Kobus van Wyk
DHL Stormers are still waiting on the fitness of wing Kobus van Wyk ahead of Saturday’s Vodacom Super Rugby derby against the Bulls at Loftus and the result of his fitness test on Thursday could have a big impact on the Cape team’s chances of success.
Van Wyk, who has struggled with a calf strain for nearly 2 weeks and is according to backline coach Robbie Fleck only training under supervision, meanly separate from the rest of the team, is key to the Stormers’ back 3 balance.
The former South African Under 20 centre was a revelation when switched to the wing by the Stormers and WP last season, and he made a big difference to the Stormers’ ability to compete in the aerial battle in 2014. That has long been a Cape team weakness, with too many players short of beef lining up together in the back 3 since the departure of Sireli Naqelevuki a few seasons ago.
Van Wyk made some great takes off cross kicks last year and also knocked on a few in the Currie Cup that had great scoring potential written all over them, and this added a new weapon to the Stormers / WP attacking arsenal.
Should Van Wyk not make it, head coach Allister Coetzee has the option of moving young Huw Jones to the wing. Jones made his Stormers debut against the Cheetahs in a warmup game a few weeks ago, but as a centre. The other option is EW Viljoen, who has fullback experience and made his first class debut for the understrength WP team that did so well against the Sharks before finally going down in the final league match in the 2014 Currie Cup.
Both are fairly strongly built but neither boast much experience at senior level and with Dillyn Leyds, yet to play a Super Rugby game for the Stormers, lining up on the other wing, that will leave the Stormers considerably short on experience in a crucial area against a Bulls team that boasts a strong kicking and aerial game.
The diminutive Cheslin Kolbe is an attacking dynamo from the back and is capable of shredding any defence and scoring from almost anywhere in broken play but the Stormers will be hoping that they can field the relatively experienced big man in Van Wyk at Loftus to add much needed balance.
Damian de Allende was used on the wing in the first game of last season against the Lions and has featured there regularly in the past but Coetzee is reluctant to move him from the midfield, where he feels the Milnerton High School old boy will play a crucial role in stopping the big Bulls forwards from playing off Handré Pollard and Jan Serfontein and flooding through that channel.
Possible Stormers starting team for Loftus: 15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Kobus van Wyk, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Dillyn Leyds, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Duane Vermeulen (Captain), 7 Michael Rhodes, 6 Rynhardt Elstadt, 5 Ruan Botha, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
SuperSport
I really rate Kobus van Wyk as a wing.. he’s big, strong, fast, good finisher, defends well.. and provides a lot of punch out wide.
So, would it be nasty of me to hope he does not play against my Bulls?
Would’nt it be great if the Bulls can play against dodgy Leyds and another dodgy wing like EW Viljoen!
grootblousmile wrote:
Yip, similarly I am hoping he’s fit and gets picked but not at the expense of his long terms prospects for us this year.
Also I suspect that AC may start with Carr as well as he seems to be fit?
Not having Van Wyk will hurt, especially with Senatla also not available.
Bulls have a very good SR side, I fear a bridge too far for the Stormers, especially at Loftus.
2 @ Stormersboy:
I think Carr might be on the bench as he has not had any pre-season action at all.
Carr in form is a monster!
3 @ nortie:
Nothing is ever clearcut between these 2 foes.. will be a difficult game.
Will be interesting to see how Gert Smal’s influence is expanding during Super Rugby at the Stormers.
I just hope Ludeke has caught a bit of a wake-up..
Ludeke at least has had the savvy to let Lappies have a full go at No 7… and with Spies on the bench and Hougie on left wing.
nortie wrote:
Also Pat Howard. And Jaco Taute and JDV. Any one of those would have been fine.
I see Michael Vd Spuy is starting for the Cheeters this Saturday. He would have fotted in well at 12, allowing Damian to go to wing.
Depth is the key to winning this thing but we seem determined to alienate players who can’t get first team starting berths and allow them to leave too easily….
6 @ Stormersboy:
It’s an all South African sickness to alienate players… and it seems like the Franchises are all bent on pissing some of their players off.
