With 10 wins from 11 starts in Vodacom Super Rugby this season and top position in both the South African conference and the overall log, the Stormers don’t have much to complain about as they start to head towards the business end of the competition.
SuperSport
However, cracks have started to show in the last two home matches, and there are signs that some of the players are starting to look jaded and a bit fatigued. Coach Allister Coetzee has obviously noted this, for he was talking on Saturday night of giving his squad most of the week off rather than drive them on the training field in the build-up to this week’s crucial derby against the Sharks.
The wear and tear that is making itself apparent is possibly a direct consequence of the team having to dig deep and defend desperately after halftime in several of their matches. Like it did against the Hurricanes, Bulls, Lions and Cheetahs earlier in the competition, it happened again this past Saturday, with the Waratahs coming back from a 16-3 halftime deficit to eventually only lose 19-13.
The four-try bonus point that looked on for the Stormers when they were hammering away at the Waratahs line after they had already scored two tries shortly before halftime was not forthcoming, but it didn’t matter on a day where the Bulls had stumbled in Dunedin. Four log points were enough for the Stormers to go back to pole position in the South African conference.
But the gap doesn’t amount to much and skipper Jean de Villiers had a chilling warning for his team as they go into a tough two-match sequence of away derbies against the Sharks and Bulls.
“The Sharks have been very impressive. If I was asked, I would have to say they are the team that have impressed me the most over the past few weeks,” said De Villiers.
“They are playing with a lot of momentum and a lot of confidence at the moment. That makes them dangerous.”
‘BACK THE BENCH’
Indeed, and the Stormers are struggling to sustain intensity and retain momentum over 80 minutes. If they play in Durban for the whole match like they did in the first 40 against the Waratahs and before that against the Cheetahs they will win, but they are struggling to put together a complete performance. Fatigue may be at the heart of it, and there are several players with niggles as they prepare for the trip up the coast to the sub-tropical paradise that is KZN in May.
Flank Siya Kolisi was struggling with an injury last week that forced coach Allister Coetzee to substitute him half an hour before the end against the Waratahs, and lineout kingpin Andries Bekker also looked in considerable discomfort for part of the game before being replaced. Joe Pietersen was forced from the field due to a minor niggle that will be assessed at training on Monday.
“It’s a massive game we have this week against the Sharks and they showed away against the Cheetahs, where they got a full house of five points, what good form they are in,” said Coetzee.
“So I’ve got to make sure we have 22 fresh bodies out there next week. Siya got a knock to his shoulder, and also earlier in the week to his knee. Eben Etzebeth has also had shoulder problems. Siya has played every game so far, so we are at a stage of the season where he has to be managed, as is the case with some other players.
“We have to manage them and at the same time back the players that come off the bench. De Kock Steenkamp brought a lot of physicality and energy, and that was the reason we took off Andries. Andries will be fine to play against the Sharks. I am thinking of giving the players the whole week off and only get them together to train at captain’s practice. It depends on what the injury situation is like when the players report on Monday.”
I see the Stormers training was indeed cancelled today upon medical advice.
Not necessarily a bad thing to have a light week… their systems are set, their team should be the same as this past week, no fresh injuries…. having just played a side which plays a lot like the Stormers could expect from the Sharks anyway.
Remember after this weekend they have another bruiser coming at Loftus too.
That brings me back to some of the Stormers players… do you guys also think some players are clearly fatigued or battle bruised… Langbek is just plain freegin lazy, but I get the impression that Kitshoff, Duvenage, Jean de Villiers and to a lessor degree Aplon seem a bit fatigued.
Kitshoff definately not as razor sharp as at the beginning of the season, Duvenage’s lost some zip…. and Jean de Villiers seems to do most things as if his heart is there 90% in stead of 110%.
Don’t get me wrong, Stormers still good… and winning, but there seems to be a window of opportunity opening for the Sharks and thereafter the Bulls.
Hahaha a attempt to rattle their cages , i read the Aussie report on Rugby Heaven and they said the crisp passing of Dewalt created the 2 tries. And that JdeV had such a good calming influence on the sharp Stormer back line. Who is fooling who. Even Jean said he was impressed by his backs.
For me the only question will be tested right at the end, can the Stormers win a playoff game. Their Vodacom cup team broke the ice, we will all have to wait. But one thing is a certainty and that is that the Stormers will be playing in the finals, where it will stop only time will tell.
