now, a little perspective should ease the pain that accompanies a play-off defeat. Fans and critics must also accept the fact that the Stormers were beaten by the most complete side in the tournament.
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249 Comments
30 Jul 2012, 05:02 am
Dragons Stormers
30 Jul 2012, 06:22 am
yeah… can’t believe all the whinging and whining and gnashing and teeth and ripping and burning of sackcloth from stormers ‘fans’…
sure it’s very disappointing… but to suddenly suggest that the coach and players are absolutely useless is so much infantile dummy-spitting… talk about immaturity… people really do need to grow up
stormers played some very good rugby in this match… spreading the ball from side to side through the phases… but obviously not for long enough or constistently enough… and the sharks momentum simply proved overwhelming…
yeah… it will take jean and the boys a while to wrap their minds around this…
such is life… it ain’t always pretty or easy…
c’est le vie
30 Jul 2012, 06:25 am
hi there UFO
Yes and the Sharks defended like stomers and attacked like sharks
Sharks were just better than Stormers, and deserved the win
And many of us Stormer fans will be 100 % behind them to win
30 Jul 2012, 06:28 am
Nonsense JC. Everybody else had an injury crisis at one time or another this season. The Stormers lost because of their soft front row and their backline’s inability to attack. Even if Schalk, Koster, Vermeulen and Carr had all been fit; they would’ve made little impact in addressing those two issues.
30 Jul 2012, 06:28 am
I disgree with you JC. Everybody else had an injury crisis at one time or another this season. The Stormers lost because of their soft front row and their backline’s inability to attack. Even if Schalk, Koster, Vermeulen and Carr had all been fit; they would’ve made little impact in addressing those two issues.
30 Jul 2012, 06:29 am
hey coach…
absolutely…
30 Jul 2012, 06:30 am
Some valid points on the youngsters in their first campaigns. But the Stormers were too passive for a playoff game. Etzebeth’s charge on Bismarck should have ignited the team, it didn’t, they spluttered along in overdrive.
When you consider the Stormers hardly challenged a Shark’s lineout with a loosie playing lock, it becomes pretty evident…..they didn’t seek to dominate.
Bekker, possibly the best 5 in rugby called his number only once in the lineouts. There was no plan to put pressure on the erratic Michalak, leaving him on easy street….with so much time it was embarrassing.
When the Stormers decided to run, they did so with great effect. But the phase rugby was too little, too late.
This wasn’t a failure of composure, it was too much composure when a little bit of mongrel was needed.
30 Jul 2012, 06:35 am
@ufo-2: Hi ufo. As Stormers fans the frustration is not with the injuries so much, although we lost excellent players. It was the disappointment of watching a backline, that had no key personnel missing, playing without any attacking venom. A side that has been home semifinalists for the last three years should have a top class attacking strategy and we have not progressed one iota in this regard.The guys played with the passion and gees that WP rugby is famous for, but the backline coaches brought absolutely nothing to the side. To watch the likes of JdV, JdJ, Habana, Aplon, Pieterson play with so little incision on attack begs the question why.
I am disappointed with the “we have moved forward” line, when clearly we haven’t.
30 Jul 2012, 06:40 am
i see lambie may be fit for Chiefs
I think Plumtree needs to find a way to keep Ludik in the starting bunch
Not sure if Jordan is backm but keep Jp at 13 and I think Ludik needs to stay on the wing and Lambie at FB
30 Jul 2012, 06:42 am
@stormer in a teacup-8:
Yes Our backs had potential to do much more in most games
We did struggle against Sharks pack on sat i think thats where we lost the game really
30 Jul 2012, 06:47 am
hey SiaT…
sure… as i said we weren’t consistent… but when we did use the backs they really did look good… especially leading to gio’s try and other times…
but not good enough on the day obviously…
as mozart says… maybe too much composure… being patient, hanging in there and waiting for that moment of magic… had worked all season… but not saturday…
we just got beat…
it happens..
thing is… everyone said before that if a team got ahead we would not be able to come back… well we did come back into the match… and were within inches several times… even a late score could have tied it up…
so indeed… perspective is required from stormers fans…
imo anyway…
30 Jul 2012, 06:53 am
AAAh, the excuses start….
Sharks also had key players missing.
It does not come down to the individual. The stormers do not have the balls for play-off rugby.
Got trampled in the ONE final they palyed and so too in the in the 2 semis on home ground when both sides they palyed had to travel the world.
So say it out loud k u n t face….NO BMT
Chokers, chokers, chokers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
30 Jul 2012, 07:07 am
I think the youngsters did ok in the game. I believe Liebenburg, Brock, Duvenhage didn’t disppeared a bit. It is tough when you are playing against world class players though.
I think it is unfair for the people to say the Stormers choked. From the early rounds nearly everyone on this blog recognised the Stormers were a good team but with not enough all-round class to win the competition. It was infuriating watching them not use their star-studded backline.
I saw the line-up of the Sharks who won the Currie Cup in 2008. They played with the same front row as they are now. Experience plays a key role. Also helps when you have a player like Kanko fresh as a daisy after an extended injury break.
30 Jul 2012, 07:07 am
Why is that brokeback dummy JC disrespecting the guppies by writing about those losers and not the winners.
It is finals week and you would think that the guppies and the Chiefs get all limelight, not in the farked up mind of some.
30 Jul 2012, 07:09 am
@Xkreni-WP-12: Glad you got all that off your chest….
30 Jul 2012, 07:11 am
I don’t think Steve Walsh had a great game , especially blowing the breakdown. Stormers nearly stole it at the end through illegal means. Now he has got the final!
30 Jul 2012, 07:28 am
Monday’s are about winners not the losers.
Besides who were the stormers missing for this game?
Vermullet and Schalk?
Schalk has been more than adequately replaced by Kolisi.
How many injuries did the sharks have for this game?
No your boys were outright favourites and they shanked it off the 18 th tee into the Clubhouse parking lot through the windscreen of the Chairman’s Jag.
To blame injuries is nonsense.
Grow some balls Cardinelli.
30 Jul 2012, 07:28 am
I think all teams have there injure problems through out the season. I doubt if burger and co played they would have made any different. The sharks were just that much better. Its sad how ppl trump up this cape side but they were beaten by a better team. The scrums were dominated by the sharks and the Stormers could not dominate the line when they have according to some the best lock in the world. Well done Sharks
30 Jul 2012, 07:35 am
On my way home from the game on Saturday I was gutted and told my ten year old. ” don’t worry my boy, next year we will win the trophy” he gave me this confused look and asked ” what’s that?”
30 Jul 2012, 07:37 am
And Don Armand is not going to like you calling him a Club player.
Did he not play for the victorious Vodacom Cup team?
30 Jul 2012, 07:38 am
@ufo-11: i made the point last week that the stormers wont be able to chase the game if the sharks go in front & i was right. i pointed to the their two losses this season as a guide, in both games they were trailing at half-time & couldn’t over-turn the deficits as the team is weak & rudderless on attack.
in as much as the stormers defence is impenetrable their attacking nous lags waaaay behind, loads of x-factor players in that backline that are inadequately coached.
30 Jul 2012, 07:42 am
Well, let’s talk about the team that’s still in the competition!
Sharjs backline should hopeflly read the following this weekend.
Mcclead
Michelak
Mvovo
Lambie
Jordaan
Pieterson
Ludick
Not sure about outside centre and wing. I think JPP is primarily a wing. I don’t want to see Bosman starting in any position. Sorry Meyer!
30 Jul 2012, 07:44 am
As a stormers fan, the biggest dissapointment was not the loss, but the manner of the loss, and all the previous semi final losses. The stormers just did not pitch up. There was also no variation on attack. The stormers are exactly like the bulls in this regard (and I fear the Boks as well if you look at the last test). If they cannot run over the defence, what do they do? They still try to run over the defence. And whats plan C? Run over the defence!!! Eventually you have to figure this aint working.
Also, the stormers have always had the problem that they can get stuck in their own half. I think its time to face the facts, Grant should be replaced. He is a good player, but does not fit the current game plan. His goal kicking is invaluable, so maybe move him to 12.
30 Jul 2012, 07:45 am
@ufo-2: I agree. I watched the match again,and apart from the front row struggling, the match was very even. JC’s last little sentence summed it up. The Sharks are a very good balanced team. Get a tighthead(not to many in SA)and a new 9 and your team will be in the playoffs again next year.once in the playoffs it is anyones game IMO. As for the Sharks, lets hope for the best!
30 Jul 2012, 07:46 am
Oh and congratulations to the Sharks for an awesome win. They were brilliant.
30 Jul 2012, 07:48 am
The Bok captain was the weakest link. Missed the tackle on Ludick and failed to get into any camera shot when JP sliced through. Sonny-Bill would have slaughtered him.
30 Jul 2012, 07:56 am
@halfgk-23: You have the players. Just not a 9. He asks no questions from the opposition. In attack or defence. Why is he so popular in the WP??? He is a better 10. I am not a Stormers supporter , but for heavens sake please stsrt playing some backline rugby again.
30 Jul 2012, 07:58 am
@Lang Giel-26: He was one of the best for the Stormers! Go watch the game again.
