Former Bulls winger Bryan Habana is looking forward to the challenge of playing a more central leadership role with the Stormers as they continue their pre-season training in the build up to the 2010 Super 14 competition.
By Zelim Nel
“That was one of the deciding factors for me making the move,” Habana said on Tuesday. “It’s easy to be successful when you’ve got the best lock combination in the world the Bulls’ Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha, and Springboks such as Fourie du Preez, Morne Steyn – who was extremely unlucky not to have won the IRB Player of the Year award – Wynand Olivier, Zane Kirchner and a guy like Gary Botha who has just come back.
“You’re always able to sustain success with that much leadership in the team and that was a motivating factor for me – to have more of a leadership role here with the Stormers.”
It’s also no coincidence that the Bulls won a Vodacom Cup, two Currie Cup titles and established themselves as South Africa’s regional flag-bearers by winning a pair of Super 14 championships during Habana’s four-year term in Pretoria.
The confident finisher teamed up with former Lions centre Jaque Fourie to headline the Stormers’ off-season shopping list. Together with captain Schalk Burger, the trio of 50-cap Boks account for the majority of the team’s international experience.
“Schalk is going to be a fantastic captain who will lead by example and Jaque and I will be able to share our experience with exciting players, guys such as Juan de Jongh, Gio Aplon, JJ Engelbrecht and Joe Pietersen, and hopefully pass on our work ethic to them.”
Arguably the most exciting player to have donned the green and gold jersey in the professional era, Habana is under no illusions that he has been recruited to perform a rescue mission.
“We’re looking to become part of the setup but we’ve still got to go out there and get to know the guys and share in some great team-building.
“Individual accolades have been thrown out the door. We want to be part of a successful team, and if the Stormers become successful we’d like to think that we had something to do with it.
“The coaches will give me an opportunity to be myself but I’ve got to fit into the team culture.”
The Stormers followed a promising 2008 campaign run – which fell one point short of a playoff berth – with a disappointing tenth-placed finish in 2009, but Habana’s arrival will force opponents to respect the team’s kick-chase, counter-attack and the threat of one of the game’s deadliest finishers.
“If I can just make sure that people are defending me and make space for the guys around me, then I’ve done my job – it’s all about a team effort in 2010.”
Habana confirmed that 2009’s gutsy Currie Cup campaign had dispelled notions that Western Province was a team heavy on flair but light in the pants.
“The deciding factor that made me understand what this Province team is all about is that semi-final against the Blue Bulls.
“The idea that they’re glamour boys was thrown out the door and, bar that penalty that Morne kicked over, Newlands would have been hosting a final instead of Loftus.
“With Schalk leading the team in 2010 – a guy who puts it all on the line – Jaque and I have a lot of respect for the players and there’s a real excitement in the team. I hope we can turn all that talent into success.”
Only time will tell.
Maybe you will rue your move.
You will miss FdP for sure. He had the ability to put you trough to many tries. And Bakkies and Victor, Wynand , Morne and the rest
Good luck Habs you served us well.
I still think Habana is going to regret leaving a winning side like the Bulls. I never understood why the Stormers buy high profile backline players and didnt consider buying some grunt in the tight 5.the Stormers still dont seem to understand that even though it is not as important and in the Northern hemisphere the game is won and lost up front..
Ja Habs, if you can`t save them, nobody can!
Stil Sondag.
I think Hab’s wanted the beach and great shopping…….Why else would you leave The Bulls?
Welkom Habs.
Dit gaan lekekr wees om jou in ‘n ordentlike kleur bloutrui te sien! hehehe
Winston ou tjom, waar was jy laasjaar? WP kort nie “frontrow grunt” nie. Ons kort senior spelers wat ‘n wat die jonger ouens kan kalmeer as dinge begin warm raak. Dis al wat ons laasjaar uit ‘n tuis finaal in die CC gehou het!
Hallo KP, hows it goings wiff you
Stormers line up
Jantjies
Peterson
Fourie
Grant
Habana
De Waal
Januarie
Louw
Vermeulen
Burger
Fondse
Bekker
Harris
Liebenberg
Blaauw
Ok, ok, ok. Ek weet dat ons elke jaar se vanjaar is die jaar! stormers, bla bla bla. En dis hoekom ek nie eers gaan NOEM dat ons die semi’s KAN maak nie. Maar, kom nou, die span lyk of dit moer exciting kan wees. Sien uit na vanjaar se Super 14.
Wat my meer oor die Kaapse rugby ondersteuners worry is wat gaan julle maak as Rassie nie die ding wen nie. Onthou daar is net een ding wat kan werk en dit is wen. Semis haal is seer sekerlik nie goed genoeg nie?
9
Na al die spending en vorige jare se bou deur Rassie is wen die enigste uitweg. Regtig kwaai druk op julle.
2
Read what said Stephen Nell
Cape Town – Western Province’s forwards did not take a step back for anyone in last year’s Currie Cup, but that is no guarantee of success in the Super14.
“The Currie Cup is a sentimental competition, but the Super14 is where you measure yourself against the world’s best,” said Stormers forwards coach Matthew Proudfoot.
“If that is what you want in life, you simply have to take the step up to the next level. The same questions will be asked of me as coach. We all have to take the step up to the next level.”
The front row of Wicus Blaauw, Tiaan Liebenberg and Brock Harris emerged as a brilliant unit in the Currie Cup.
Liebenberg is a proven Super14 player, but Blaauw is still a greenhorn and Harris will be out to show that he is among the country’s leading tighthead props.
But the big issue in the Super14 is depth. Last year, for example, the Stormers experienced a serious injury crisis at tighthead prop, with Harris, Brian Mujati and JC Kritzinger simultaneously injured. This forced them to pick Blaauw at No 3.
