A lot has been said, on this site yes, about the flagship of South African rugby in the Super Series 2012-competition and at the end of the conference-stage everyone and sundry claimed the Stormers to be that ship.
Which leaves me with the logic, even basic question: When does one come to a decision about the “flagship”-thing? Should it be decided at the end of the league-phase or when the last conference team stands; well, or fall?
The thing is, the final must still be played and the Stormers are not in it. Somewhere along the route they went down. Actually, let me rephrase that: somewhere along the route they were sunk. They were put to a “water grave” by the Sharks.
When the fat lady warmed up the Sharks commenced their march towards the cup final and the Stormers clung to their game plan of Gary Owen (up-and-under) and defence. They succeeded with that fourteen times out of sixteen. They deprived themselves from scoring tries and they forced opponents to throw in the towel by virtue of one foot; Peter “Bash” Grant’s boot.
My understanding of a “flagship” of a conference is that it will represent a country in the final and this year the Sharks will represent the South African conference in the final.
Now, ignoring all the home-made definitions of a “flagship”, as it manifested on these blogs over the last few months, the Sharks and not the Stormers seems to be the South African Super Series “flagship.”
The Stormers came very close, agonising so but they were beaten by a team with more intensity and a macro front-row featuring the “Beast” Mtawarira, Jannie du Plessis and “Bizzy” Bismarck du Plessis.
In years to come Steven Kitshoff and Frans Malherbe will become as good as the “Beast” but that will not happen in 2012, probably not in 2013 either.
The Stormers; with all their problems did the Cape proud and Eben Etzebeth and Siya Kolisi were brilliant but they lacked support to stop the Sharks yesterday. They got some help from Andries Bekker but Deon Fourie and Rynhardt Elstadt are not loose-men; yesterday it showed.
The Stormer loosies were swept from their feet by specialist loose-forwards: Ryan Konkowsky, Marcell Coetzee, Keegan Daniels and Willem Alberts.
The combination of Charl McLeod and Freddie Michalak was better than “Bash” and the Stormers’ “achilles’ heel”, Dewaldt Duvenhage.
The Stormers’ backline look good and they created several spectacular try-scoring opportunities; and then they butchered it one after the other.
However, none of the Stormers; actually, make that no other player, were as good as JP Pietersen. JP caused havoc in the mid-field and on yesterday’s performance it is fairly obvious that he is wasted at wing. JP is probably one of the best outside centres in the world and definitely my man of the match.
Louis Ludik had one moment of brilliance and after demolishing the highly acclaimed Joe Pietersen in the air he put the Shark’s “foot” on the accelerator and out of reach from the Stormers.
Looking back it is difficult to comprehend any other outcome for the game other than a Shark’s triumph; but the Stormers came close.
The Stormers’ almost did what they’ve done the entire season: pull of an unlikely victory.
But this was a semi-final; an opportunity to feel the guts and glory to represent the South African franchise in the Super Series final.
This was to determine South Africa’s rugby “flagship.”
It was always going to be the Sharks the moment they mauled and bullied themselves over the Bulls and into the play-off phases.
The Sharks can defeat the Chiefs; not easily but they can.
My guess is, they will.
The Stormers face a barrage of jokes and belittling but they should not be too distraught; they did well without Schalk Burger, Duane Vermeulen, Nick Koster and amidst a bunch of injuries.
Heck, with all the injuries they achieved the impossible: they topped the local franchise.
All eyes on the Sharks and in the words of Minister Mbalula Fikile I say: “go moer them Sharks, gaan donner hulle”.
Everybody knows the Bulls are South Africa’s flagship team – “maak die Bulle almal Bokke” is the tongue-in-cheek refrain often pedalled. They have won 3 Super Trophies in five years – and in 2012 still got to the playoffs after the loss of some legendary players and the mid-season loss their Executive Coach – who of course became the Springbok Coach.
Full credit to the 2012 Sharks though – there is not man or woman alive in SA who is not rooting for them like crazy on Saturday. Flagship SA team of the year. Of that there is no doubt.
Stem saam. Die Sharks het die een gevat en die Stormers was nie goed genoeg nie. Vir volgende seisoen: Die Stormers kan doen met ‘n erkende vaskop, beter agterlyn afrigter (wat de hel het in 2012 gebeur vs. 2011!!), en ‘n beter skrumskakel. Dit sal ‘n goeie begin wees. Maar met die huidige bestuur van my gunsteling span sal dit waarskynlik nie gebeur nie….
Flagship! More like Submarine.
No not quite; the Sharks were just the better team on the day.
Think this stormers team are playing very well for the personnel they have.
I think we can agree they have the edge at lock but Bressler did enough to show he isn’t a bad player.
Other than that the sharks seemed to have a pack that was more versatile, quick and agrresive and to have both speed and aggression is very rare indeed. The backs dont matter when your pack isnt up to it and the quality of their pack just isnt there yet- At least the future is looking up
Byron, the Sharks played like it was a final and they were better in all aspects bar the line-outs. Bresler is pretty good and he did not take a backseat to Andries and Eben. I do agree that the Stormers had bad and sad luck and that they held their ground manfully. Unfortunately they slipped in a knock-out but they still have reason for optumism for the Currie Cup and next year’s Super.
Tru, the Sharks on Saturday against the Snormers were just deadly. I don’t think there is a provincial team in the world that would have beaten them. As a Bulls supporter I could not believe my eyes at what I saw. Even Bizzie pulled a Lazarus.
Schalk Burger sal dit moeilik vind om terug te kom in die span. Inteendeel, die Stormers sal n groot fout maak om hom terug te bring. Kolisi is n yster en behoort nie plek te maak vir hom nie. Di Stormers behoort nie die beserings as verskoning te gebruik nie. Hulle het die hele seisoen sonder daai manne gespeel, en gewen. Die Haaie sal die een vat. Nederig in wen en verloor
mickey, as Schalla reg is sien ek nie rede dat hy nie speel nie. Elstadt is nie dinamies op sewe nie en Schalla sal ‘n reuse verskil maak. Duane is die aangewese nommer agt. Nee, geen verskoning nie; dit sit nie in elke span se broek om Australasie toe te gaan, terug te kom en die Stormers te wen nie. Komende Saterdag is ek ‘n Shark!!
truvanpunt, nice article, Kom Sat is ek bly j gaan n Shark wees, supporting my boys!! Go Sharks
Dankie, ja Haaie al die pad vir die naweek.
I agree. Gotta love the Sharks. I which the Stormers and the Boks would play like that!!!