30 Jul 2012, 07:59 am
@Transformation-21:
good for you…
30 Jul 2012, 08:00 am
@optiplay-27: totally agree
30 Jul 2012, 08:01 am
Stormers were missing their front line loose trio, but the sharks were missing their front line 10,12 and 13 in Lambie, Steyn and Jordaan.
30 Jul 2012, 08:03 am
@BULLET-22:
Lambie at 12 maybe for the final. Not sure what other options we have. Bosman must stay in SA.
30 Jul 2012, 08:06 am
@CenturionShark (aka LondonShark)-31:
stretching a bit there…
when lambie was fit plumtree was playing him at fullback most recently… if he had been fit he no doubt would’ve started at 15… and jordaan has hardly been a frontline player thought the season…
styen, while a frontline player was only drafted late in the season…
so only real frontline player missing was lambie…
and in fact viljoen started the season as the number fullback anyway
30 Jul 2012, 08:06 am
@halfgk-23:
Ja, it’s really odd that no one blames Grant for the Stormers lack of tries but when the Bok backs fail to fire, it’s Mornes fault (and I’m not defending Morne here).
30 Jul 2012, 08:08 am
as the number 1 fullback
30 Jul 2012, 08:09 am
@ufo-33:
I see your point, but Lambie was our first choice ten from around week 3 (Plumtree moved him back from 15 to 10).
Jordaan has been our 13 boet, so I’ll call you on that one. He was good enough to allow JPP to move back to wing.
Your view on Steyn is noted
30 Jul 2012, 08:10 am
Good morning all. Firstly congrats to the Stormers for topping the log. Us Sharks fans know the heart break of going all that way and ending up with empty hands. Regarding the Stormers players, how I envy you for having Etzebeth, that boy is a monster! That said, I am so proud of the Sharks! At first I wondered what Plum was up to when he reshuffled his backline to include Viljoen, but it turned out to be a master stroke. Now let’s hope Plum can pull another rabbit out of his hat and that the players can front up physically and bring the trophy home. Sharks all the way!
30 Jul 2012, 08:11 am
@CenturionShark (aka LondonShark)-34: Agree on Lambie at 12. Stotmers should buy Pienaar an Jantjies??
30 Jul 2012, 08:12 am
@KingRiaan-37: Nice post!
30 Jul 2012, 08:15 am
@CenturionShark (aka LondonShark)-36:
hehehe…
i didn’t offer a personal view of steyn…
i have been a huge fan of his… even when many sharks fans weren’t so partial to the kid…
add frans to the mix and who’s place is he gonna take…? serious question…
add frans to the mix and the sharks become practically unbeatable…
30 Jul 2012, 08:15 am
@optiplay-39: Thanks mate
30 Jul 2012, 08:16 am
i have LONG been a huge fan of his… and still am..
30 Jul 2012, 08:17 am
@KingRiaan-37:
have to second optiplay’s sentiments…
great post…
and well proud you should be…!
30 Jul 2012, 08:19 am
pity we won’t see steyn vs sonny bill…
let’s hope the AB pick him…
30 Jul 2012, 08:20 am
JC what a load of rubbish.
The Strompies lost cause they played the whole year not to lose, and when they had to play to win they did not know how.
They lost cause they do not have a T5, the front row is useless , with Bekker playing wing, Eben is the only one trying.
They lost cause their fkyhalve is useless,
They lost cause to win, you have to score tries.
The Sharks is the only team , Bulls included that don’t have these above flaws.
Hope that the Sharks take this one they deserve it.
30 Jul 2012, 08:21 am
@ufo-43: Thanks mate, yes I’m very proud and if the boys manage to win on saterday I’m gonna cry like a little baby hahaha
30 Jul 2012, 08:22 am
@ufo-40:
ha ha, I mean that I get your point that Steyn was a late import.
Frans is the best 12 in SA. So that’s where he must play for the Sharks. Lambie, Steyn,Jordaan combo is potent to say the least.
Whitehead can provide cover for 12 and 13 from the bench (and with Jordaan being pretty injury prone, he’ll get game time).
30 Jul 2012, 08:23 am
As others have said, I can’t quite believe that the focus remains on the Stormers when their season is over
How many more threads are in the works? Coetzee says his lawn isn’t doing as well as he hoped
Jean can’t find his pant?
Petersen can’t find his balls?
30 Jul 2012, 08:25 am
@the artist formerly known as gunther-17: The way Strompies played this season and the obvious weaknesses in the team , at 2,3,5,9,10,and 15, a number 8 and 6 would not have made any difference.
HM was right only to select Eben from Strompies , although Bresler was huge on Saturday.
30 Jul 2012, 08:25 am
@ufo-44: Sonny is going to play against the Aussies, but not against the Boks. So advantage Boks
30 Jul 2012, 08:26 am
Rugby won , and the Sharks was the only team playing on Saturday
30 Jul 2012, 08:29 am
Back to Saturday, what was with the Stormers dropping all those balls? Pietersen had a mare – probably his worst game of the season.
Still, the Stormers did top the log and their fans should be happy.
30 Jul 2012, 08:33 am
Another forward pass from JDV to Aplon to run through and score.
Is it some sort of Jedi mind trick?
Or are these refs just plain blind?
30 Jul 2012, 08:33 am
My team choked again. But that’s not the reason they failed on Saturday. They are:
1. The Sharks turned the Stormers’ own game back onto the them or let me re-phrase: The Sharks perfected Rassie’s gameplan.
2. Peter Grant. He is not a modern flyhalf. He is just Bash. He hasn’t got quick enough feet and does not think fast enough for the modern game, especially Super Rugby (just look at the young Kiwis and Aussies coming through the system into Super Rugby – they play and fare like brilliant Lambie) Grant cannot get away with this weakness, because he has another major one: his inability to kick for lines.
3. The Stormers’ obsession with running into the opposition instead of running into gaps from different and variable angles. This is a coaching problem for which Fleck should answer, but Coetzee also.
4. Their inability to fully grasp their own ball game. Turnover with defence, means you have to speed up the ball (yes, classic beautiful All Black rugby) and if and when achieved (sometimes forced into multiple phases of course) then hit hard with fast and furious ball carriers. WP and Stormers had the wrong type of players backing Burger, Vermeulen and Koster (not a good example as he tends to vanish like a Spies). On Saturday they kept on hitting whether in defence or offence but seemed so awestruck that they could do nothing else.
5. Attack, like defence, is a mindset, a mentality. If you do not have the will to attack it will never happen. The Sharks had a mindset to attack and defend, and they had players to play their game – in mind and in body. The Stormers had neither.
30 Jul 2012, 08:34 am
@Xkreni-WP-12: And you don’t have the balls or the brains to run a ‘rugby blog’ – if that is what one calls your attempt at journalism. No playoffs for you, ever. Suckmyhoring.
30 Jul 2012, 08:35 am
stormers defence has alllowed them to fluke a few games this season.
never has a side with such a poor attack topped the log.
oh….and peter grant is pants. Can’t even punt 20m.Hell, there was even a kick at posts that the stormers turned down because it was out of his range even though it was still in the sharks half. Fck…that’s par for the course surely?
30 Jul 2012, 08:37 am
@CenturionShark (aka LondonShark)-47:
yip… the sharks centre stocks looking very healthy indeed…
@kaksioek-50:
is that genuine…?
why just against the aussies…?
strange..
30 Jul 2012, 08:37 am
Stormers need to win something quick otherwise any decent player with ambition will move to another franchise.
We’ll take Etsbeth at the Bulls.Cheers.
30 Jul 2012, 08:38 am
@Brigadier Van Zyl-56:
No, that kick was within his range. It was just poor decision-taking.
We were screaming at them to take the kick and take the points.
The Stormers gameplan was flawed in the first half. When we kept ball in hand – like in the middle of the second half – we looked like we were able to run the Sharks off their feet.
But no, for the entire first half we persisted in kicking possession back to the Sharks, who then capitalised on some serious weaknesses under the high ball amongst the Stormers backs.
30 Jul 2012, 08:40 am
@kaksioek-52: Most fans are pretty satisfied Saddam.A few hysterical fans (in the mould of the ‘Axe Plumtree now’, Sharks crew)are screeching for a maximum overhaul, when tweaking is required. One or two heads can roll within the playing ranks, and one in the coaches setup (Fleck). Nothing wrong with the rest.
I expect your crowds facebook petition to be up within minutes should you crash to the Chiefs.
30 Jul 2012, 08:44 am
anyway i feel for the players…
fans acting ‘like their father or their dog just died…”
imagine how the players feel…?
chin up guys…
still proud of the you…!
30 Jul 2012, 08:46 am
@Brigadier Van Zyl-58:
he needs coaching to be more of a 4 than a 5 though.
sometimes he’s even a loosie.
he shouldnt be, he should focus on being a 4.
30 Jul 2012, 08:47 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.-60: Fans like you make Saturday so much more enjoyable! How **** must your team be to lose at home, after a week’s rest, to a team that you believe is **** and had just travelled to Australia and back to beat the defending champs?
30 Jul 2012, 08:47 am
Biggest load of **** and I am a Stormers supporter ! Have much more to add , just Monday morning blues (made worse cos of the loss). Will have my case in a few mins.
