Stormers grunt starts up front
7 Mar 2013
MARK KEOHANE writes the emphasis should be on the Stormers forwards finding form and not the lack of form of Elton Jantjies and Gio Aplon.
All the newspaper headlines this week have been about how Saturday is a make or break game for Springbok flyhalf Elton Jantjies. It is amazing how each match Jantjies, just 22 years-old plays, comes with the pressure that if he doesn’t produce a world class performance his place is under threat. Sharks flyhalf Pat Lambi and Cheetahs flyhalf Johan Goosen don’t suffer similar scrutiny. The three represent South Africa’s Test match flyhalf options, especially with Morne Steyn’s confirmation of a move to Stade Francais. Jantjies deserves similar treatment to Lambie and Goosen.
I have written of the disservice done to Jantjies since the start of the competition and his 52 minutes against the Sharks was as good as what Lambie produced for the Sharks in a match in which there was nothing between the two teams and limited attacking opportunities. The difference is Lambie kicked four penalties and Jantjies wasn’t entrusted with the goalkicking.
Jantjies has a career Super Rugby strike rate of 80 percent and in 2011 produced a record goalkicking Currie Cup final performance, but his four misses in the season opener is seemingly will be held against him all season.
Gio Aplon has also come in for unwarranted criticism because he fumbled a slippery ball in what would have resulted in a probable try against the Sharks. Aplon has received little ball in the first two games, so just how he is in the firing line is beyond me. He has been no worse than Bryan Habana or a struggling and one-dimensional Stormers midfield.
The reality is a back division is only as good as the effort of the pack and the Stormers tight five, collectively, has been poor, which has resulted in the back row being equally ineffective. The knock on effect is that Nick Groom has had little protection at the base of the scrum or at ruck time. Groom’s service at scrumhalf has suffered because of this and this has put additional pressure on Jantjies and the midfield.
In the first two games there was minimal front foot ball for the Stormers halfbacks, so all the pressure should be on the pack to be strong at scrum, effective on their own ball in the lineout and more physical and stronger in the collisions.
The Stormers, in the two defeats, have physically been second and have lost the contact battle at the gain line. To beat the Chiefs this has to change. I believe it will and with the Stormers forwards finding their growl in the first home game of the season, so too will Jantjies find the form of 2012.
If the forwards again take a beating, so will Jantjies and every back outside of him.
205 Comments
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8 Mar 2013, 16:25 pm
@Sheriff-86: indeed i’m fluent in 5 languages.
8 Mar 2013, 16:26 pm
@Sheriff-95:
Don’t worry about it. I assumed his World Cup ’07 girlfriend was common knowledge.
8 Mar 2013, 16:26 pm
@Angostura-99:
Be like me. I can speak at least 3 languages:
* Afrikaner
* Cape kullid
* Eng
8 Mar 2013, 16:29 pm
@Transformation-101:
Invest in the 2nd one on my list in post 103
8 Mar 2013, 16:29 pm
@Transformation-101:
8 Mar 2013, 16:30 pm
@Dawn-82:
What about at the Beachwalker’s kraal?
8 Mar 2013, 16:31 pm
@hendrikp-102:
Tell me more.
8 Mar 2013, 16:32 pm
@Sheriff-103: you better than me, 4sure …
8 Mar 2013, 16:32 pm
@willie: ” Al die ryk Afrikaners wat ek ken praat
Engels”
lol
8 Mar 2013, 16:33 pm
@willievz-100:
Kapenaars sê ook: iek gaan dorp toe
Waar kom dit vanaf?
8 Mar 2013, 16:34 pm
@Angostura-108:
Can you speak Cape kullid?
8 Mar 2013, 16:34 pm
@Sheriff-104: who am i to speak it with?
8 Mar 2013, 16:37 pm
@Transformation-112:
Alen Abrahams
8 Mar 2013, 16:37 pm
@Sheriff-110:
It means I am going shopping
8 Mar 2013, 16:38 pm
@Sheriff-110:
And it’s not “waar kom dit vanaf”
It’s “waarvandaan kom dit”
8 Mar 2013, 16:38 pm
@Sheriff-107:
Here you go. Thanks to google.