Ashfak Mohamed shares your view Boss
THE physical toll of a game based largely around defence is starting to take effect on the Stormers, and coach Allister Coetzee hopes to get “22 fresh bodies” ready for Saturday’s big derby against the Sharks in Durban.
The Stormers just held on for a physically draining 19-13 victory over the Waratahs on Saturday night at Newlands, and although Coetzee said that there were no major injuries to his players afterwards, he was facing a difficult task this week to get everyone in reasonable shape for the Kings Park showdown.
Flank Siya Kolisi had to be substituted just 10 minutes into the second half due to a combination of fatigue and minor knocks to his shoulder and knee, while Andries Bekker also left the field with 15 minutes left. He has been struggling with a painful back for a while, and is being managed carefully as the Stormers cannot afford any further injuries in the pack.
Joe Pietersen also had to be replaced by Gerhard van den Heever when Bekker went off, and the fullback is believed to have a minor niggle and will be assessed at training today.
It is going to be get rough and tough in Durban, especially with Bismarck du Plessis in inspirational form at the weekend in the Sharks’ bonus-point win over the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.
AC says
“Siya got a knock to his shoulder, and also earlier in the week to his knee. Young players like Siya, and Eben (Etzebeth) has also had shoulder problems. Siya has started every game up to now, and you’ve got to manage them and back the players off the bench.
“Andries is fine, Andries is perfect. I think, at that stage, we needed some fresh legs and some energy. Obviously De Kock (Steenkamp) brought a lot of energy and physicality, and that’s why we took off Andries.
AC and Fleck-
The Stormers attack finally fired at times, and they were most threatening when they played with width. Captain Jean de Villiers and flyhalf Peter Grant delivered a few crisp passes, while Dewaldt Duvenage also mixed up his game well.
Pietersen’s try in the first quarter was a fine effort, and the fact that it came from a set-piece move off the lineout – with Gio Aplon bursting through on the inside, before Grant drew the defence and De Villiers threw a floating pass for Pietersen to finish – would’ve given Coetzee and backline coach Robbie Fleck great satisfaction.
The Stormers threatened to cut loose with ball-in-hand, which was highly encouraging.
@ superBul:It certainly is going to be tough in Durban. With what is in stake over the next few weeks/months, I would seriously consider rested all the guys who have been playing 80 minutes week in and week out this w/end. Losing this one, but being well rested for the rest of the comp would certainly pay dividends later on.
De Villiers was back to the form he displayed before his wrist injury, and the Springbok centre was pleased with the backline’s efforts. “I’m very happy with the performance. The way we played in the first half, but then we had a lapse in concentration after halftime,” he said.
@ Just For Kicks:
De Villiers also said that the Sharks impressed him the most over the last few weeks, and that the Sharks has hit top form. Now the question is will the Stormers “throw” this one and aim for the tired Bulls coming back from a long trip? Makes sense , doesnt it?
Look the other factor we must remember this year is the International break. If less than 7 Stormers make the National squad the Stormers will be well rested. So come on HM pick at least 11 Stormers.
@ superBul:If HM wants some tries in the series, we may not see any Stormers in the Bok squad – hmmmmm, perhaps this was the plan all along, hehehe
Just For Kicks wrote:
Stormers flying under the Radar?
Must say this , i am scared watching the Stormers runaway train. Bulls used to say we had to learn how to play finals and at their 3rd attempt we made it. The whole scenario is repeating , this time for your side.
All depends who you draw in the semi and then the final.
Look if you could copy the Bulls and beat the Crusaders in a semi there will be enormous confidence in the team, even if they have to face the Bulls in a final.
10@ superBul:I truly hope so!
Seriously guys who was the idiot to go schedule 99 percent of the Stormers home games at 19:00? Newlands is the wettest suburb area in the whole South Africa. Especially this time of the year as soon as the sun goes down it will be as wet if it was raining for hours due to the due. I think we all have seen how difficult it is to throw a wet ball around on Newlands. Yes Sharks and Bulls and Freestate supporters. You fumbled your way through 80 minutes as well on there. But somehow some teams got lovely 17:00 matches scheduled by Supersport.
12@ Spooony:Agree 100% on the 7pm kick-off, but for a different reason. When we were growing up, our fathers used to take us all down to the stadium, where we would enjoy a great day out, and still be in bed by 8pm. You see less and less people going to the rugby nowadays, and when you get home at 10-11 pm, you realise just why. I wish they would bring back the 3 pm and 5 pm kick offs.
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