30 Jul 2012, 08:48 am
@WP Till I Die-59:
no, didn’t look like they had the confidence in him taking the shot at that range not when he can’t even punt them out of their half. In hindsight I;m surprised Aplon wasn’t put in a position to do more field kicking as he has a better boot from what I’ve seen.
30 Jul 2012, 08:49 am
@kaksioek-63: And if the Sharks bomb to the Chiefs, they too would have wasted everyones time
(On a far larger scale than the Stormers did….)
30 Jul 2012, 08:50 am
@ufo-57: Yup:
Bledisloe Cup finale for Sonny Bill Williams
LIAM NAPIER
Last updated 05:00 29/07/2012
Sonny Bill Williams will wear the All Blacks jersey twice more this year in back-to-back Bledisloe Cup matches against Australia, before leaving New Zealand rugby.
The New Zealand Rugby Union is quietly negotiating with Japanese club Panasonic Wild Knights to allow Williams to take on Robbie Deans’ Wallabies.
The Wild Knights wanted the superstar midfielder to take a three-week break before he joins them in September for a 12-game stint said to be worth $1.7 million.
But the Sunday Star-Times understands the Chiefs second five-eighths has made himself available for the two Bledisloe Cup tests in Sydney and Auckland on August 18 and 25, subject to his Japanese club agreeing.
All Blacks’ management will select Williams on the basis that the best available players should be chosen to meet Australia. The reality is that Williams’ blockbusting form this season has been too compelling to overlook.
The tests against the Wallabies are set to be his swansong from New Zealand, provided he gets approval from the Wild Knights. After his stint in Japan, he is then expected return to rugby league with the Sydney Roosters next year, continuing his code-hopping exploits.
Williams is understood to be excited over the opportunity to again play for the All Blacks and the NZRU will help smooth the way with his Japanese club. With experienced centre Conrad Smith to be sidelined for six weeks after eye surgery and Richard Kahui out after shoulder surgery, Williams’ presence has become increasingly important to the All Blacks’ depleted midfield stocks.
It’s understood Williams will be selected purely as a No 12, ruling out a possible call up for Crusaders second-five Ryan Crotty and the Hurricanes’ Tim Bateman. A combination where Ma’a Nonu shifts out to centre is being strongly considered. Highlanders utility Ben Smith could also play centre and team-mate Tamati Ellison is another midfield option.
Williams’ name will not be announced in the All Blacks training squad tomorrow. Chiefs players are exempt from next week’s two-day camp in Wellington as they prepare for their Super Rugby final, to be staged in either Hamilton or Cape Town next weekend, depending on the overnight result between the Stormers and Sharks.
The 26-year-old’s addition to the All Blacks 28-man Rugby Championship squad, which will be unveiled next Sunday, will polarise public opinion, with sections believing he should not be given the chance to add to his 17 caps after announcing intentions to move in a different direction. However, Williams has received the backing of All Blacks team-mates, including captain Richie McCaw.
“If he’s available, you saw the way he played tonight. If he’s keen and it all works well I don’t see that being a problem to be honest,” McCaw said after the Crusaders’ season ended on Friday night.
“Losing a guy like Conrad who is very experienced, having Sonny available, he’s got some experience now, it would be positive.”
All Blacks playmaker Dan Carter echoed those views. “They are pretty important matches first up. It’d be great to have him in the team. If he’s available and can play it would be huge for us, especially with Conrad being out.”
- © Fairfax NZ News
30 Jul 2012, 08:51 am
OK I cannot describe the feeling of dissapointment after Saturday. Congrats Sharks: You were the better team on the DAY.
Unfortunately I cannot help but feel This is all coming nicely together for NZ to conspire getting the Final.. Do not get me wrong! The stormers lost this game all by themselves!! two reall ysoft tries given away for nothing!
I feel It is time that AC catch a wake up and realise you need to be able tocscore tries even if it is not four in a game, you need to be ABLE to score tries… It is hard to take that all by Bulls buddies celebrated like it was a bulls victory in a final on Saturday, when the stormewrs were the best chance of SA getting the title..
Lastly, not to be sour, but i feel the Chiefs are gonna slaughter the Sharks after their game against the Saders. SBW, Cruden etc will expose the sharks backline…
PS: I put the full blame on Fleck, he must be the only person that did not think that the sharks would field a different team than the one anouncend… It is you job to make sure you prepare your players for everything!! Time for a specialist backline coach
30 Jul 2012, 08:51 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.-66: Did you get the washing done? Good, time for the ironing.
30 Jul 2012, 08:53 am
For me, the biggest let down was Bekker. The flat-track bully of SA rugby.
With the sharks operating with a make shift lineout you’d have thought the Stormers would have been at the Sharks lineout all game long. Particularly with their natural height advantage right along the line.
Alas, I can’t even recall Bekker calling his number on his own ball.
what a bang brook.
30 Jul 2012, 08:54 am
JC were the Stormers in 2 finals in the last 3 years? I remember the 2010 Soweto final… The other?
30 Jul 2012, 08:55 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.-55:
Hey papsak p u ss y, I dont have to run a blog. Keo does it all for me.
does it hurt to have your team choke again???
30 Jul 2012, 08:55 am
Stormers your team is getting better and the youngsters are coming through… Just stop losing them to the Bulls…
30 Jul 2012, 08:56 am
@THE MAULER-71:
think he is talking about the cc final against the sharks.
30 Jul 2012, 08:56 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.-55:
I see that you are a her (note not lady) Rossoneri, hater, racist perhaps?
30 Jul 2012, 08:57 am
Aha… Thanks Brigadier…
30 Jul 2012, 08:58 am
@Provvas-68: In order to win anything you need:
A Front Row, Sharks have one =yes
Locks that both work , Sharks have those =yes
Flyhalve that can dictate game, Sharks have one =yes
Loosies that can play, Sharks have those =yes
Postive game plan, Sharks have one =yes
Strompies have none of the above
30 Jul 2012, 09:00 am
@kaksioek-69: Nope, I went for a cycle in the Majik Forest, followed by a few stops on the Durbanville wine route. Very pleasant indeed. And not a Sharks wearing widget to be seen (except for 2 portly fellows in Tygervalley earlier in the morning, one near the banks, and one near Woolworths….)
Did you spend the day researching travel effects? And just how valid any travel excuse will be/or not?
30 Jul 2012, 09:03 am
@capebull-77: When you did not rate the Stormers locks I knew you just talking k@k!
were JP blown up for taking grant out from the ruck coming from the side in the last seconds, shoudl walsh have given the penalty and the stormers scored, what would your excuse have been then? the stormers lost in a semi… the bulls have not been in one now for two years!! even with their so called gods playing last year they were not there!!
I will be here next Monday when the Chiefs are champs and NZ have conspired again nicely to be seen as the rugby al mightys…
30 Jul 2012, 09:04 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.-78: You lost on Saturday , like the 3 years before , HM was right to select Eben as the only Bok . JdV will end his career soon. What is it now 11 or 12 years,….
30 Jul 2012, 09:06 am
the biggest concern for the stormers is that they keep losing playoffs at home.
losing away is one thing…but at home,that is just daft.
30 Jul 2012, 09:07 am
@Provvas-79: How many balls the the 3m Strompie locks steal from Sharkies on Saturday ????
Eben played alone , Bekker could be better than JP on the wing yes.
30 Jul 2012, 09:10 am
@Provvas-79: I agree with you the Bulls have been k@@K the last two years , at least they won someting as recent as 2010.
Strompies ………does 2001 ring a bell
Go Sharkies we all except the suurg@t Strompies, support you on Saturday.
30 Jul 2012, 09:10 am
gotta love it…
congratulations to all these bulls fans…
your team beat the stormers on saturday… you must be feeling chuffed with puffed-pigeon chests…
30 Jul 2012, 09:11 am
I was wondering how long it would take for JC to produce a heap of steaming sh it article like this.
Comparing the loss of Vermuelen to the loss of Matflield or McCaw.
It really is quite laughable.
30 Jul 2012, 09:12 am
I see there is consensus here; our flyhalf did not rise to the occasion.
I guess the challenge is that you feel that you don’t want to single out one guy but I have been saying all along: the 10-12 axis is where things happen.
Dewies also did not fire.
The rational me expected this defeat, but of course I hoped that maybe, just maybe on the day they will pull off what would have been a lovely victory.
This is where Freddy Michalak is so valuable. His opportunistic approach is what is needed in these play-off situations. Bash did not quite make that mental adjustment. You have to steal a game from the opposition.
Stormers and Province need better 9,10 and creative 12. Jean in the late part of his career not fast enough to be a 12; JdJ also not the answer.
This is where the Stormers must ensure that Elton Jantjies is signed; they can even add a ‘weekly haircut in Mitchell’s Plain ti-own centre’ .
The Sharks will have to contend with Cruden and SBW this weekend and that’s a very unpleasant prospect.
Chiefs by 12 (I’m sorry Sharks fans)
30 Jul 2012, 09:13 am
Sour Stormers supporters supporting the Chiefs…
30 Jul 2012, 09:14 am
@Xkreni-WP-72: All class. I don’t do racial hate. I do class hate. Trash is trash, and you are kicking it like Taebo on the trash scale. How many crotch scratches have you had this morning?
All class, all in.
