ADFSL

For the first time since Rassie Erasmus joined the Stormers I am a shamed of being a fan.
For the first time in my life I am said not to be a death mute.

This dribble they are trying to pass as rugby just don’t fly anymore.

My wish is that they end bottom of the SA log and lose to the Lions so that they can be eliminated from SR 2014. Then at least I would not have to sit through this SH!T they call rugby.

I really feel it would take that before the WPRU will pull their heads out of their arses and realize they are ruining the best supported franchise in SR. They only care about their cheques at the end of the month and do not  care about the well being of the union. Rassie Erasmus said when he left that things were rotten at the union and he hope AC could turn it around. It looks like AC had the benefit of riding on the Erasmus wave for a while but that has now broken.

As fans we have no say at what the union does or do not do but we can vote with our feet and not go to Newlands.

Cheers.

So with the Bulls way ahead of any other SA side on our conference log I started to wonder how the run-ins of all the teams look.

Bulls: Higlanders (h), Sharks (a), Cheetahs (a), Kings (h), Sharks (h), Stormers (a)

Which is a pretty hectic schedule with only the Highlander and KIngs games probable easy 5 pointers.

Cheetahs: Reds (h), Kings (a), Bulls (h), Stormers (a), Blues (h)

They of course still have a bye and an automatic 4 points. But with no real easy games as the Kings in PE might be a tricky side.

Stormers: Rebels (a), Reds (h), Kings (h), Cheetahs (h), Kings (a), Bulls (h)

Of the list the Rebels away and Kings at home should be the easy games. But with the Stormers current form or lack their of no game will be easy.

Sharks: Force (a), Bulls (h), Blues (h), Bulls (a), Kings (h)

For them the Force away and Kings at home should be easy enough. They do face the Bulls twice and will not be easy games. But with if Alberts, Bismark and Whitehead can get back to full fitness they just might surprise a few teams in the run in and sneak a top 6.

Cheers

With the Stormers having one of the better squads in Super Rugby (on paper) their haul of 4 out of 10 wins just isn’t good enough. After another disappointing outing against the Tahs a lot of fans (me included) are fed up with their one dimensional style of play.

Thelo Wakefield has poured cold water on the shouts for AC’s head. I have to agree that chopping and changing coaches is probably not the answer. But knowing your own short falls in life is crucial for survival. And the Stormers disparately needs some attacking guru to help out. Because taking the ball down the backline with each receiver standing still and then just passing to the guy outside is hardly attacking play.

Robbie Fleck was brought in because at the time he was coach of Ikeys and they had the best attack in the VC. But I am not sure whether his ideas where shot down in the beginning or if he is just seriously out of his depth. But even he should recognize that he is failing at his job and should seek some help. A consultant from Aus could have (should have) been brought in to help them broadening their minds. I think it was Mallet who said that the Stormers looks a lot more comfortable without the ball than with it.
I always wonder if I can see whats needed and the writers at most news agencies can see it how come the people who needs to see it don’t. Getting help does not necessarily mean you are a useless human being it just shows you know your own limitations. No shame in that ask Jake White who brought in Eddie Jones to help with attacking play which was Jake’s weakness.

The Stormers team for Saturday looks a lot better balanced than before. With Fourie finally getting a start at 6 what I have been calling for all season. He is a above average ball poacher and can also carry the ball. Kolisi for all his defensive powers lacks the ball handling skills especially if combined with Elstadt and Vermeulen who also never link up with the backline. The current loose trio of Carr, Fourie and Kolisi seems way beter.
In the back Elton being at 10 will also help as the two games in which the Stormers played some decent rugby he was pivotal to their play making.

I do not even care if the Stormers win on Saturday (I would take a loss with a smile) if they can just start playing more inventive rugby that is easier to watch.

Cheers.

With the Stormers effectively out of the running for SR 2013 I turn my attention to the up and coming Bok squad and team. With the Bullls going well it will be a lot easier season for Mr Meyer.