Problem is, most who go, don’t stay in SA, but go for the big bucks in France.
grootblousmile wrote:
Lets hope he keeps his form this year.
We’ll all be there, me Nortie, Iaas, Brumbiesboy and a couple of mini – me’s
On the oos pawiljoen no less……
@ grootblousmile:
True, but the Bulls don’t easily lose at Loftus in the SR.
I think the CC campaign has given some Stormer supporters a false sense of the strength of the Bulls, the side selected for the SR is one hell of a team
Stormersboy wrote:
Oos paviljoen…….does that mean I must wear neutral colors?
Sitting on the Oos paviljoen in a Stormers jersey is asking for trouble, and I bruise easily 😆
8 @ Stormersboy:
I think I must kidnap Ponyboy though… he’s bad luck to the Bulls when he goes to Loftus… he jinxes them.. and enjoys doing so!
grootblousmile wrote:
Lappies was a very astute buy by the Bulls. Great player.
12 @ Stormersboy:
What’s happened to Gummyberryjuice, he’s been scarse since before going to Canada…
nortie wrote:
We’ll have to huddle together for mutual protection.
If the worst come to the worst we’ll throw Brumbiesboy to the wolves and make a run for it! 😀
12 @ Stormersboy:
Lappies will fit Bulls play like a glove… almost a hybrid fetcher at blindside and hard as nails.
One of those true unsung heros.
grootblousmile wrote:
Sy kak is geboek……I think those on the Oos paviljoen will recognize him from the semi you guys lost against the Brumbies.
He was grootbek in the safety of Atlas’ suite, showing all types of hand signs to those plebs on the cheap seats.
Nou gaan hy smack bang in die middel van daai plebs sit.
grootblousmile wrote:
No clue. Tried calling him a few times, hope he surfaces soon. The guy works like a Trojan, often over weekends too.
17 @ Stormersboy:
His wife, Pantoffeltjie.. the Zimbo Bimbo (just kidding)… keeps him on a short leash too!
Stormersboy wrote:
Sounds like a plan 😆
And just before we disappear we tell them his helmet isn’t for a Kawasaki 1200, but in fact he drives a big boy 50cc scooter which he uses to deliver pizzas with
@nortie:
“This weekend the match will be played in Pretoria which is home for the Bulls and where the teams have met 10 times.
In those 10 Super Rugby matches the Bulls have won five and lost five. That gives the Bulls a 50% record of winning matches at Loftus Versfeld against the Stormers.”
http://www.rugbyweek.com/news/article.asp?id=42458
nortie wrote:
😀
20 @ Gena_ZA:
Naand jou ou parapleeg!
Hoe hang die balle?
Jy jou Franse trippie geniet?
@ Gena_ZA:
Thanks, dis n interesante stat daai.
Ek dink tog ek sal saam met die bookies stem en Bulle back met so tussen 5-10
Ek het nie te veel vertroue in die huidige beskikbaare Stormer spelers nie.
Ek hoop hulle bewys my verkeerd though
@ nortie:
Oops, sien dit was 2014 se rondte, so dis nou 6-5 vir die Bulle op Loftus na laasjaar
23 @ nortie:
Hey Halfbekertjie, julle hettie ‘n kak span nie… gladnie, julle is dan die huidige Kerriebekerkampioene!
25 @ grootblousmile:
Ek val nie in daai trap van die CC met SR te vergelyk nie.
As Ludeke enige huidige Stormer speler kon kry vir sy span, wie dink jy sal hy bereid wees om te ruil?
Mens dink aan Duane, maar hy het vir Arno en Spies.
Ek dink nie hy sal enige Stormer speler kies bo die wat hy beskikbaar het nie
Daar kak ons krag weer… load-shit-shedding!
Nag manne!
grootblousmile wrote:
Cheers, ons s’n ook af
Hello Darkness my old friend……
grootblousmile wrote:
Halo Rudi,
Ja was lekker maar ver te koud daar vir ‘n warmbloedige mens…
Steeds goeie ondervinding gewees dankie
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