@capebull-83: Why do you feel the need to announce your support for the Sharks? I promise you the Almighty isn’t making lists of who does, who doesn’t.
30 Jul 2012, 09:14 am
@ufo-84: No we are chuffed cause we admit that the Sharks are better than the Bulls, and that finallly a team that wants to play Rugby won against a team that wants to kill the game of rugby.
30 Jul 2012, 09:18 am
@John Galt-85:
lol
it’s a little funny
30 Jul 2012, 09:20 am
@capebull-80:
What is the aim of this post of you?
You said:
” the Stormers lost”– well, duhhh.
“Eben the only bok” – that is not true
“Jean will retire soon”- everybody knows that as he is in his thirties
“11 or 12 years” – this story is as old as the story of Noah and his ark.
Try post something original.
30 Jul 2012, 09:20 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.-88: Cause Rugby finally won over boring negativety.
Cause the whole year we had to suffer with commends from the likes of you on why:
The Strompies are the best in SA
HM is a fool not to pick all the Strompies
PGrant is by far the best 10 in SA
Strompies have the best front row
Strompies have best locks
Srompies have best centres
The list goes on and on.
30 Jul 2012, 09:21 am
@Robzim-91: I will do, as soon as you accept the facts.
30 Jul 2012, 09:23 am
@ufo-61: seeing habana & aplon crying was touching but seeing my dad frazzled was so nice either
30 Jul 2012, 09:25 am
@capebull-92: And how is that any different to what Bulls fans have been singing since the year 157BC?
Pot, kettle, BLUE.
30 Jul 2012, 09:28 am
The Stormers’ inability to score tries lost them this match and the tournament.
It should have happened earlier in the season but their defence has been impeccable.
There must have been quite a few bodies hanging of the lampposts outside Newlands on Saturday night.
A real banana peel moment, this tournament was the Stormer’s to lose.
30 Jul 2012, 09:30 am
wheres Tacticus post match evaluation.
that should be good for a laugh.
30 Jul 2012, 09:31 am
The Durbanville wine route?
Tell me more.
30 Jul 2012, 09:32 am
@capebull-92: Congrats Cbull on your victory on Saturday.Your team were the best on the day.Good luck for the final
30 Jul 2012, 09:33 am
@capebull-93:
Stormers lost= fact
Bekker is useless= opinion
Stormers loosies can’t play= opinion
etc…etc…
U catch my drift?
30 Jul 2012, 09:34 am
The Stormers had a great season. They implemented their coaches plan of playing 10 man conservative rugby and were successful beyond the limitations of the plan. They were top of the log and and only lost because they no longer know how to play winning rugby, only rugby were you don’t lose.
30 Jul 2012, 09:34 am
My perspective……
on the day just not good enough….
nothing more but just that!
30 Jul 2012, 09:36 am
@the artist formerly known as gunther-98: You think we don’t have a more than decent little wine meander round these parts?
30 Jul 2012, 09:38 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.-95: Difference , lets just talk last 11 years
3 S12/S14 titles
can remember, but about 5 cc titles
Campare that to 1 cc in 2001
I gues with actual competitions won you should have some bragging rights, difference is Strompies have won nothing and you claim all the bragging rights.
30 Jul 2012, 09:40 am
The more I read this article the more embraboer it sounds.
One long pseudo wankfest.
I want to hear from Willie how the de facto favourites could have lost this when they were wearing their status like a glove?
30 Jul 2012, 09:43 am
Cheers. Ek’s weg. Ontbyt.
30 Jul 2012, 09:48 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.-103:
De Grendel is a decent drop.
Tell me more.
Do you do tours?
Where can I book?
30 Jul 2012, 09:50 am
@capebull-89:
are you an actor…?
must be with all your dramatics and theatrics…
30 Jul 2012, 09:51 am
@Transformation-94:
that doesn’t even make sense…
30 Jul 2012, 09:56 am
This is one stupid article. Can’t claim injuries, sorry it’s just never an excuse. The Stormers were fantastic this season and have bred some brillaint young players but all teams had to deal with Injuries..
30 Jul 2012, 09:56 am
@ufo-108: Just accept the facts , Strompies are not as good as you say they are.
30 Jul 2012, 09:57 am
@ufo-109: you’re right, seeing the old man frazzled WASN’T nice… whew
30 Jul 2012, 10:02 am
Hippocrates!! we must all now jump behind the sharks after you never supporterd the stormers? No sir!!
I will be delighted when the Chiefs mow down this Sharks team that mede my team a bunch of chokers!!
Simple as that!! And JC did never imply they lost due to injuries!! He only states that the stormers did well this season after so many injuries.. take of those glasses and see what is actually in front of yourselves..
Chiefs by 20… it is true!!
30 Jul 2012, 10:05 am
@Provvas-113: Hmmm them grapes be soooouuuur!
30 Jul 2012, 10:06 am
@Provvas-113: Thats exactly why I don’t rate the Strompies or their support.
Its one thing to go at each other while your team is still there, once you are out, support the SA team or move to England or NZ
30 Jul 2012, 10:10 am
@Provvas-113:
How can you blame Hippocrates?
He’s been dead for over two thousand years.
You plank.
30 Jul 2012, 10:12 am
@capebull-111:
hehehe…
how good did I say they were…? you’re reading from the wrong script for your dramatic final scene…
i said before the game that the sharks were gonna be very hard to beat and would most probably go on to win the trophy… you see it’s easy to speak after the fact… i spoke up before the fact…
@Transformation-112:
your old man is obviously an excellent man..!!
30 Jul 2012, 10:13 am
@capebull-115: Why?
Why did you support the Sharks and not the stormers? You will give this excuse of they play better rugby or they are the better side etc etc, but deep down you know you just hate the stormers. So I am not allowed to hate the sharks a little bit after the weekend? No I will support the Chiefs because they ar ethe better side for the whole of the year.. yes.. 2 plays 6 so There you go!
As a stormers supporter, to back the sharks will be to hope that the sharks become the second SA team to win this thing…. nope, I will support the Chiefs…
30 Jul 2012, 10:16 am
Based on last season’s results and performances the Stormers should have known they need a powerhouse prop and perhaps a backline specialist. Get destroyed by the Franks brothers in last year’s home semi and get destroyed by Beast and co this past Saturday. We couldn’t score tries last year either.
I will blame the coaching staff. The same mistakes were made as the previous year. They players lacked BMT and looked rusty and useless after a 1 week break. We were as predictable as a family braai on a Sunday afternoon.
Time for the junior coaches that actually win stuff to get promoted.
30 Jul 2012, 10:18 am
@the artist formerly known as gunther-116: OK gunther…. Mr spellchecker.. Tweegat jakkals back stabbing Bulls supporters dan!! Is dit beter vir jou? verstaan jy dit ook nou daar van Tswane met n IK van 3….. dis nou as jy jou ma en pa saamtel..
30 Jul 2012, 10:20 am
@capebull-115: Using bragging rights that are already grey with age is no way to justify an argument in the NOW. Ask the Pom soccer fraternity how this works.
@Skeppie-114: I’m being brutally honest when I say that because this a provincial competition, it is franchise against franchise – not nation against nation IMHO. I just find it unnatural to support another franchise with as much passion as what I support my own (ok apart from the Blues). I would like the Sharks to win, but I don’t mind if the Chiefs win. And contrary to belief, I don’t hate any other teams, I just don’t SUPPORT any teams apart from my 2 faves. If I supported every Saffa team with passion (in the way the Bulls lot are declaring their allegiance on forums, in homes, at offices etc), what is the point of having a fave team. What I want to win, is the Rugby championship, cos that’s nation against nation.
@capebull-115: You sound feeble as sin. This is a provincial competition. Do I support Chelsea when Man U are knocked out? Or Real Madrid when Barcelona are knocked out? Do I mind if the Sharks win – NO. Do I mind if they lose – NO. Ditto for the Chiefs.
30 Jul 2012, 10:21 am
Hehehehehehehehehehe….
30 Jul 2012, 10:21 am
Hahahahahahahahahaha….
30 Jul 2012, 10:21 am
BOOM!
30 Jul 2012, 10:22 am
BWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA….
30 Jul 2012, 10:22 am
Dynamite Destiny…
Tastes good.
30 Jul 2012, 10:24 am
Ok my take on the game and our season. The simply truth is we failed. End of story , this **** utter BS written by JC is a joke.
How can we even think to start using the fact we were dealt a hard hand re injuries ? So what ? The sharks may I remind you all
also had some very key players out like Lambie and Jordaan ! Lets not forget also that one of the best loosies in SA (Willem
Alberts) was forced to play lock for them as well. The stormers lost not becos we dont have the players , not becos we dont have
the commitment but becos we play the game not to lose and not play the game to win.
Common , we have seen this before for a few years now at the stormers and the Boks. Its frustrating as hell to watch how we fail
to kill off teams like the rebels and the lions who with no disrespect to them we should have killed off. I said at the time while
I was happy that we were winning I was not sure if I want the champion Super team to be a team that plays not to lose and that
cannot score tries.