My team:

15: Zane Kirchner: Well not many peoples favorite but with Frans Steyn injured and out of form and young Taute out for the season there is nobody else. He is good under the high ball and has a good boot.

14: JP Pietersen: Whilst the Sharks have struggled JP has had pretty good games. Willie Le Roux and Aplon might be chasing but I would stick with him.

13: Juan de Jongh: Has not had his best season but he can’t be blamed for Stormers tactics. Thing is since Jacques retirement there just have not been to many quality players at 13. Young Jordaan was set to come through this season but has been hampered by injury.

12: Jean de Villiers: He has had an on/off season playing some brilliant games and some really average ones. But he has had to play with 4 flyhalves which did not help. There is Ebersohn and Serfontein to consider. Serfotein is a star in the making but I believe he needs a couple more games in SR before he is ready for the big time.

11: Bryan Habana: His tendency to go for the intercept has cost many a side a try but his work rate and never say die attitude is some to behold. I would not mind if Basson gets the nod he is a classy player and might fit in HM game plan better esp with Habana leaving very soon.

10: Morne Steyn: He is back to his old best and should take the rains. He is also France bound which might count against him. But there is nobody else Lambie has been in poor form and Goosen is out for another season. Jantjies has not been himself since his father died. So it would be wise to stick with Steyn.

9: Janu Vermaak: With Hougaard injured for most of the season I believe Vermaak deserves his chance. Hougaard more and more looks like a Bobby kind of player who is better suited to the impact role.

8: Pierre Spies: With Vermeulen out for another few months it is an easy decision.

7: Arno Botha: With Alberts only getting back from long term injury and Lappies injured young Botha might be a smart bet.

6: Flo: He is again having a brilliant season for Bath and would be my first pick in any bok side.

5: Juandre Kruger: Also of to France but if he still is available I would pick him. Franco could also do the job.

4: Flip van der Merwe: With Etzebeth only getting his first start last week I would probably ease him back.

3: Jannie du Plessis:  There is not really many other pretenders. Maybe young Malherbe but is still very young.

2. Adrian Strauss: Without Bismark he is the next best. Chili has been playing some good rugby but is better suited to the bench.

1. Coenie Oosthuizen: With the Beast injured and Kitshoff still to young I would go with Coenie.

16: Chili

17: Malherbe??

18: Etzebeth

19: Alberts

20: Hougaard

21: Lambie

22: Basson,

The team I think HM will select: Zane, JP, JdJ, Jean, Habana, Steyn, Pienaar, Spies, WA, Flo, Kruger, Etzebeth, Doc, Strauss, Beast.
Bismark(if fit), Oosthuizen, Flip, Coetzee, Hougaard, Lambie, Basson

So after 3 seasons in charge the current Stormers management team have achieved some success making the finals in 2010 and semi’s in 2011 and 2012. But they were never good enough to take it a step further.

In the beginning of the season the Stormers did all the right things by buying in good players and getting a good squad together. They stated that they will try and play more inventive rugby.

Now in the middle of the season they are back to their old ways trying to win games with defense rather than attacking play. This is a high risk strategy as any late try or pen can lose you a game. And the defending for 70 mins a game game plan will always have a high injury risk as was proved yet again this weekend.

SO with Habana and Bekker leaving at the end of the season it is the perfect time to change the management. They had a good run, had some success but now it is time to restructure the WPRU’s management staff. For one we need a Director of rugby to take charge of the off field decisions and we need an attacking coach preferably someone from Aus that can teach or players what attacking play is.

2013 season promised much but in true Stormers fashion they only achieve when nobody believes they have a chance.

Cheers

It is no secret that the Stormers season have not gone to plan. Sitting in 10th position overall and 4th in the RSA conference is not nearly reflective of their team potential. But that is a different post altogether.

It has emerged that SANZAR is deciding on taking steps against the Stormers team (management) because of misconduct at the Stormers vs Hurricanes game. It involved some of the management shouting and swearing at the AR.

Now when I was in university swearing at the ref was part of the reason (the biggest reason) most people watched the games. But that was koshuis liga and this is professional rugby. I can somewhat sympathize with the team management because officiating in that game was some of the worst I have seen in my life (including koshuis games). But that does not give you the right to take matters into your own hands.

