Sometimes it is hard to tell which is worse? Finding out that the cute chick that you just played tonsil hockey with, is actually a dude, or coming to the end of yet another rugby season, with no trophies, no honour and still maintaining that the Stormers is the best team in SA.
Even the most die-hard Stormer supporter will tell you, (in confidence, and never on a game day), that it takes balls to support probably the most disappointing franchise in world rugby history. To re-visit the past glory of our southern-most rugby province, is useless, because little of what has made province great is left to brag about, and frankly, it is a horse that has been flogged to death.
No-one wants to hear that WP holds the record for the most Currie Cups, or that the Stormers is the only SA franchise, never to end in last place in super rugby, because honestly it means nothing. The Stormers won shite, and if you don’t end first, and you don’t end last, it means you are average, and personally I’d rather be a plonker than being just average.
Professionalism has not been kind to the Stormers/WP. As the bastion of amateur rugby, following in the hallowed steps of ‘Doc’, the amateur WP swept up all before them, as opposed to the professional team that regularly gets swept up. A major part of the problem seems to be the inability of the WPRU in admitting that they make mistakes, and even worse, is the fact that they seem to believe that great publicity can somehow make up for poor performance.
Without delving into boardroom issues, I will prove my point using only one well publicized fact. Props. Yes, props, they are not glamorous, they are rarely attractive, they do not own any skincare or haircare products, and they are never used on billboards to sell your brand or your franchise to the female gender, or to any gender at all for that matter. But they seem to quite integral to successful rugby.
For the past 8 years, there hasn’t been a prop anywhere near the Cape of Good Hope, the last one leaving for Europe when the Rand was still considered currency outside of SA.
Players that were brought in were guys like Joe van Niekerk, Willem de Waal, Sireli Naqelevuki, Conrad Jantjes, Enrico January, Gcobani Bobo, Jaque Fourie, Brian Habana, Schalk Brits, Duane Vermeulen, Percy Montgomery and Brian Mujati to name but a few, all high profile, all selling the brand, all icons in their own right, but, all useless when it comes to scrumming, (Yes I know Mujati is part of my list, what of it?).
Being murdered at scrum-time became the province modus operandi, the mere fact that they were never whitewashed in a single competition, clearly proves that there is enough talent to go around, but playing a 15-man game with 10 men (7 Backs + 3 Loosies) will never bring forward any trophies. Their whole game being built on helter-skelter rugby, meant that there was shit to pay, should even a moderately structured team visit Newlands.
Rassie Erasmus has yet to deliver on his promises regarding the boys from the Cape, however, a slight return to structure, as well as a decent Currie Cup performance in 2009 (albeit with Coetzee and Proudfoot at the helm), sparked some excitement amongst long suffering province supporters. Still no signings of props are to be found anywhere, but at least the guy teaching the other guys to scrum now, has been doing some scrumming himself.
It became clear in 2009 why Jake White hung onto Alistair Coetzee for dear life during his campaigns, it was not what Coetzee brought to the field in a coaching capacity, it was his ability to manage people. Alistair Coetzee is a people-person, and nowhere can evidence of this be clearer than the 2009 WP team, under the leadership of Luke Watson, a man described by John Smit as a cancer, he managed to forge a brotherhood of sorts, for the first time in eons, WP looked like they actually wanted to win.
If this form continues into the S14? Who knows…
The Team
The Stormers tight 5 has been together now for quite a while, in the past they were considered pansies, but Werner Kruger will tell you that that is now something of the past, hopefully.
Blaauw, Harris, Liebenberg, Moller, Fourie and Kritzinger have proven themselves in the CC. Now it is time to step up, Super Rugby has never been about the scrum, but it sure helps if you have one. The only concern might be Kritzinger and Moller being played out of position, but that is nothing that can’t be sorted out as the season progresses.
In the second row Bekker and Van Zyl will probably be given the grunt of the work, however, should Fondse return, it will be hard to deny him, his work ethic is incredible, and the season might just play out with Fondse and Van Zyl competing for the same Springbok jersey. As backup De Kock Steenkamp was more than adequate in the games he played, in fact he played very much like a loose-forward, while Martin Muller could be some quality fresh legs on the bench.