When Debbie White began to suspect her husband, former Springbok coach Jake White, of having an affair she was so furious she secretly checked the address book of his cellphone.
And when she found the details of three women she did not recognise, she called them to confront them.
Two of the women panicked in the face of Debbie’s fury and one, a Durban teacher, immediately apologised.
A married woman, fearing her husband and children would find out about the affair, promised to stop seeing him.
But the third woman, an attractive blonde golfer, simply told Debbie to “get a life”, before slamming the phone down.
These were just some of the revelations by close friends of the couple, who this week said the alleged infidelity and philandering ways of the Rugby World Cup-winning coach was as anything but heroic.
The Saturday Star can reveal that White allegedly had four mistresses in at least three different provinces – one in Joburg, one in Durban and two in Cape Town. The names of all four women are known.
And one friend who knows the couple well claimed this week that White was seeing at least two of the women at the same time.
Friends said the couple were happily married until the late 1990s, when things began to change.
At that time, White had begun working as an assistant coach for the Sharks in Durban and had allegedly started an affair with a private school teacher in the city.
Another of the women he has been romantically linked to is a married mother of two while a third, a pretty blonde, works for a production company. Both are from Cape Town.
The fourth woman works for an international banking group and is believed to be the “mysterious blonde” who was with White at a News Cafe in Joburg on the night he had a widely reported altercation with Die Son journalist, Adnaan Mohamed.
That night, in the company of several rugby writers, the White and the blonde were allegedly openly affectionate with one another.
White’s relationship with the “golfer woman”, a divorcee, was apparently not a secret for very long because she openly boasted to friends about it, according to a friend who spoke to Saturday Star this week on condition of anonymity.
“She definitely kept it quiet at first, but there were rumours,” she said.
“And then she told everyone she was going to France – conveniently around the time of the World Cup.”
Despite repeated attempts this week, the Saturday Star was unable to speak to the women and Debbie White refused to comment.
But White’s lawyer, Anton Slabbert, speaking to Saturday Star executive editor Kevin Ritchie, said: “[They've] got two young boys. I’m disappointed at your standard of reporting, I find it shocking that your newspaper is writing this story. I have it on record your reporter doesn’t want to do this story, and she’s only doing it on your orders.
“I find your conduct reprehensible as a ‘newspaperman’ – print that!’
This week a friend of the Whites revealed they were happy until he began working for the Sharks.
“They were an extremely happy family and Debbie had complete trust in her husband,” the close friend said.
Then one day, White came home and announced he wanted a divorce.
According to another source, the couple had agreed shortly before last year’s World Cup in France to keep up the facade of a happy marriage “for the sake of the Springboks”.
But a friend said Debbie was furious when she discovered the blonde golfer had accompanied White. When she and her two teenage sons flew to Paris soon afterward, they did not stay at the Springbok team’s hotel.
A hotel guest said Jake and the blonde had allegedly gone off together for a few days and that people within the Bok camp were asked to keep the story quiet.
After returning to a triumphant hero’s welcome, the Whites made a public appearance at a celebration at Newlands stadium, when they posed with their sons with the Webb Ellis trophy.
But, in reality, White had moved into his new flat in Newlands, Cape Town, while Debbie still lives in an apartment close to Tokai Forest.
Last week a close friend of the couple said neither wished to become involved in “mudslinging” in the media.
“They’re just keeping nice with each other until the divorce is over.
“People won’t care what he’s done, he’s a hero to the people of South Africa,” the friend added.
But the Saturday Star has now learned that, in terms of the Whites’ prenuptial contract, “Debbie will only be entitled to things which are in her own name”.
The couple’s lawyers are currently locked in negotiation to reach a settlement and the matter is due to come before the divorce courts shortly.
8 Mar 2013, 16:40 pm
die geld by WP is baie lekker even firebrands change their tune
Thelo Wakefield, acting-president of the
Western Province Rugby Union, reacted
strongly to media reports that the current
WP team is too white.
“This is definitely not the case. I support
the WP teams whole heartedly. I only
related to what transpired at the General
Council Meeting last week,” explained
Wakefield.