The way SANZAR and the IRB are protecting all their refs the Stormers will be lucky just to escape with a fine or a management ban from next to the field and not some points deductions.

But why do managements of different teams always take cheap shots at refs. Either like the Stormers at the game or like some other examples through twitter or the media??
I believe it is because even though the teams are allowed to launch an official complaint about a refs performance during a game it rarely (basically never) leads to anything. The best a team can hope for is a acknowledgement that the ref was wrong. But that helps the team suffering from all the dubious calls nothing.

Refs like Steve Welsh and Chris Pollock feels they are (not unlike the Gupta’s) above the law. This is really bad for the game as it takes all credibility out of the results. Steve Welsh missed numerous calls during the game and even once told Aplon (when Aplon was pleading for him to go to TV review) a call has been made live with it. Well that is all nice and rosy but he and his AR was wrong and not for the first time either.
SANZAR says they do have a review board and refs are privately reprimanded for poor displays ( I believe this rarely happens) but this reprimands should be made public.

Because now teams seasons are not only determined by their on field play and injuries BUT also about which refs they draw in the games they play.

Cheers

Last season the Stormers could not lose (in regular season) despite how hard they tried. They won games that if you watched the highlights you just would not believe that they should have won.

People said they developed the ability to win close games and know how to grind out wins. But that is just a load of BS. They were lucky the bounce of the ball went their way and more importantly the 50/50 calls went their way.

If you win or lose by 1 or 2 points (sometimes even 7) it does not mean you were the better team or know how to win close games – you’re just lucky.

In 2013 the Stormers have been their own worst enemy but not being able to do the basics correctly (scrum, line-out, passing and catching) something I feel should be laid at the coaching staff. I mean why keep on giving the ball to JoeP to kick for distance when he has the shortest boot in the S15 and constantly come up short.

But then a lot of the games (I have not watched all) they were also pretty unlucky not to win even though they played badly. It just seams the 50/50 calls all goes against them. I do not think that the refs have a deliberate ploy to do them in. But since the first game at Loftus until the last game against the Blues  their has just been unlucky calls against them. It is not really any big calls just a wrong line-out call here, a wrong dead ball line call there, a ball poach that’s been deemed hands in the rug and some strange TMO decisions. Thing is most games have calls like these and the Stormers are not unique. But it is the timing of these calls that have been so unlucky for them.

Now I am not saying ref calls cost the Stormers their season. They played badly enough themselves. But to do good in the S15 you need a bit of luck and some of those 50/50 calls to go your way.

Well there is always 2014 and maybe 2016 Heineken Cup???

Cheers

The Bulls are currently at the top of the SA log and deservedly so. The Cheetahs are only a point behind. Who would have guessed that at the start of the season. (Probably the Bulls and Cheetahs supporters)

I still do not think that either the Bulls or the Cheetahs have enough to win the comp proper but stranger things have happened.

I read in the paper that the reason the Bulls are facing another mass exodus of senior players is because most of them had been asked to take a salary cut due to the fact that all the young superstars the Bulls signed in 2012 are costing them a small fortune. It is difficult for guys like Steyn, Kirchner ect to take a pay cut at this stage of their careers. But that said the young guns they do have on contract are all the real deal and should bring them glory in the short future presuming the can hold on to them. Not sure (as said before) that in 2013 these youngsters have what it takes to win the S15 but 2014 might be.

The Stormers have had an unforgettable season thus far. I know they can still make the play-offs given their end of season is a lot easier than their start and the fact that a few of their “big name” players will be coming back from injury. Still can’t see them ending much higher than 4 th  (3rd pushing it) but as we have seen in past seasons one really needs to be in the top 2 teams to win.

I am still convinced the fact that Aus teams plays a lot less rugby than Nz or SA teams give them an added advantage and the fact that Nz teams tends to rest their Super Star more esp during the NPC puts them ahead of us.

Cheers.

