All Black and Hurricanes centre Conrad Smith admitted he was surprised by the Stormers’ showing against the Lions in Johannesburg last week.
Sport24
The Capetonians produced one of their worst performances ever to go down 34-10 at Ellis Park in their first Super Rugby game of the season.
“I watched a replay of the game and yes, I was surprised,” Smith said while his side prepares to tackle the Stormers at Newlands on Friday.
He does, however, expect the Stormers to be much better on their home ground.
“As was the case with us, the Stormers played their first game last weekend. The same happened to the Crusaders last year when they lost to the Blues after having a bye in the first round.
“These things happen. I’m sure the Stormers will be a totally different team this week.”
The Hurricanes themselves lost 27-9 to the Sharks in Durban last week and Smith said they must take their chances this time round.
“We struggled in the scrums early in the game. It’s not like set pieces are a weakness for us but it counts as one of the Sharks and Stormers’ strengths.
“It’s easy for the backs to blame the forwards, but we had enough chances to beat the Sharks. We let ourselves down.”
Friday’s clash kicks off at 19:10.
@ Scrumsaam: Sadly all too true on all counts 🙁 The current staff don’t have the skill set to evolve the game plan.
@ nortierd:
Ons sal maar moet sien wat gaan gebeur, ek het net die gevoel as die WP/Stormers nie n uiterse poef seisoen het nie sal AC bly tot hy aftree. (So jou stelling is waar stem saam).
@ mikeybrass:
They never had the skill set, Fleck didn’t even coach on junior level he just walked into this job or am i mistaken? Time to send my CV to cape town.
Stormers will win this weekend. Doubt very much we will see them that bad again as we did last week.
Also they can look again at the Sharks/Canes game and see what worked for the Sharks. Stormers will be ready. I will pick them on bru this week again. Though last week I picked them and lost bru points for sure. For me it is who will win at Loftus. Will Lions be too good for this Bulls team? Also think the Bulls will pull themselves up though if they start with the same flyhalf and scrummie then it will most definitely be Lions coming away with their 3rd straight win in a row.
Have not even looked where I am on bru. I surely must be on the bottom somewhere. As I picked: Saders, Brumbies, Bulls and Stormers and all lost. Must be sitting right at the bottom probably…
I did okay, 5/7 on Bru – Seriaaaasly failed with the Stormers (Komkommers) and got the Brumbies one wrong.
Oh did I predict Komkommers by 20? KLA GEPRAAT
@ Puma:
Agree with you on the fact of the Bulls & Lions game surely the Bulls will come good one game the question is when?
Scrumsaam wrote:
When they play the Stormers
Playing for the wooden spoon gives a team extra oomph
@ nortierd:
Stadig oor die klippe, wooden spoon gaan Sharks toe die jaar.
Scrumsaam wrote:
Sal mooi lyk saam met hulle runners up silver bekertjies en conference cup
@ nortierd:
Volgens almal is dit n race tussen Bulls en Stormers vir daai spoon, cheetahs en lions het nou champion contenders geword na rondte 2.
Scrumsaam wrote:
Cheetahs en Lions definitief nie championship contenders nie. Sal ook so mid tot bottom table eindig seker, saam met ons en die Bulls.
@ nortierd:
Dit vat sterk spanne om almal bo te hou.
Eish, ek werk vandag my mielie nog krommer…
Steel nou so bietjie tyd om darem net te lees watse kakkas die Strompoppies hier praat!
Hehehe
Conrads1,
Welcome to Rugby-Talk, the Friendly Rugby Website!
Come chat to the animals here…and declare your allegiances to your favourite teams!
@ grootblousmile:
Ons probeer ons self convince dat die lewe nie so erg is nie.
grootblousmile wrote:
Mens noem dit “fighting fire with fire”
Voor die Guppies op hulle seepkissies spring en vir die wereld vertel hoe kak ons Stormers is, spring ons hulle voor en vertel eerste vir die wereld hoe kak ons is
@GBS
UFO vra of jy vir hom kan mail, soek ook hulp met password
Thanks
Lyk my al die voldy ouens kom die kant toe.
Scrumsaam wrote:
Jy al gekies vir die naweek?
Jy kan tog nie toelaat dat GBS jou 1ste plek oorneem nie.
For shame, for shame
47 @ nortierd:
Gedoen, kyk julle E-Mails….
Howdy GBS…
Permission to come aboard, Sir…?
Thanks for your help getting me sorted out.
Greetings to all the RT guys…? And all the scatterlings who have blown this way…!
@ ufo:
Welcome here
51 @ ufo:
Howzit ufo, How you doing bud? Hope well. Terrific to see you here.
51 @ ufo:
Welcome back ufo!!
Yip, this is your new home…. and about time too!
R-T has been cooking on gas in the whole of December, January, February.
Think we’re now the biggest rugby discussion forum on the globe.
51 @ ufo:
Our late friend, Jinx’s brother is here too… and I’ve given him the honour to take over Jinx’s nickname. Think it is fitting under the circumstances.
36 @ Scrumsaam:
37 @ nortierd:
Yes will be interesting to see how Bulls will play this weekend. Have a feeling they will up there game. Also they must select Pollard and Van Zyl to start, then think they have a good chance. If they go with the same fh and sh as they have in the last two games, just don’t see them winning. Hougie should play on the wing.
I do feel Stormers will win this one though.
@ superBul:
Shot Super… will be cool to chat again…
@ Puma:
Thanks Puma bud… always good thanks… constant sunshine in the mind of the eternally optimistic…
@ grootblousmile:
Thanks for the warm welcome GBS…
Yeah… I believe so… been hearing lotsa good things about RT. And must say… it is really looking good… Shot man…!
Going to be enjoyable chatting again.
57 @ ufo:
We seem to have picked up all the good bloggers from Voldy (Keo)!
57 @ ufo:
Well now we have 3 guys that know their music well here. Robzim, Hurricane and yourself. We often talk about music here if there is no game…lol.
You will enjoy this site bud. Also we have Rye here as well, he blogs under the nic grumpy here.
@ grootblousmile:
Good idea… He’s a good man, like his boet… met him briefly when he was out here at that time…
Really going to cool getting reaquainted with all the old names…
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