The game of rugby is after all about scoring tries !! Not penalties. Its really simple , you have 15 players and their job is to
get you into a position to cross the oppositions tryline with the ball. Conversions and penalties are bonuses. A drop goal can
still be seen as a skill becos its in the arena of live play but the Stormers really only played to get the ball in the
oppositions half and wait for them to err and kick the ball over. Its like playing for a 0-0 draw in soccer and hoping that the
penalty shootout goes your way becos your keeper is a better defender most of the times and your shooters are safe bets. Kark
man.
The problem with the Stormers is at Exec level and coaching. Winning the 2007 WC could have been one of the worst things ever to
happen to a coach like AC becos it only supported the safe rugby approach he is drilling in at WP rugby. We are paying now for 5
years for that and the irony is that the architect of it all Jake White has moved away from that way of playing as evident the way
the Brumbies play. The way we played in 2007 was okay , we won the WC and it worked then , surely though we should move on cos
the rest of the world has.
On Saturday the sharks halfbacks showed us how to control a game and how there is a time to kick and a time to run. The stormers
halfbacks seem to have a pattern of running and kicking , like they time it per move. Its like Grant thinks that after 3 runs he must now kick the ball no matter what the situation says. There is absolutely nothing wrong with kicking the ball and in fact Ludik scored a great try from a very clever kick but like anything in life there has to be a purpose in the action , not just the action and a hope.
I really feel for the players and guys like Kollisi , Kitschoff and they would have learned a heck of a lot from this , others like Etzebeth and Elsted played above their years and as long as players like them are around there is hope. For the Stormers to want to win anything they are going to have to start changing their halfbacks though. I really hope the rumours of Janjies and Sarel Pretorius are true.
From a stormers perspective the highlight for me was the run by Etzebeth , not that I would want Bissy to get injured but I was very happy that it was against him cos he is as hard as they come . It was the moment Etzebeth said , I have landed !! One of those highlights that will be shown for years.
Good luck to the sharks and may the best team win this weekend.
30 Jul 2012, 10:26 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.-121: Yip!! No need to move to another coutnry to support the team I believe deserve to win the comp!!
The thing with the bulls supporters is: they did not want the stormers to win cause that way they can carry on justifying their same old excuse: we won it 3 times.. you last won a cup in 2001.. bla bla bla!!
They know that were the stormers champs they would have to tweak the rants to : but you only won it once etc etc…
I believe the Chiefs should win the comp after their season, not the sharks.. simple as that!!
30 Jul 2012, 10:26 am
@<a href="#comment-21@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.-121:
when are we doing the route?
91109″>Provvas-120:
let it out buddy.
you are amongst friends here.
30 Jul 2012, 10:27 am
@wp_boytjie-119: Don’t get your emotions confused with mine.
I supported the Sharks cause they play ry=ugby , what the Strompies do is not Rugby.@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.-121: So on what base are you then bragging….nothing ?
30 Jul 2012, 10:29 am
@Provvas-128: Accept ther facts, by the way Bulls 0/21 35 Wp 23
30 Jul 2012, 10:30 am
@Provvas-68: best chance of winning the trophy (not some little trinket trophy) absolute Bullshit you are talking there.
If they cannot beat a jet lagged tired guppy team then there is no way I hell will they beat a fresh Chiefs team. Get it?
30 Jul 2012, 10:31 am
@Provvas-118: I don’t understand your mentality? I would think all real SA rugby supporters would back a south african team? I am a sharks supporter through an through but will always backtg he Stormers or Bulls when they play teams from oversea’s.
30 Jul 2012, 10:31 am
@capebull-130: You I had kinda mixed feeling on Saturday when the sharks scored their second try. As a stormers I was gutted but as a rugby fan I really enjoyed the play of the sharks .
30 Jul 2012, 10:32 am
@sparticus-127: I salute you
30 Jul 2012, 10:33 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.-121: I understand what you are saying but for me personally it’s always country first. I get almost as excited (not quite but almost) to watch the Bulls play the Saders or Stormers play the Brumbies as I do watching my beloved Sharks.
30 Jul 2012, 10:38 am
@the artist formerly known as gunther-129:
I see myself as a true Stormers supporter!! And the loss was not easy to swallow…. I do not know if I should be angry or just upset at the way we lost… I am sure most true supporters feel this way… feel the pain with the team..
@Skeppie-133: It is simple… this is a provincial comp… there have been hate between Wp and bulls since they played each other… Never ever does a bulls supporter deep down support the Stormers in any game.. believe me… just like the Wp supporter dont want the bulls to win… it is really that simple.. Come the Tri nations and players play along in the green jersey… different Story!! I cant wait to support JP in the rugby championship, but while he wears black and white….
30 Jul 2012, 10:38 am
@Provvas-128:
exaclty.
I’ll be happy if either of the finalists win.
They both deserve to be there.
30 Jul 2012, 10:44 am
@Provvas-137: Well I suppose I have to respect that it is after all a provincial comp but for me personally I will alwasy back a saffa team. I can also empathise with your post to Gunther, it is not surprising that you feel like that after losing but the Stormers have a lot to be proud of, topping the table to me is as good as winning the whole thing.
30 Jul 2012, 10:46 am
@capebull-111:
Still better than the Bulls, at least.
I don’t actually care who wins the final on Saturday as my team is not playing.
If the Sharks do the near impossible and win, good for them and they’ll have my respect for their achievement.
If the Chiefs win…pffft…who cares?
30 Jul 2012, 10:49 am
i would seriously consider jpp at 13 for the boks with frans at 12…
30 Jul 2012, 10:52 am
I disagree with you. The game plan adopted by the Stormers was pathetic. They kicked away possession to a dangerous back 3 and played with no confidence. In fact, the only started playing in the 71st minute and backed themselves. It looked as though they had traveled rather than the Sharks….badly prepared and badly executed. No excuses!!!
30 Jul 2012, 10:55 am
What a weekend, second in a row.
Sharks and Cameron.
I feel for the Stormers supporters, you had a great year and came close but unfortunately you faced a team that is really playing great rugby at the moment.
And how about Bissie standing up and be counted after being hit by that monster Etzebeth. Lesser players would have shrinked away after that hit.
I’m so proud of the boys and believe we can do it again this weekend. Just believe Sharkies and the sky is the limmit.
And please Bulls and Stormers, stop your fighting.
30 Jul 2012, 10:56 am
@ufo-141: Nope. JPP did not perfrom there earlier in the season. We need a big wing like him. That was stormers biggest weak link at the back three.. They have Joe and Aplon which are small players and Habana is not very big himself.. You need a big wing to enforce some size when it comes to gary owens etc..
The boks can do really well with aplon, JPP as wings… for fullback.. I am not sure Lambie is the answer….
30 Jul 2012, 10:57 am
@capebull-130:
Are you lost
30 Jul 2012, 11:00 am
@ufo-141: Bad idea. JPP had a good game last weekend but overall he was not good at 13 this year. A good example was against the Lions when Mapoe smoked him more than once. Leave JPP on the wing.
30 Jul 2012, 11:01 am
Ok on to better things!!
Bok team should be:
1. Jannie
2. Etsebeth biaatch Bissy
3. Beast
4. Etsebeth
5. Bekker
6. Kolisi
7. Alberts
8. Duane
9. Hougaard
10.Lambie
11. Habana
12. Frans Steyn
13 JDV
14 JPP
15. really do not know!! Do not rate Taute, Lambie or Le roux here..
30 Jul 2012, 11:07 am
@ufo-141: Hi UFO – we were totally outplayed. Let’s hope the Sharks can create history – it will be extremely difficult. If they do however it will be a big “up yours” to jetlag and other travelling reasons. Duvenhage was very poor – took the wrong options often: the guys were so set on defence that they forgot to attack when it was on to play. Pietersen and Grant also did not play well, but hats off to the Sharks!!
On a different topic: we spoke about Chris October, the coach. He has just been appointed as SA U/20 coach, so he is still around – good to know. I just don’t know where he is coaching during the rest of the season.
Now I first have to wait before I get the “you are posting too quickly, please slow down” message. It has happened 3 times this morning already
30 Jul 2012, 11:08 am
@Provvas-147: That team list is proof that the average Stormers supporter got farkall knowledge whatsoever about who’s who in the playing zoo and indeed about the game played in Sharks heaven to boot…
For starters, Beast is 1 and Doc DuP is 3…
You poor sod… Maybe I been a bit harsh and the trauma of realising your League “Topping”, Conference Title “Holding”, “Finals” rugby playing team is no match for either of the sides who are actually contesting the Final Proper
Yip…Chiefs vs Sharks… The best 2 teams, playing the best rugby in Super Rugby this year, contesting the Final…
As it should be….
But then again maybe I am not been harsh enough, for your plain ignorance…. Heyneke Meyer you definitely are not
30 Jul 2012, 11:10 am
@Provvas-147: Not a bad side but Kolisi in for Schalk?
30 Jul 2012, 11:13 am
@HHS-146: Yeah strangely enough we are staring to get some kind of depth at centre (JDV, Fransie, possibly Fourie coming back, JDJ, and some promising youngsters) but we are still really thin at wing. If JPP get’s injured we will not have too many options.