I would hate to be HM right now because none of the SA teams are finding constant form.

The Bulls have scrapped a few wins but has not really dominated (maybe the Blues game?). The Stormers have played 2 good games (chiefs, brumbies) but has looked dismal in their 4 losses. The Sharks have won a lot of games but except for the drubbing of a disjointed Rebels side have looked like the Stormers of 2012 squeaking games through the boot of Lambie. The Kings have been preforming way way above their potential but have only won against the Rebels and Force.

The Cheetahs after a poor start have probably been the form SA team but have lost all their games against top opposition thus far. And their win against the Stormers had more to do with the Stormers playing useless rugby than the Cheetahs playing decent rugby.

The season is still long but at the moment their are not many bok squad players that can say they are on top of their game. And from being very excited at this stage last season about all the young talent coming through and other maturing. One know feels like a lot of players have taken a step or two backwards. (I am talking about regular bok starters)

OK there are plenty of injuries among the Bok stars most notably Bismark and Eben. But still players like Marcel Coetzee, Coenie Oosthuizen, Jacque Potgieter, JJ Engelbrecht, Piet van Zyl, Jaco Taute(now injured) ect. have not really gone forward and some have gone backwards. (I am sure I have not named all)

And where it was hard to pick a flyhalf out of the 4 contenders in 2012 it is now hard to see who will be the one to take into the future. Goosen continues on the sideline and Jantjies failled to impress for the Stormers.  Steyn is back to his best (is that good enough?) and Lambie has grown in his kicking game but his attacking game has gone awol. The Sharks attacking game looks nothing like 2012 when French import Freddy was at the helm. Sure they are missing Whitehead but still something is just not right.

In the S15 tittle race none of the SA franchises looks like tittle contenders. Sure the Sharks might still get their mojo back and the Bulls might go on a winning streak at fortress Loftus. The Stormers might start becoming more consistent and the Cheetahs might start to win against the top teams but at the moment it doesn’t look to pretty.

That said it isn’t much better in the Nz conference and it is only in Aus that things are where they should be. This got me thinking is it the over playing of players over the past 2 seasons that is finally catching up? Is this the reason why Aus are the best placed?

There have not been to many sides in the comp that could field an unchanged side 2 weeks in a row. And every time the new combination takes time to gel. And players coming back from injury takes a game or two to find their feet.

Cheers.

Before the season started most in SA picked the Sharks and the Stormers to be the leading two teams in the SA conference and high up in the over all log.
And while the Sharks started on the winning note all be it not at their fluent best, it looks like the devastating lost to the Brumbies woke them up and it was brutal to see the way they manhandled the Rebels. All be it not the best team in the comp.

The Stormers started slowly and looked like a team that have never played together (and they were). But as desperation sat in and players started to read each other and know each other they have looked like a totally different team.

Yes the Stormers defense is not quite where it was in 2012 but is to be expected due to their more expansive gameplan. Elton Jantjies is not the best or biggest defensive flyhalf and will every so often fell of a tackle but his death touches in setting up Aplon’s and Bekker’s tries is something the Stormers have been missing for a long long time now. Players like JdV, Aplon ect looks totally different players now that their focus is on spreading the ball rather than to defend all the time.

This was not a totally polished performance from the Stormers and there is lots of room for improvement. Players like Taute, JdJ and Kolisi have not totally hit their straps and others like Etzebeth and Burger are yet to feature and will bring another level to the play. Esp Taute and JdJ who we all know are world class but due to injury has not yet hit the form others have.

On the game it self I was impressed by Bekker and Steenkamp’s physicality esp on defense. Kitshoff seemed to struggle a bit in the scrums but the ref failed to pick up that both Mohan and Alexander kept on binding on the youngsters arm. It showed a bit of immaturity of the young man not pointing it out to the ref. And George Smith basically single handedly kept his team in the game not always so extremely legal but that man is a genius.

It doesn’t get any easier for the Stormers who faces the now high flying Crusaders at Newlands next week. Luckily for them it will be with out Dan the man and will be thier first game on tour.

Cheers.