Proudfoot is working on building on the Stormers’ front-row depth. Kritzinger remains a versatile prop option, while JD Moller is being taught to play tighthead. Moller will be asked to play tighthead in a warm-up game.
“JD will play tighthead. I played both sides as a player and you have to be willing to use the opportunity when it comes your way,” said Proudfoot.
WEE PEE
1/8/2010 8:56 AM
Je nee,hierdie span het genoeg van die “right stuff”.Ons forwards is nou waarskynlik die beste in Suid Afrika en ons backs seker die beste ter wereld.Daar is ‘n positiewe vibe in die Kaap.Niks en niemand gaan ons van beker glorie weerhou nie!! Die Bulle en Sharks ploeg met ou manne wat oor die muur is.Die Cheetahs en Leeus moet maar sake uitspook wie gaan plek maak vir die Spears,die WP se klein boetie.Oor 3 jaar gaan die Stormers teen die Spears in die S14 eindstryd speel.Mark my words!! Die Kaap is mos immers waar al die talent is! WP BO!!!
He probably left for the lifestyle more than anything. Cape Town is a beautiful place to live only the winter months are horrible.
Still to leave a winnning Francise must be difficult.
Good luck to Habs but think from time to time he will wish he was playing for the Bulls. Think Bulls will be right up there this year once again. They have a great draw and still a great side, Habs or no Habs. Think Bulls will be right up there in the S14 and can probably win it again this year.
meant Franchise
Hi Puma,
Bulls will have it tougher than last year. Nobody will underestimate us this time. We are the big tree this year and a lot of wind is coming our way.
Injuries was absent last year, very few to our main men. Hope and wish for the same, time will tell.
Jis Super
Sorry man, nou eers jou post gesien. Nee, onder omstandighede gaan dit goed.
Oor Rassie stem ek met jou saam, maar ek wil jou sommer nou al vertel dat die voeltjies klaar fluit dat hy buitendien ou nuus… Ek kan nie sien dat die Stormers vanjaar die S14 gaan wen nie. Hopenlik haal ons die semis en ek sal eerder al my energie in die CC sit. Ons moet eers van vooraf ‘n wen kultuur bou.
Ander vroee seisoen voorspelling wat ek wil maak is dat die Sharks se dae getel is. Ek sien Hernandez gaan 10/1 nie S14 speel nie, so wie gaan hulle op losskakel kies? En as hulle gaan volhard met JS op voorry gaan hulle in die skrums ook sukkel.
It would seem that there are alot of Bulls supporters with very short memories? I don’t recall the Stormers propping up the S14/S12 table in it’s history? Ever!! Bulls have done it 3 times. Also the Bulls still hold the record of fewest wins and most consecutive losses in 2002.
And just for good measure, over the last 12 years the Stormers have ended above the Bulls 7/12 times.
Go the Stormers!!………and the Bulls 😉
17
whatever, we tasted the bitter yes. But the taste of the sweet wins we also experienced. Somehow that erases the bitter taste.
What bad taste do the other teams in SA have.
I agree with Whatever. Up until the end of the Super 12 the Stormers were on average the best SA team. Seriously. The Sharks, Bulls and Cats also made the Super 12 semi finals, and the Sharks made the final twice, BUT they also ended last a FEW times. Sharks were the second best team and Bulls third… the Cats, well…
Anyway guys, as a Stormers faithful, I would love to see the guys in the Semi final, and I really wouldn’t mind if we had another SA team there with us. Honestly though, IMHO, I think the Bulls will be the best of the SA teams this year, ending 1st or 2nd (at least). Then it could be a tussle between the Stormers and the Sharks for that 4th spot. Doubt it will be an SA 1, 3, 4, but it could happen. The thing is that I think with the Sharks injury problem at 10 they might have to rely a bit heavily on some of the younger guys, especially at the start of the season.
Muir won’t be able to do magic in one year (Jake.W couldn’t) and if the Sharks have problems at 10, the Cheetahs has a diabolical nightmare. But we saw what they did in the Currie Cup and I wont take the giant killer too lightly. They are to end mid-table (if things go well). The Lions… will do good to avoid the hout lepel.
As it is, I think there will be 3 SA teams (Sharks, Stormers and Bulls) in the top 6, not sure were they will end up. The Cheetahs will do a few teams some favors along the way (as they did last year) and the Lions will ONLY hand out favors for every one. Doesn’t come more straight forward than that.
Anyway, I want to wish all SA teams the best of luck. Unless you play against the Stormers. In which case I hope your game will be like descending through the 7 circles of hell. Before half time. And then ascending it, after half time.
GG @8
I’m surprised that you don’t mention Anton van Zyl.
When he was locking the scrum with Chris Jack, the pack performed better than in many years.
Any prop is only as good as his lock and flank make him. If they don’t scrum, he’ll battle IMO.
Whatever & Greenpoint Gunner
I am a huge Stormers supporter, and about as biased as can be during the Super 14, and yes, I also enjoyed the Bulls’ lean years. But we have to face the fact, never ending last and never ending first does not make us a better team than the Bulls, in fact it means that we are average, we last won a trophy in 2000, that is 10 years back…
I am excited about this year, the combinations seem to be set:
1. Blaauw / Kritzinger
2. Liebenberg / Fourie
3. Harris / Moller
4. Van Zyl / Fondse
5. Bekker / Steenkamp
6. Burger / Myburgh
7. Louw / Louw
8. Vermeulen / Burger
9. Januarie / Duvenhage
10. De Waal / Cronje / Grant
11. Habana / Aplon
12. Grant / De Jongh
13. Fourie / De Jongh / Welsch
14. Aplon / Pietersen / Welsch
15. Jantjes / Pietersen
En ek kort nog ‘n paar name, things are looking up.
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