2012 is the year that the Stormers will try to one further than the semi-finals for the 3rd time in a row. If the last two years are anything to go by, and the squad build up that Rassie Erasmus and Allister Coetzee have been trying to achieve, than going all the way should be a given.

However, as is well known, and has been written about both on this site and other blogs, the reality is far removed. In the last few months we have seen the exodus of no less than 14 players – non of them retiring – namely: Ethienne Reynecke (Connacht), CJ van der Linde (Lions), Anton van Zyl (Stade Français), Francois Louw (Bath), Ricky Januarie (Lyon), Lionel Cronje (Bulls), Johann Sadie (Bulls), Paul Bosch (Montpellier),  JJ Engelbrecht (Bulls), Tim Whitehead (Sharks), Adriaan Fondse (Newcastle Falcons), Conrad Jantjes (Biarritz), Jaque Fourie (Panasonic Wild Knights) and Pieter Louw who was released from his contract.

With most of these being front line players, it will make a huge impact on the team that Rassie and AC have been building, and for this reason, the ‘given’ mentioned earlier is no longer such.

Added to the departures of so many players, in early January, Rassie Erasmus dropped the bombshell that he too, was resigning. Further turmoil for a club reeling from the exodus of so many top players.

New players were bought in at the back end of last year, namely: Gerhard van den Heever (from  Bulls), JP du Plessis (from  Melbourne Rebels), Joe Pietersen (from  Bayonne), Deon Carstens (from  Saracens). All are positive signings, with Deon Carstens, in my opinion, the star of the new crop, desperately needed to bolster a perceived weaker front row.

With Nienaber believed to be on his way out, if it is true that he is on Heyneke Meyers wish list, the Stormers have an up hill battle this year. Their defence, something that Stormers have become synonymous with will pull them through, expect running expansive play from the backs, but it is the pack that really worries me. A number of the boys are still injured, but even when they make their return, I think we may struggle a little at scrum time. Added to this, are the woes of the fetcher, and the role he plays in the game. With Flo gone, Cap’n Schalla will move to 6, and, this, According to AC, isn’t such a bad thing, as he plays down the role of the fetcher (JW’s influence?). Be that as it may, AC’s belief is that all the players are responsible for this role, so we will just have to wait and see the success of this idea. I have my doubts.

I have been tasked with putting together a player profile for the Stormers – no easy task, I tell you! I unfortunately am in the middle of harvest, and cannot perhaps devote the time that C4E and GBS obviously have on their hands (only joking), and as such will not be giving the amount of detail that my esteemed colleagues have. This coupled with the fact that it is almost impossible to get any real player info (has anyone visited the Stormers or WP website? – if not, don’t bother, there is nothing to see), and what there is seems to be at least a couple of years old. Also with a squad loaded with youngsters, and no info on them yet on the official SA sites, makes the task even harder.

Therefore, input from you would be great, if you leave constructive comments pertaining to the players, I will update the profile accordingly. So without further ado, I give you the first instalment – Props. (I have only given the Super Rugby Debut, or nearest highest)

Stormers Props – enlarged squad 2012

Steven Kitshoff

HEIGHT 183 cm

WEIGHT 114 Kg

BIRTH DATE 10 February 1992 – Age 19

DHL Stormers Vodacom Super Rugby – 2011

Loosehead Prop.

Played 28 minutes in last years Super Rugby against the Canterbury Crusaders. He benches 180kg’s. He can run 40 meters in 5.1 seconds. He represented WP at Craven week 2009 & 2010. Known as the Red Shark, he is a good scrummager, likes the contact, devastating on attack and has good hands. It is his second year in the Stormers squad and is a definite possibility for Springbok rugby.

Johannes Lodewicus (Wicus) Blaauw

HEIGHT 186 cm

WEIGHT 120 Kg

BIRTH DATE 8 April 1986 – Age 26

Super Rugby Debut – Stormers – 2008

Loosehead Prop

Stalwart of the Stormers side, the Namibian born Loosehead prop has suffered a few injuries in the last couple of years that has sidelined him and allowed some of the youngsters to come through. Will be interesting to see how much game time he sees this year.

Deon Carstens

HEIGHT 183 cm

WEIGHT 115 Kg

BIRTH DATE June 3, 1979 – Age 32

Super Rugby Debut – Sharks – 2001

Loosehead Prop

He is a versatile player who can cover either side of the front row, but now prefers loosehead prop. He has represented the Sharks 62 times at Super Rugby level and 60 times in the Currie Cup. In April 2010 it was announced that Carstens had agreed to join the Saracans FC for the 2010–2011 season. He returned to South Africa to join the Stormers for the 2012 Super Rugby season.

Schalk Ferreira

HEIGHT 188 cm

WEIGHT 111 Kg

BIRTH DATE 9 February 1984 – Age 27

Super Rugby Debut – Stormers – 2007

Loosehead Prop

Schalk Ferreira, who quit rugby two years ago after a serious neck injury and had surgery to his neck, has recently been cleared by his medical team to play rugby again and has decided to make a comeback. He has played most of his career as a loosehead, but had also previously been looked at by Rassie Erasmus as a hooker, will again return to his favoured position, and only be used at loosehead.

Juan (Brok) Harris

HEIGHT 183 cm

WEIGHT 118 Kg

BIRTH DATE 22 February 1985 – Age 26

Super Rugby Debut – Stormers – 2007

Tighthead Prop

Brok, is the grafter in the Stormers pack. A work horse that gives you everything. An uncompromising player, who, will probably never be the hardest scrummager in the land, but by the same token, never let you down. Plays at tighthead, but will move across if needs be, as he did during the last season.

Jozua Francois Malherbe (Frans) Malherbe

HEIGHT 190 cm

WEIGHT 124 Kg

BIRTH DATE 22 14 March 1991 – Age 20

Super Rugby Debut – Stormers – 2011

Tighthead Prop

A former SA schools player 2009, he represented Western Province at Craven Week 2009 whilst also Captaining of Paarl Boys High in that same year. Played a total of 50 minutes in 4 matches (didn’t come off the bench in the 5^th) in last years Super Rugby competition. An up and coming star, seen as the future by Allister Coetzee

Hendrik Petrus (Hein) van der Merwe

HEIGHT 190 cm

WEIGHT 122 Kg

BIRTH DATE 09 May 1988 – Age 23

Maties – FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International – 2012, 2011, 2010

Western Province – ABSA Under 21 Competition – 2010

Loosehead Prop

New to the squad, played for the Maties over the last few years, as well as for Western Province in the 2010 under 21 series. First season with the stormers. Strong scrummager, but still untested at senior level

Tom Botha

HEIGHT 179 cm

WEIGHT 110 Kg

BIRTH DATE 31 August 1990 – Age 21

Western Province – ABSA Under 21 Competition – 2011

DHL Western Province – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division – 2011

Maties – FNB Varsity Cup Presented by Steinhoff International – 2011

Tighthead prop

Strong and powerful prop with a tremendous work rate and great ball carrying capability, played under 21 last year, as well as a couple of appearances off the bench for Western Province

Allister Vermaak

Loosehead Prop

Allister Vermaak rewarded for a great season by being selected as the Best Forwards player. Maties and Western Province under 21, a player for the future