The loose game has never been a problem in SA rugby, leading from the front is Schalk Burger, followed by Vermeulen, Pieter and Francois Louw, and Alwyn Myburgh, so depth seems ok, but hey this is South Africa, maybe there is one or two unknown loosies that ends the year as superstars.
In Dewald Duvenhage, Enrico Januarie and Bolla Conradie the Stormers have more than enough ammunition to weather any winds, add to that flyhalf convert Conrad Hoffman, and you are looking at an impressive line-up of members from the long-pass tribe, with ironically Hoffman, as probably the pick of the lot.
Apart from the Bulls the Stormers is the only SA franchise who also possess at least a semblance of depth at flyhalf, with Willem de Waal, Peter Grant, Lionel Cronje, Conrad Hoffman and Joe Pietersen all at least better than average in this position. In fact, Grant and Pietersen might be considered elsewhere in the backline on merit alone, quite a versatile bunch this. Lionel Cronje showed some semblance of brilliance in the 40-odd minutes of game time he received in the 2010 season, and he might be more that only WP’s savior, national duty beckons in this young man’s future, Rassie may have made the purchase of the decade.
New acquisition Jacque Fourie obviously heads the centre line-up, but is held in check by probable partner Peter Grant, upcoming superstar Juan de Jongh, Dylan des Fountain, Frikkie Welsch, Morgan Newman and the promising Paul Bosch rounding off the line-up. The midfield will certainly not be a place where many teams will try to pass through in 2010, apart from maybe Newman, all of the other centres are deadly defenders, and pain will probably be dealt, ferociously.
Speed merchants are something that the Cape has never been in short supply of, and now along with Habana, there is even more to go around. JJ Engelbrecht, Fabian Juries, Gio Aplon, Sireli (there goes another Currie Cup) Naqelevuki and probably Frikkie Welsch can deal as good as they get, and with Joe Pietersen and Conrad Jantjes guarding the final frontier, you can be sure to expect running, lots of it.
All in all, there are no obvious shortages in personnel, and as such, no space for error.
2010 promises to be a make or break year for the WP and the Stormers. Never before has either team had so little excuses for failure. A mere superrugby semi-final, might not be enough.
Forwards:
Wicus Blaauw, JC Kritzinger, JD Moller, Brock Harris, Eusibio Guinizau, Tiaan Liebenberg, Deon Fourie, Hanyani Shimange, Andries Bekker, Anton van Zyl, Adriaan Fondse, De Kock Steenkamp, Martin Muller, Schalk Burger (c), Duane Vermeulen, Pieter Louw, Francois Louw, Pieter Myburgh, Conraad Britz.
Backs:
Dewaldt Duvenhage, Ricky Januarie, Bolla Conradie, Conrad Hoffmann, Willem de Waal, Lionel Cronje, Peter Grant, Juan de Jongh, Jaque Fourie, Paul Bosch, Dylan des Fountain, Frikkie Welsch, Fabian Juries, Bryan Habana, Gio Aplon, Sireli Naqelevuki, Nick Koster, JJ Engelbrecht, Joe Pietersen, Conrad Jantjes.
One point of order… this is not the finilised group of 26 is it? Anyway, Rassie always takes his time up until the very last minute to pick his squad, so its all good. I’m just wondering who will make the final cut.
PS, where in the world is Tiger Bax?
The Stormers has a good balanced team, with enough depht in most positions. The thing that they have to prove according to me is their tight play. It is a big step up from CC to S14, and the fact that they where better in the CC in the tight fases does not necessarly mean that they will do it in the S14.
I’m a big Sharks supporter, but wish all SA teams (except the Lions) to do well and reach the semis.
Good luck Stormpies.
Tiger Bax is in the mix as I understand, however he is unlikely to make the final cut. This is definitely not the final group, it is rather a group of players involved in the practice sessions and pre-season games.
As rightly said, Erasmus can change his mind in two ticks, we will only know when the team runs onto the field the 13th.
“Sometimes it is hard to tell which is worse? Finding out that the cute chick that you just played tonsil hockey with, is actually a dude, or coming to the end of yet another rugby season, with no trophies, no honour and still maintaining that the Stormers is the best team in SA.”
saint …. you are a baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad person!! 😀
Two things;
Stormers need to start well which they continually failed to do and,
Schalk needs to prove me wrong as not being the best guy to lead the team.
I am unconvinced on both fronts.