It was not my own views, but views
expressed in the meeting by our club
representatives. It was never my intention
to be divisive. This union works incredibly
hard to ensure we remain inclusive and at
the forefront of change for the better and
have put in place a number of
programmes over the years to ensure this.
These continue to produce positive results.
I sign off the WP teams and certainly don’t
prescribe to the coaching staff. I back the
coach, Allister Coetzee and his
management team and all at WP Rugby.”
“Whilst we hear the concerns raised by our
clubs and realise that there’s still work to
do, we continue to evolve and remain
committed to our structures, players,
coaching staff and management. We will
continue to support, building, rather than
breaking down.
Our long term initiatives
that we have put in place, like the WP
Institute in Stellenbosch and the club
talent identification programme amongst
others, continue to produce results,”
added Wakefield.
“And we will continue along this path.”
lang term huh?
8 Mar 2013, 16:41 pm
@Dawn-114:
I did not say translate it
I said: why is it that Capies say ‘iek’ instead of ‘ek’ or ‘ak’ in pirtoria
8 Mar 2013, 16:42 pm
@hendrikp-116:
Always rated Jake as a coach, but he’s a real feckin pr-ick hey.
Cheating is one thing. Having multiple girlfriends while married though?
Soek vir k@k.
8 Mar 2013, 16:43 pm
I’ve never heard anyone say “iek”
Unless there’s a roach in the minibus taxi
8 Mar 2013, 16:43 pm
@hendrikp-119:
A man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do!
8 Mar 2013, 16:47 pm
@Dawn-121:
And he should’ve done what his wife told him to?
Takes a woman with minimal brain cells to want that though. Inevitably end up all alone and hurt.
8 Mar 2013, 16:50 pm
@Sheriff-111:
8 Mar 2013, 16:53 pm
@shooter-123:
Can you?
8 Mar 2013, 16:53 pm
@Transformation-117: How I detest that overworked word, “structures”!
OK, ciao all, good weekend, & may all Saffa rugga teams exceed expectations, & score some enterprising tries as well.
{Out}
8 Mar 2013, 16:54 pm
@Dawn-120:
Every day down main road or m5 to city bowl; unlikely to come across it
But it has been pointed out to you now, so look out for it
8 Mar 2013, 16:55 pm
@Angostura-125:
Mate where are you based, I mean are you in SA
8 Mar 2013, 16:56 pm
@hendrikp: jake is “born” again bra!
8 Mar 2013, 17:05 pm
@hendrikp-78:
Sure.
Except Keo thinks its h o o r
8 Mar 2013, 17:07 pm
@Transformation-128:
A leopard doesn’t change its spots.
Ongeag, wat sal hy maak met sy konstante horing.
8 Mar 2013, 17:07 pm
T & D and rest; enjoy!
8 Mar 2013, 17:12 pm
@hendrikp-130: Was Jake a Bulls supporter?
8 Mar 2013, 17:16 pm
@Finfan-132:
He supports any team with groupies.
8 Mar 2013, 17:18 pm
2008-10-22 09:01
Stephen Nell
Cape Town – Former Springbok coach
Jake White has become reborn and is
now in the same church as Luke
Watson.
White spoke openly on Tuesday night
and told how he became a Christian
and that he felt sorry for Watson and
the storm that was raging around him.
He took a reconciliatory attitude
towards the player who had criticised
him in the past and even said how he
would handle the situation now if he
was in Watson’s shoes.
“I feel sorry for Luke and when I saw
him the other day at church (Hillsong),
I went to shake his hand,” said White.
“I feel for him and it is not for me to
judge him. My advice to him would be
that we in South Africa need to respect
one another.”
“I have two sons and if one of them
makes a mistake, I would like to see
him come forward and apologise. We
all make mistakes.”
Watson came under fire after he earlier
this month said in a speech how he had
to stop himself from throwing up on
the Springbok jersey.
He allegedly mouthed off against
Afrikaners, calling them “Dutchm.en”,
but this has not been proven in a
transcription of the speech.
White revealed that his new girlfriend,
Lindy Taberer, played a key role in his
conversion.
“I met her about six months ago and it
was at this time that I became a
Christian. I am definitely not
embarrassed about it and I am happy
to have seen the light,” said White.