30 Jul 2012, 11:17 am
1 Beast
2 Bissy
3 Jannie
4 Eben
5 Kruger
6 Brussouw
7 Marcell
8 Alberts
9 Hougie
10 Lambie
11 Habs
12 Frans
13 JdV
14 Jpp
15 Aplon ???
\
30 Jul 2012, 11:18 am
@Provvas-147: Does anyone know when Goosen is expected back? I’m afraid that Steyn or Grant will be picked for the Boks. I’d much rather pick either Lambie or the Smit laaitie from FS, just not Grant or Steyn.
30 Jul 2012, 11:19 am
@Heavens Game-149: Easy to throw insults when your team has won. How about some grace in winning? Just be here come Monday.. no excuses then hey?
why do you not tell me where the mistakes are in the team?
Props are props… 1 or 3.. never played there never cared!!
30 Jul 2012, 11:22 am
@capebull-152: Marcell was pretty even to my opinion with kolisi.. and I still think Duane deserve a spot.. he played brilliantly before his injury. Your back three looks good..
@RefuGSpot-153: Goosen will be my first choice when he is fit!
Stormers need to sign this kid ASAP!!
30 Jul 2012, 11:29 am
@Provvas-155: That’d be great, but I think they are looking at Jantjies and even perhaps Sarel. Sarel and Goosen would be so much better.
30 Jul 2012, 11:31 am
@Provvas-154: Yes. It is easy
Especially when the Mighty Dynamite contest the Final, playing “Finals” rugby proper… And its also easy when the Sharks are without doubt the better team than the League “Toppers” and Conference Title “Holders” in head to head games this year…
It Reads:
Sharks 2 – Stormers 1
And lets not forget the first one was courtesy of a 3point ref gimme at Newlands to Grant in the last few mins… otherwise the Johnnies would have won that one too…
Just gently rubbing your nose in it
30 Jul 2012, 11:31 am
Brussouw has to be in the Bok team. He is one of the first players that should be picked.
And, Keo your site is f ucked again.
30 Jul 2012, 11:35 am
1 Tendai Mtawarira
2 Bismark Du Plessis
3 Jannie Du Plessis
4 Eben Etzebeth
5 Andries Bekker
6 Marcell Coetzee
7 Willem Alberts
8 Duane Vermeulen
9 Francois Hougaard
10 Peter Grant
11 Bryan Habana
12 Francois Steyn
13 Jean De Villiers
14 JP Pietersen
15 Gio Aplon
16 Adriaan Strauss
17 Coenie Oosthuzyen
18 Juandre Kruger
19 Joshua Strauss
20 Jano Vermaak
21 Pat Lambie
22 Lwazi Mvovo
23 Chilliboy Ralepelle
24 Pat Cilliers
25 Siya Kolisi
26 Ryan Kankowski
27 Michael Bondesio
28 Elton Janjtes
29 Juan De Jongh
30 Jaco Taute / Louis Ludik
30 Jul 2012, 11:37 am
@RefuGSpot-158:
not for me. Off the bench maybe.
1.beast
2.bissie
3.jannie
4.etsbeth
5.kruger
6.marcel
7.alberts
8. kankowski
9.mccloud
10.jantjies
11.basson
12.frans
13.devilliers
14.jpp
15.ludik
16.strauss
17.coenie
18.bressler
19.elstadt
20.potgieter.d
21.hougaard
22.lambie.
30 Jul 2012, 11:38 am
@Mr Black-143:
good post…
enjoy…!!
@Provvas-144:
@HHS-146:
the whole sharks team and JP monist other players have been improving with every game… i reckon a move there for JP would be very interesting…
@CharlesM-148:
hey Charles… wasn’t it a great vibe at newlands… at the beginning anyway
yeah, we were outplayed no doubt… and no shame IMO either… i’m not gonna get into singling out players right now… overall the sharks were the better team individually and collectively… and won deservedly…
great to here chris october is still around… he did a great job with the school teams let’s hope he does well with the U20s… thanks for that info…
30 Jul 2012, 11:39 am
why oh frikken why is anyone even considering Bekker in a starting 15 let alone a match 22?
he’s done bugger all apart from being tall. the SA rugby flattrack player of the year for the past 3 years.
30 Jul 2012, 11:40 am
@Provvas-155: Vermeulen definitely should be in the mix but then we need to worry aboutt he balance of the lossies, if we play Vermeulen and Alberts then we must either play Brussow or ensure Coetzee play’s as much to the ball as possible. Schalk also makes things complicated if he is fit.
30 Jul 2012, 11:42 am
@Brigadier Van Zyl-160: Swap Basson for Hougaard and McLeod for Pienaar then I’m with you there 100%
30 Jul 2012, 11:43 am
@Provvas-155: I believe Brussouw almost beat the Sharkies alone , the game changed when he left, Both Marcell and Kolisi are not fetchers , I like to have one in my team
30 Jul 2012, 11:43 am
@Rhys7-159:
Cannot find too much fault with that team. I would, however, put a more mobile looseforward on the bench as you already have two big blokes in Vermeulen and Alberts. Kolisi or Daniel would be my reserve loosie.
Apart from that I think that it is a very good team.
30 Jul 2012, 11:43 am
@Brigadier Van Zyl-160: Jantjies and Grant ahead of Lambie? Grant is a really good player but he doesn’t have the boot for test rugby and Jantjies has a way to go still. For me Lambie ticks all the boxes. He has a good boot, can play nice and flat and get his backs going and he is probably the best defensive FH in the country, on a par with Grant defensivley.
30 Jul 2012, 11:43 am
@Heavens Game-149:
While I hope that the Sharks win the trophy for SA – you are still a d.o.o.s. of note.
30 Jul 2012, 11:45 am
@STBUR-168: Why?
You hurt me so bad.
30 Jul 2012, 11:47 am
@Rhys7-159: Marcell is not in the same league as Brussouw. Alberts is also inconsistent and he’d do better to stay an impact player.
1 Tendai Mtawarira
2 Bismark Du Plessis
3 Jannie Du Plessis
4 Eben Etzebeth
5 Andries Bekker
6 Heinrich Brussouw
7 Schalk Burger
8 Duane Vermeulen
9 Francois Hougaard
10 Goosen
11 Bryan Habana
12 Francois Steyn
13 Jean De Villiers
14 JP Pietersen
15 Lambie or Taute or Le Roux or Daniller or Aplon
30 Jul 2012, 11:50 am
@STBUR-168: I will back that statement.. the do os part for that matter, not the sharks winning it…
30 Jul 2012, 11:50 am
@RefuGSpot-170: You have to many injured players in your team
Bugger
Vermeulen
Goosen are all out
Bekker plays wing not lock
30 Jul 2012, 11:52 am
@capebull-172: Like Victor?
30 Jul 2012, 11:53 am
@Skeppie-167:
Grant is shite with a pop gun boot. The backs can’t score tries. Even with all the frontfoot ball the stormers have had…not even 1 game with 4 tries?
Mornes way off his game and still a significantly better player than grant.
Lambies best games as flyhalf were in 2010.
goosen looks to be the future but hasn’t played enough top rugby yet because of injury.
jantjies is the next best in my opinion, has been playing well in a losing cause.
30 Jul 2012, 11:55 am
@RefuGSpot-170:
that would be a pretty good side if you just removed all the average Stormers from it.
30 Jul 2012, 11:55 am
Burger and Vermeulen will be back for the start of the Champ Tourney
30 Jul 2012, 11:56 am
@RefuGSpot-173:
no, nothing like Victor.
in 2007,2009,2010…..Victor turned in top draw performances when it mattered most to his franchise.
bekker was awol.
30 Jul 2012, 11:57 am
I will give my personal rating for the 2nd raters they are absolutely bloody useless 1 vodacam cup win in the last 11 years but that is actually an achievement for them so my rating is a perfect O.
30 Jul 2012, 11:57 am
@Brigadier Van Zyl-175: And replaced the with Bulls players? Come on, they are nowhere.
30 Jul 2012, 11:57 am
@RefuGSpot-176:
and you’d select them without them having played a game of rugby in 4-5 months?
not very clever in my opinion.
30 Jul 2012, 11:58 am
@RefuGSpot-176:
Burger won’t.
30 Jul 2012, 11:58 am
@Brigadier Van Zyl-162:
Flat track Bok team:
15. Zane
14. Shadow*
13. WO
12. JdV
11. that cheetah wing*
10. Morne
9. Mc Cleod
8. Spies
7. Tarzan Potgieter
6. Stegman
5. Flippie
4. Bekker
3. Brock*
2. Burden*
1. that Bulls prop
* I know they are not Boks yet but some people called for them to be selected in the past.
30 Jul 2012, 11:59 am
@Brigadier Van Zyl-177: Yeh I agree, he was pretty inconsistent.
30 Jul 2012, 12:01 pm
I can’t wait to see Duane dominate in the Championship.
30 Jul 2012, 12:01 pm
@nama1-182: Really?
30 Jul 2012, 12:02 pm
@nama1-182:
you are missing de jongh and peter grant.
30 Jul 2012, 12:04 pm
@Brigadier Van Zyl-180:
You felt the same when Meyer selected Tarzan after a 6 week injury lay-off?
Keep in mind that it was his 1st time in the Bok squad unlike somebody like Schalk who is a veteran of test rugby.