The Saint, it is clear you are a Stormers supporter…. for farks sakes…
You were absolutely scathing towards the Cheetahs, Lions and the Tjarkies, no mercy was spared… as could be expected with your Article about the Bulls which will follow…. but you pussyfoot around the Stormpoppie Team like a ballerina with “kalenderpes”…
No obvious shortcommings in personnel at the Stormers????? WTF!!!!
Let me tell you what…. only 2 of your backline players are absolutely sure of their positions this year, the 2 HIRED GUNS, Bryan Habana and Mossie Fourie…
The scrum half is not sorted out and between the bunch of hopefulls, they are all decidedly average (Bollatjie, Dikgat Meerkat Januarie) and the best of an average “POOR MAN”S SCRUMHALF” is Duvenhage. Compare him to Fourie du Preez or Ruan Pienaar or Kokkerot or Jano Vemaak or Sarel Pretorius and he stands last in the queue.
Now add the mediocrity of the options at FLY HALF, with one-dimentional Wielie Waalie, Peter Can’t Kick, I’m a fullback Petersen and the rookie Cronje…
Suddenly your MOST IMPORTANT AXIS in the team, the 2 guys who should rule the game…. are decidedly average and the 2 links between front and back are weak links….
Although the tight five have been shored up last season, finally…. there are still serious questions to be asked about them…. Verbrokkel Harris is highly suspect and traditionally your jelly baby in the front row, much like freegin Werner Kruger has been for the Bulls. Verbrokkel is decidedly average, not only in the scrumming department but in general play as well. In addition Andries Bekker must learn to do his primary functions up front rather than prance around the back line as an extra interfering centre or wing…. he should take a leaf out of his own book and show some grunt as he showed on the end of year Bok tour, being one of only a few there to come back with reputations enhanced.
At full back, there is only one logical choice, Joe Petersen…. this little fella has developed from a poncy little bad tackling shit to a bloody fine full back… very solid indeed. Forget useless up-and-under Jantjes…. bin him… no, throw him on the rubish dump, he is way past sell-by date.
At wing Stormers should be fine, as long as they never employ the useless Fijian…
That leads us to the coach… admittedly he did well in the Currie Cup in 2009, but as Bok backline coach, the Bokke back line lacked attacking ability… we wait to see what the Stormers back line can achieve in the Super 14.
All in all, we should see an improvement from the Stormpoppie Show Pony Team this year… if they ever are going to achieve, it is this year.
Aaah so it starts…
Nerves are starting to get frail as provincialism takes a front seat! I love it.
GBS, what I love is that you make yourself guilty of exactly what you are accusing Saint of; “it is clear you are a Stormers supporter”
Yesterday I mentioned that I believed Morne Steyn was an average flyhalf with one great attribute, a magnificent boot…
Guess what most of the responses were?
“Typical WP/Stormer/Bergbok comment”
You gotto love SA Rugby.
“No-one wants to hear that WP holds the record for the most Currie Cups, or that the Stormers is the only SA franchise, never to end in last place in super rugby, because honestly it means nothing. The Stormers won shite, and if you don’t end first, and you don’t end last, it means you are average, and personally I’d rather be a plonker than being just average.”
Hoor ! hoor !
And when the Saint …
and when the Saint …
and when the Saint goes marching in … !
More Asdrom, hoe gaan dit daar op die Ashoop ?
7@ Morne Pismier – Yip, the season is near.. the banter must be furious yet decent in nature….
Do yourself a favour and go read the 3 Previous The Saint Reports on the Cheetahs, Lions and Tjarks… and see how gentle he is with the Stormpoppies in comparison…. hehehe… that is where my problem lies, our Saintly friend has his eye-patches firmly on….. hahahaha.
Look, expect The Saint to be scathing as far as the Bulls are concerned, there are glaring weaknesses… props (both sides of the scrum), outside centre…. and Morne Steyn is rather average as a running fly half, you are right….
Haha,
I think he could be as critical as is allowed for a Stormpie fan.
Given time, I will lay into the team if it please you!!! 🙂
Nou hoekom wys supersport wel die wp en sharks se wedstryd, maar die belangrikste wedstryd van die naweek, Bulle vs Leeus, word nie gewys nie ?
