“This is where the debate starts to get interesting. So much conjecture around Schalk Burger, his role and where he should play. With Francois Louw gone, is the fetching role going to be an area of contention?” This was my view from the same article 12 months ago – has anything changed?
Schalk Burger still under a cloud, Nizaam Carr still hobbling, but a plethora of very good players in the squad means that if these two players do ever get into frontline rugby again, the Stormers will certainly be able to post a formidable loose trio on match days!
Contenders:
Donovan Armand
HEIGHT 191 cm
WEIGHT 112kg
BIRTH DATE 23 September 1988– Age 23
Western Province – 2012
DHL Stormers Vodacom Super Rugby – 2012
Loose Forward
Don Armand got his first break due to injuries sustained by loose-forwards Duane Vermeulen and Nick Koster on the Stormers 2012 Australasian tour,where he received a call-up to the squad for the final tour game against the Western Force, where he came on as a replacement for Nizaam Carr for the last 5 minutes of the match.
He played a number of games this season for Western Province where he has become a regular starter. He can player at lock as well, and like Elstadt, will play a dual role.
Schalk (Schalla) Willem Petrus Burger Jnr
HEIGHT 193 cm
WEIGHT 114 Kg
BIRTH DATE 13 April 1983 – Age 29
DHL Stormers Vodacom Super Rugby – 2004
Loose Forward
What can we say about Schalla. He has been injured for almost the entire last season. He is still under an injury cloud. He will be 30 pretty soon. He has had no rugby for a year. There are some awesome flankers coming up from under his shadow in the Stormers side.
Will he have the ability to sustain his style of play? What will his form be like? Will he be fit enough? Will he become a burden to the side?
Time will tell. but from where I sit, the green pasture on the other side of the barbed wire fence is starting to look very attractive all of a sudden.
Nizaam Carr
HEIGHT 184 cm
WEIGHT 93 Kg
BIRTH DATE 4 April 1991 – Age 21
DHL Western Province – 2011
Loose Forward
Can play at flank and Eighth man, and until his serious injury was showing some serious potential. Still injured, it is very unlikely he will be available for the beginning of the season.
Rynhardt (Rocky) Elstadt
HEIGHT 198 cm
WEIGHT 112 Kg
BIRTH DATE 20 December 1989 – Age 22
DHL Stormers Vodacom Super Rugby – 2011
Lock
A number of injuries saw Elstadt out of the team early in the 2012 season, and although he played a few game in the locking berth in 2012, he saw a lot of time on the side of the scrum when the Stormers were ravaged with injuries in the flank department.
This season will see him remain in the flanking position, but with so many loosies to choose from, he will have his work cut out. Will be a very important bench player, covering both the loose forward and lock positions.
Michael Rhodes
HEIGHT 197 cm
WEIGHT 114 Kg
BIRTH DATE 19 December 1987 – Age 24
Natal Sharks – 2008 – 2010
Golden Lions – 2011 – 2012
DHL Stormers Vodacom Super Rugby – 2013
Loose Forward
Another flanker who is at home at lock as well, Michael moved to the Stormers at the end of the 2012 season. A solid 2012 season, marred only by a citing and subsequent 6 week ban for a dangerous tackle. Probably won’t make the starting lineup initially, but will definitely have a role to play from the bench.
Siyamthanda (Siya) Kolisi
HEIGHT 186 cm
WEIGHT 96 Kg
BIRTH DATE 16 June 1991 – Age 21
DHL Western Province – 2011
Loose Forward
“Siya is physically a big man, strong ball carrier, has a sound defence, he breaks the advantage line regularly and has awesome support play. He has been touted in some corners as the next Brussouw, and is a player of the future.” Again, this extract taken from the last instalment 12 months ago, but how intuitive it was. Before his injury, Kolisi was playing some seriously good football. Injury over, and barring any more, will definitely start ahead of Schalk in every game, and if he doesn’t, it will be a travesty.
Daniel Johannes (Duane) Vermeulen
HEIGHT 193 cm
WEIGHT 108 Kg
BIRTH DATE 3 July 1986 – Age 26
Vodacom FS Cheetahs Super Rugby – 2007
Stormers – 2009
Loose Forward
The hype, the injury, the Bok debut, this lad has had it all in one season. A precocious talent, possibly only let down this season by the injuries and taking the ‘hype’ to heart, Duane will be the solid anchor at the back of the Stormers scrum. A very hard player, he doesn’t give an inch. He only knows one way, and with his ball skills and some awesome loosies at his side, the Stormers are looking very good in this area for 2013.
I would play Elstadt at lock next to Etzebeth.
WP have some very tall flanks. Not bac in depth eith depending on the injury front though
Plus i would expect to see Deon Fourie do some duty at openside during the season. I know his primary position is hooker, but he was so effective there that the temptation to play him will be too much for AC.
Probably the pick of the SA loosies along with the Sharks.
Both Elstadt and Rhodes will likely do lock duty at some stage as well so a fantastic opportunity for AC to properly rotate his players. Lets hope he uses the opportunity as a string squad come playoff time is essential to winning the competition.
3 @ Stormersboy:
Howzit bud hope you well.
Have to agree here, think Stormers and Sharks are definitely the pick of the saffa sides with their Loosies. That is a fantastic line up of players you have, much like Sharks we are blessed in this department with world class loosies. Actually looking at Stormers, Bulls and Sharks with those Loosies South Africa have massive talent there.
Where you see Elstadt play this year? Lock or flank? Have to agree with you on Deon, he played superb at openside flank for Stormers. He even played well at 8th man. Good player to have in your team. Anyhow with Schalk and Kolisi back makes probably sense for him to concentrate on hooker.
The somple fact is it matters not which team one looks at, In SA we have a huge talent pool of Loose Forwards
5 @ Sharks_forever:
We certainly do.
Just read on sports24 about Rory Kockot. Seems he is playing some outstanding rugby. Still wish he was at the Sharks. Always rated him. Pity they never kept him.
Dewalt Devenhage has signed for Perpignan. He leaves after the S15.
7 @ Loosehead:
No surprise as Stormers have Groom and just forget the other players name. They have two better than Duvenhage right now.
3 @ Stormersboy,
A good mix indeed. That said, I think the Cheetahs and Bulls have the premier openside flanks in Brüssow, Schoeman, Stegmann, and Adendorff.
In terms of blindside flanks there is a fine line between the Potgieters, Deysel, Coetsee, Elstadt, Rhodes and Alberts.
And at 8th man Spies, Botha, Kankowski, and Vermeulen.
Ultimately, the combinations will be crucial.
@ Cheetah4eva:
😆 I see you don’t mention Daniel, the player who outplayed al those you mention this past year???
Just go check out the stats and see which loosie tops it all 😉
This one is easy man. Decide who you want to play were, and STICK with them there.
Ex: 8th man options – Vermeulen & Carr
7-flank – Elstadt & Rhodes
6-flank – Schalla & Kolisi.
Armand do be general back up. He will probably see more VC action.
If someone gets injured, pick the next guy. If he gets injured, pick Don. If he gets injured, then you sit with your vinger in jou ***.
10 @ Sharks_forever:
Ja, Daniels was brilliant for the Sharks during the S15 Final and the CC Final. He really stood out in his one and only test as well.
10 @ Sharky,
An oversight lol. I sit corrected.
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