30 Jul 2012, 12:05 pm
@Brigadier Van Zyl-174: I agree except about Lambie, he has been playing 15 for the Boks and hence a bit of 15 for the Sharks as well so not really fair to say he hasn’t played well at 10. For me he has all the attributes and if we invest in him the way the Aussies invested in Larkham we could have a great 10 for many years to come. I would say the exact same thing for Goosen as well though, the two of them need to be our focus.
30 Jul 2012, 12:07 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther-186:
Grant, I’ll grant you but De Jongh did well in the few chances he had.
30 Jul 2012, 12:08 pm
@RefuGSpot-176: They won’t be risked due to their injuries.The Sharks loosies more than capable enough to tackle the best of Australasia and Argentina.
30 Jul 2012, 12:08 pm
@nama1-187:
true…but he was never supposed to play in the first place, skalk was out and so was alberts?
30 Jul 2012, 12:10 pm
@nama1-182:
funny thing is….all those bulls have superrugby medals.
go figure
30 Jul 2012, 12:20 pm
@Heavens Game-157:
I don’t know why you put it in inverted commas. Yes they are the league champions and table toppers. Hopefully the Sharks win this dammm thing so that SA can (I can’t believe I’m saying this) build some momentum going in to the RC (what a k@k name).
Finally you were correct with the BOOM!! Congratulations
30 Jul 2012, 12:25 pm
@Brigadier Van Zyl-192:
True that.
Are the medals a real indication of their quality though?
Easy to shine in a team when you are surrounded by high quality players.
Look at Mc Cleod at the Sharks. Michalak is bringing out the best in him. Is he Bok quality though? I’ll bet you if you play him alongside Morne Steyn tomorrow, he will look mediocre at best.
30 Jul 2012, 12:28 pm
Morne, as with Grant, has the ability to make an entire backline look average.
30 Jul 2012, 12:28 pm
Good piece from Ashfak on IOL
The Stormers need to lighten up. Not crack more jokes, but lighten up in terms of how they approach a rugby game. The current team are besieged by a defensive mindset, as opposed to teams like the Chiefs, the Crusaders, the Sharks and the Reds, who play with a positive mindset.
A defensive mindset is when Louis Schreuder kicks the ball away with two minutes left of a semi-final when he has a three-man overlap around his own 10-metre line despite the Stormers having built up great momentum through a multi-phase attack.
It’s when captain Jean de Villiers, in a press conference before the Sharks semi-final, says in a throwaway line “And we don’t need to score four tries!”. It’s when Dewaldt Duvenage kicks those little chips from inside the opposition’s half into their 22. It’s when coach Allister Coetzee sarcastically says “I thought we were a boring side!”.
A positive mindset does not mean indiscriminately running the ball from your own tryline. It does not mean neglecting defence or a kicking game. The Chiefs, for example, have improved their defensive systems out of sight this season and added some bite to their pack. But they are still capable of scoring great tries, because they have a positive mindset.
A positive mindset is about imposing your game on the opposition. Another example is the Bulls under Victor Matfield between 2007 and 2010. The Bulls still used their pack to gain dominance, Morné Steyn kicked everything over and they had a strong defence. But they were far from a one-dimensional team. They were able to win by scoring tries and taking control of games.
With the Stormers, the buzzwords are “build an innings”, “play in their half” or “play for territory”, “stay in the systems and structures”, “stick to the plan”. The Stormers have basically perfected defence – being the team with the best defensive record in three years of Super Rugby proves that. Now they need to make their attacking game their No 1 focus. Defence can only take you so far.
Also, sometimes you have to deviate from the plan if it’s not working, and the Stormers did it too late on Saturday night. They waited until 20 minutes before the end to throw the restrictive gameplan out of the window and just trust their instincts and take on the Sharks for a change. And if the game had gone on for another two or three minutes, the Stormers would probably have won and hosted a home final.
Compare De Villiers, Juan de Jongh, Bryan Habana, Gio Aplon and Joe Pietersen to Tim Whitehead, JP Pietersen, Lwazi Mvovo, Louis Ludik and Riaan Viljoen. Who would you pick out of the two groups? The way the Stormers play rugby doesn’t appear to be natural to a lot of the players in the team. Backline coach Robbie Fleck has often used the line “We’ve played to a certain pattern this year, and it has got us to where we are.” Fleck is under fire for the team’s inability to score tries, but knowing what he was like as a player, can he really be happy as a coach with the conservative gameplan?
The Stormers have had a terrible run with injuries this year. Losing your entire first-choice loose trio of Schalk Burger, Nick Koster and Duane Vermeulen, and then talented youngster Nizaam Carr to injury for large parts of the season, but especially for the semi-final, was tough to overcome.
Allister Coetzee has done great work to lead the Stormers to three successive home semi-finals in Super Rugby, as well as a final berth in 2010 and two consecutive SA conference trophies. But he needs to change his team’s defensive mindset if the Stormers are to take the next step up and win their first ever Super Rugby title in 2013.
*Send us your views – ashfak.mohamed@inl.co.za
30 Jul 2012, 12:31 pm
@RefuGSpot-185:
Will you play that Bok team against NZ or Aus or even Italy?
30 Jul 2012, 12:33 pm
@nama1-194:
well, they can’t all be average otherwise how the hell did the team win?
Ashfak ******** is the biggest plonker out there….just because he figured out what most did some time ago already doesn’t suddenly give him any credibility.
he is the quitessential quota chip-on-the-shoulder journo.
Jake had the right idea when he threatened to plant him one.
30 Jul 2012, 12:33 pm
@nama1-189:
what top class international opposition has he dominated?
30 Jul 2012, 12:36 pm
@Brigadier Van Zyl-198:
jaaaaaaa boet…
so you go with the kill the messenger life philosophy then…?
30 Jul 2012, 12:37 pm
@nama1-197: Not even against the pink Bulls.
30 Jul 2012, 12:46 pm
JC you sound like a nagging wife. They were kak and like I’ve said on a number occasion the last couple of weeks and the whole year for that matter, the leadership element is non existent in Province rugby. The old heads are not able to keep the young guns level headed ala Victor, Fourie etc did at the Bulls with great success.
This team will continue to struggle in finals until that is sorted. Until then don’t move to far away from the Kleenex.
30 Jul 2012, 12:48 pm
@ufo-196:
Good article.
Even though he won the 2 1/2 CC for them, many Cheetah supporter did not shed a tear when Rassie Erasmus left Bloem as they believed that he was responsible for their teams forward orientated tactics instead of their traditional running rugby while he was their coach.
One can only now appreciate how they felt when you look at the way the Stormers team played the last few years and compare it with the traditional way the WP/Stormers teams of the past played.
Yes, it brought a a final and two semi finals at home but really, we’ll need to tweak the game plan if not totally change it. We have the players to do it.
30 Jul 2012, 12:50 pm
@RefuGSpot-201:
That was the point I was trying to make.
30 Jul 2012, 12:52 pm
I am a little disappointed after reading that AC does not think that they need reinvention at the Stormers. There are things they did wrong all through the season – not just in the final. Duvenhage’s kicking is shocking and he insists on kicking away turnover ball. More often than not he either kicks the ball straight into the hands of the fullback/wing or he kicks it out directly into touch – as was witnessed on Saturday.
Peter Grant’s inability to clear effectively from within his own 22 is well documented. so why don’t they make use of Pietersen to clear from scrums/lineouts/rucks in that area? Thse are just basic little things that they needed to pay attention to, but I get the feeling that AC is very hard nosed and does not want to change things for fear that he might then prove that he was wrong in the past. The worrying fact is that the Stormers/WP have not even looked like winning any of their play-off games in recent times. It is not as though they lost games against the run of play or were realistically in the game with 10 minutes to go. There is a serious lack of mental preparation
30 Jul 2012, 12:54 pm
@nama1-203:
yeah… we do need some serious introspection and pragmatic analysis to change things… this strategy is clearly not good enough to become a dominating force in rugby…
and by dominating i do not mean winning more games… i mean winning trophies…
30 Jul 2012, 13:01 pm
@Couchcoach-205: 1st thing is that AC should be changed.
30 Jul 2012, 13:02 pm
@RefuGSpot-201:
818.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
29 Jul 2012, 11:17 am
” you will see what i said today,, there will be 12 Sharks and 6 Stormers in the squad, they already know who they are”
821.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
29 Jul 2012, 11:20 am
PSDT
Alberts
Daniel
Coetzee
Kanko
Doc Dup
Bismark
JPP
Beast
Lambie
Mvovo
Steyn
“This will be the 12 Sharks players in the Bok Squad a few weeks from now”
Who will the Stormers 6 be? I’ll go with:
JdV (capt)
Habana
Aplon (or will his size count against him?)
Etzebeth
Schalk
Vermeulen
Will you be a bit happier if the team includes these players?
That’s 18 players for the RC squad. How big is the squad going to be?
30 Jul 2012, 13:07 pm
@nama1-208: Bekker will be there.
30 Jul 2012, 13:08 pm
See how SL has Pieter-Stef du Toit as a bolter in the squad?
On what grounds really?
30 Jul 2012, 13:13 pm
@RefuGSpot-209:
Let’s see.
According to Tac, His Meyerness does not rate Bekker.
30 Jul 2012, 13:16 pm
@nama1-211: Neither do I my old friend. To inconsistent and has been shown up by weaker competition. Give me Eben any day of the week.