Sien die Bulls gaan sonder die volgende spelers die opwarmingswedstryd aanpak: Dewald, Spies en Hougaard (korttermyn beserings) en Bakkies, Chili, Akona (langtermyn beserings).
Die kanse is egter goed dat Spies, Hougaard en dalk Dewald reg sal wees vir die eerste wedstryd teen die Cheetahs.
Laat die ouens eerder heeltemal herstel as wat ‘n klein besering ‘n groot besering word !
bdb jy weet mos, dis nes laasjaar, in die begin van die S14 was die tjarkies en die Stormers mos SA se beste bet vir semi-final plekke….hehehehehehehehehe
bdb @ 9
ek sing my g*t af … die lewe is dan ñ lied, of hoe sê ek? 😉
GBS waar is die thingy wat wys wie is ingelog?
bdb – Wat sê Supa en Ed daar op WTR? Hoekom blog hulle nie meer hier by ons op RT nie? Ek kan Ed nog verstaan, hy is ‘n groot Leeu, maar Supa, het lekker hier geblog, nou is hy ‘n versteekte Leeu.
Morning all. As a Sharks supporter, I think my opinion counts and is respected ;). I think the Stormers are going to have one of their better seasons this year. By what I read and hear, the team dynamics seems good – there is not all the talk as in the past and they seem to be concentrating on the road ahead.
BUT
I still think the Sharks are the team to beat this year. 😆
So let’s start singing – Tonights going to be a good night.
12 – bdb
Sharks / Stormers sal ‘n beter contest wees as Leeus / Bulls. Leeus staan mos nie ‘n kans nie, maar die ander game kan enige een wen.
Snoek@19 – I presume you said hmmm
Howzit Irish, glad to see you support the Sharks, a very popular team in SA.
Made a pact with my mate Puma – have to keep my word. Looking forward to some good rugger this year. I just hope that the teams are competitive and have some close ones. Don’t like seeing a team run away with the laurels.
20 – Translation – Bulls are to good for the Lions, Stormers and Sharks are more even teams, thats why they will show the latter on TV.
Great that it is on telly. Won’t be here though. Seldom show pre-season friendlies here.
Ek lees die volgende onderhoud met Habana by http://www.watchonsvolgendejaar.com
Joernalis: Bryan, geniet jy dit hier in die Kaap ?
Habana: ja, die surf lyk goed.
Joernalis: en die rugby ?
Habana: … stilte … ja, die surf lyk goed !
Joernalis: Bryan, ek sien die wp spelers het jou omsingel en toegegooi met vrae die eerste twee weke wat jy hier was. Kan jy dalk ‘n paar van die vrae aan ons lesers noem ?
Habana: ja, met graagte. Hier is die gunsteling vrae wat die spelers en ondersteuners my gevra het, aanhoudend oor en oor, veral ouens soos Ashley, Isigidi, Morne, Saint, SAB en KP:
1. Hoe het dit gevoel om vir ‘n kampioenspan te speel ?
2. Is jy al spyt oor jou besluit ?
3. Habana, wat moet ek doen om eendag vir die Bulle te kan speel (Schalk en JF se vraag) ?
4. Gaan jy tevrede wees om nou nie meer so baie drieë te druk nie en op die middel van die log te wees ?
5. Kan jy asb vir my Bakkies se handtekening kry, ek is te bang om homself te vra (Luke se vraag gewees toe hy nog hier was)
6. Bryan, hul sê die mooiste ding van die Kaap is, nogsteeds die pad terug Transvaal toe, is dit waar ?
7. Gaan jy vir FDP baie mis ?
8. Hoekom het jy verlof ingesit vir die naweek wat ons teen die Bulls in die laaste rondte speel ?
9. Hoe gaan jy daai ‘Bulls’ tatoo van jou boud afkry ?
10. Wanneer gaan jy ophou sing “Maak die Bulle almal Bokke” terwyl ons ons move’s hier op Nuweland oefen ?
Joernalis: Bryan, enige laaste woorde vir jou lesers ?
Habana: hmmm, ek is nou in die Kaap, wat sal ek sê ? O ja, WATCH ons volgende jaar !
😉
Irish – Have you joined the Six Nations on Superbru?
Snoek@26 – I have too.
Snoek – I hope you supporting the winning nation!!! 😆
I think the team to watch this year is Wales. Just a feeling.
I have to run – will pop on later. Cheers Snoek and bdb
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