“My life is now completely different. I
realised after the World Cup
championship in France that there had
to have been a higher power.”
“I received all the praise for our
success but the Lord was there. I
realise that I have to be grateful for my
blessings. I also met a woman who is a
true Christian.”
White said his life as a Christian had
filled him with gratefulness.
“You suddenly thank the waiter who
brings you food.”
“We have to realise that there is a
bigger plan. It gives your life so much
direction.”
White was criticised especially in 2006
after he didn’t pick Watson for the
Springboks.
Watson lashed out at White in an
interview that year.
Last year, Watson was included in a
Springbok training group in spite of
White’s view on the matter.
“What happened, happened. I have no
negative feelings. I mean that from the
bottom of my heart,” said White.
8 Mar 2013, 17:26 pm
@Sheriff-110: Vra djy!
Iek weetie!
8 Mar 2013, 17:30 pm
@Transformation-134:
Talk is cheap.
As hy ‘n girl moes kry om hom te bekeer dan hoe ernstig kan hy rerig wees? Daai is ‘n pad wat ‘n man self moet stap.
As dit wel so is, goed vir hom!
8 Mar 2013, 17:36 pm
@hendrikp-136:
And suddenly thanking the waiter that brings you the food… that’s good manners, not Christendom.
If he wants direction in his life, he should go speak to a counsellor.
Kan my nie vertel ‘n mens glo skielik iets omdat jou girl jou se jy moet nie. Vertel haar seker wat sy wil h_oor.
8 Mar 2013, 17:38 pm
Have a good evening all. Really should hit the hay.
8 Mar 2013, 17:47 pm
@hendrikp-137:
I find my Sat Nav system gives me good direction
8 Mar 2013, 17:49 pm
@ 120 Dawn
Hehe
Me neither,don’t know where Sheriff heard that.
8 Mar 2013, 17:50 pm
@Sheriff-93:
As jy met Afrikaans begin neuk, gaan jy op jou moer kry………En nie net van wit Afrikaners nie.
8 Mar 2013, 18:06 pm
@TooMuchRugby-141:
Dankie
Ek weet nie wie praat die mooiste Afrikaans nie, julle ouens of die Namakwalanders, wie dink jy?
8 Mar 2013, 18:09 pm
@victoriabok-142:
Definitief die Namakwalanners
8 Mar 2013, 18:13 pm
@TooMuchRugby-143:
Ek het saam met twee ouens gewerk, Kallie en Matie, die een was van Namakwaland en die ander van Namibië
Hulle was moer snaaks om na te luister, die woorde en sêgoed wat hulle gebruik **** jy nie in Pirtoria nie
Daar is dit Môh en Pôh en Strônthuis
8 Mar 2013, 18:16 pm
only about a 1000 tickets left, so the Slaghuis
will be cooking.
8 Mar 2013, 18:18 pm
@Transformation-145:
… but first slagging.
8 Mar 2013, 18:22 pm
@victoriabok-144:
Ook ‘n baie interessante manier van Afrikaans praat, is die Ovambo’s in Namibia. Hulle is geneig om ‘n “r” in plaas van ‘n “l” te se. So het ek eenkeer ‘n ou **** praat van ‘n “krein krein voortjie”. Eers later agtergekom hy praat van ‘n BY.
8 Mar 2013, 18:22 pm
@Transformation-145:
They’re on their way to PE….
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57573118/florida-beaches-open-again-after-shark-threat-passes/
8 Mar 2013, 18:26 pm
@TooMuchRugby-147:
Ha ha
Ek het ‘n winkel gehad en een van die ouens kom daar aan met ‘n lip wat vreeslik geswel is
Ek vra hom wat het gebeur en hy sê:
Die vlieg van die jam het my gemoer
8 Mar 2013, 19:32 pm
@TooMuchRugby-141:
Gaan oorsee begin; niks meer Afrikaans nie – word summier opgesluit
Dan gaan ek progessief werk en soos ek dit sien teen einde 2018 is ons kant en klaar met Afrikaans.
Cape Kullid is die 11de amptelike taal met ingang 1Jan 2019
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