30 Jul 2012, 13:17 pm
@ufo-196: Afshak says “A positive mindset does not mean indiscriminately running the ball from your own tryline. It does not mean neglecting defence or a kicking game. The Chiefs, for example, have improved their defensive systems out of sight this season and added some bite to their pack. But they are still capable of scoring great tries, because they have a positive mindset.”
welcome to the club Afshak
he makes an apt example on the Chiefs and it is explained below exactly why…AC better learn this year as he clearly hasn’t from 2011
Chiefs bring more than defence
The mastermind behind the Chiefs’ standout defence this season, Wayne Smith, says the team’s success is based on more than just shutting other teams out.
Smith puts it down to the Chiefs’ ability to link strong defence with strong attack better than any other team in Super Rugby.
“I think the most pleasing thing is the connection between the attack and defence,”Smith said.
“So if you look at the stats we’re fourth best attacking team on the ladder and fourth best defensive team on the ladder, and there’s no other team close to that.”
In terms of points conceded this season the top defensive team were the Stormers, but they were only the 12th best attacking team in terms of points scored. The best attacking team, the Hurricanes, were only the 10th best defensive team.
“We’ve always looked at the challenge as being able to develop both, and often when you focus on one the other drops off,” Smith said. “We’ve had that now and again this year where we’ve put extra focus on attack and the defence has dropped off or vice versa, but getting that growth in both units together is pretty important.”
30 Jul 2012, 13:24 pm
@nama1-203: the game needs only tweaking not an overhaul, fire fleck or get carel, alan zondagh, poach hawies fourie or any backline consultant to restructure the team’s attack strategies.
for two years now AC has come out to say his focus will be defence, defence, defence and the stormers title hopes have come unstuck both times, a change of strategy is necessary!
30 Jul 2012, 13:24 pm
@Transformation-213:
any gap to introduce and stroke wayne smith…
isn’t that wayne smith poster on your bedroom wall getting a little sticky already…?
watch the blues play real rugby next season and show wayne’s world who the real chiefs of nz rugby are…!!
30 Jul 2012, 13:27 pm
@RefuGSpot-207: Stormers should get Mallett in the mix!
30 Jul 2012, 13:31 pm
@Skeppie-216: That would be huge.
30 Jul 2012, 13:32 pm
perhaps it’s worth reminding that at the beginning of the season… before any injuries… most ‘neutral’ fans on keo predicted the stormers would prop up the saffa conference… of course none of them will put up their hands now…
many stormers supporters, myself included, were hoping for a top-half-of-the-log finish…
despite weekly predictions from the stormers jeerleaders club that they would slide down the log… they did not…
so… all considered… stormers exceeded expectations this year…
we have plenty of young guns signed up for several years so will challenge hard in all comps…
of course this does not negate the disappointment of losing on saturday… nor the need for AC to change tactics back to the traditional WP running game…
30 Jul 2012, 13:36 pm
@RefuGSpot-217: I would hate it as a sharks supporter but it would be ideal for you guys. That Stormers side had some great potential….
30 Jul 2012, 13:41 pm
@ufo-218:
Agree 100%.
Said something similar yesterday.
30 Jul 2012, 13:47 pm
@Skeppie-216:
@RefuGSpot-217:
mallet WAS in the mix down here… and… quite frankly… did not add anything to it…
i still believe AC is the man to do it for us… and still back him absolutely…
i think the problem is he (and rassie) got caught in the boiled-frog syndrome in that when we began to be effective with our defense 3 years ago that slowly began to dominate everyone’s thinking to the point it became more and more of the focus…
hopefully this will jolt AC into seeing that we need to do things differently… and i believe he can and has the rugby brain to do so…
30 Jul 2012, 13:47 pm
@ufo-218: Phew I would have always has the Stormers there and there abouts, if anything they were probably more favourite than the sharks in my eyes. Either way the Stormers should be proud of their season, their win/loss ratio was excellent and thwy unearthed a lot of new talent, all that you guys need now is a tweaking of your gameplan.
30 Jul 2012, 13:48 pm
@nama1-220:
great minds (and diehard supporters…) think alike…!!
30 Jul 2012, 13:48 pm
@Skeppie-216:
He was there already. It did not end well.
Consultant? Maybe
30 Jul 2012, 13:49 pm
@Skeppie-222:
you certainly do great honor to that fine institution of the Sharks Supporter’s Club…!!
30 Jul 2012, 13:54 pm
@nama1-224: I can’t remember but wasn’t he director of rugby or something and not head coach?
30 Jul 2012, 13:55 pm
@ufo-225: But we sharks supporters are all fair, unbiased and two eyed aren’t we?
30 Jul 2012, 14:00 pm
@Skeppie-227:
nyukka nyukka nyukka…
30 Jul 2012, 14:05 pm
@ufo-221: Why can’t everyone think about all of this as logically as what you are?
Tweaks, not full scale demolition is the answer.
We need a Lions prop or 2
We need Visagie our Stellenbosch boy BACK from the Lions at hooker
A rugby league coach if possible to revolutionize our backline play (If not possible, a coach from Kiwiland. Or in fact ANYONE one who doesn’t think offloading and various other skills are overrated)
We need a mental coach.
And we need to stop hearing talk AFTER the game, around the hallowed halls of Newlands, of gleeful administrators who spent a week dreaming of the cash a home final would bring…..
30 Jul 2012, 14:07 pm
@Skeppie-226:
Yeah, he was DOR with that Van Der Merwe joke the coach.
Apparently all DOR’s are quite hands on wrt coaching their Super rugby teams.
People still credit His Meyerness for the 2009 and 2009 S14 titles of the Bulls instead of Ludeke.
When Stormers reached the final in 2010, some gave credit to Rassie and not AC.
30 Jul 2012, 14:13 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.-229:
cause i’m pure rational genius…
just kidding…
yeah… guess the emotion and disappointment get’s in the way of straight thinking for a few days after such a hard loss…
but the guys will get their mojo back…
30 Jul 2012, 14:13 pm
@nama1-230: I see….I still reckon he could do a job for the Stormers though, not that AC is bad but I do think Mallet would be a better choice.
30 Jul 2012, 14:16 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.-229:
biggest of all is we need a mental coach for sure…
and he/she should coach the coaches as well as the players…!!
30 Jul 2012, 14:26 pm
2009 and 2010 S14 titles.
30 Jul 2012, 14:35 pm
@ufo-215:
you can’t fault the logic though even if you tried hahahahahahaha
30 Jul 2012, 14:39 pm
@ufo-215: well JK has put his c.ock on the block, let’s see what he’s got
the incredabrain, rennie & strawbridge are in the final but that doesn’t count for jack if you don’t win it
30 Jul 2012, 14:40 pm
Mallet called Plon the human Speedbump.
I’m not sure he’s been forgiven for that.
30 Jul 2012, 14:45 pm
@Transformation-235:
@Transformation-236:
hehehe…
i’ll bet you a bottle of good red win that the blues will make the play-offs next year…!!
see… i’m no fence-sitter…
actually i really do rate rennie… didn’t know his name at the beginning of the season but has done a mighty impressive job with the chiefs…
@the artist formerly known as gunther-237:
he’ll be forgiven the moment he admits he was wrong…
a certain eagles album springs to mind…
30 Jul 2012, 14:47 pm
good red wine….
30 Jul 2012, 14:48 pm
@Golden Boy-193: Thx…
BTW, The Dynamite “BOOM!” (TM Heavens Game) seems to have exploded around the rugby blogosphere…
Its hard being right… and a lean, mean, meme machine to boot
30 Jul 2012, 14:56 pm
@ufo-238:
Bet transie a bottle of whisky rather.
30 Jul 2012, 15:03 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther-241:
why not…
TranSport…?
a good whisky…?
deal…?
30 Jul 2012, 15:53 pm
@ufo-238: you’re on!
30 Jul 2012, 16:21 pm
Get a tight head. Get Vemeulen and Schalk back. Get a back line coach.
30 Jul 2012, 18:49 pm
@Transformation-243:
hehehe
good stuff mcgruff…!!
will leave you to record the deal…
30 Jul 2012, 20:51 pm
Had their name engraved on the 4th place trophy for years. Give credit where it is due, they did it with more style thjs year.
30 Jul 2012, 21:06 pm
Heyneke has known for months what you all learnt on Saturday. A bunch of small guys cannot beat a bunch of big guys. Law of physics. Beef up and the results will improve.
31 Jul 2012, 10:38 am
I’m a massive wp supporter but the funny thing about this season has been that I’ve been very upset almost after every game and we won most of them. We just didn’t play rugby for 80 minutes once in the season, we would play maybe 20 to 30 minutes max and then just defend and kick possesion away.
It also looks like players like aplon and jdj have gone backwards under flecks coaching.
Grants to slow to be a running flyhalf these days and duvenague has got a terrible pass lately.
The worst thing is that we are doing the stormers brand damage with the type of rugby we are playing and I know everyone was saying its winning rugby but if we had won the currie cup and super rugby it would not of mattered but we didn’t so now we just a boring team with no trophies.
31 Jul 2012, 11:53 am
Mr C, your the only one who believes this BS! BMT is lacking and unless a strong leadership core is developed in Bulls mould the trophy cabinet will remain empty.
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