Cheslin Kolbe
There’s a lot of fuss being made in the Cape about where Cheslin Kolbe should be deployed in the DHL Stormers team following Nick Mallett’s comments from the Supersport studio that he should perhaps play scrumhalf because of his size.
There has also been some hysterical overreaction to the attention paid to Kolbe by Cell C Sharks centre Frans Steyn in the coastal derby last weekend.
However, when it comes to the player himself, and the management who decide where he plays, it is a case of all calm on the western front. Kolbe knows he is playing a physical sport where the gladiatorial attitude prevails, and that opposition targeting you just comes with the territory in rugby and can actually be seen as a compliment.
As for the coaches, they don’t agree with critics who, because they believe Kolbe is not featuring as much on the counter-attack as he did during last year’s Currie Cup, feel that he is not himself at present.
While Newlands patrons groan every time Kolbe puts boot to ball after receiving a kick because the action is seen to rob them of the spectacle of the diminutive No 15 doing what he does best, Stormers coach Allister Coetzee says it all comes down to Kolbe having an innate understanding of when it was on to counter-attack, and when it wasn’t.
“You can only counter off a poor kick, and he hasn’t been receiving too many of those recently. If you run off a good kick then you’re asking for trouble, and Cheslin knows that, because his ability to sum up a situation and know when it is on or not is one of his big strengths as a player,” said Coetzee.
The Stormers coach shrugged off the fuss that was being made after the Sharks game over Steyn’s attempts to pressurise Kolbe.
“I think Cheslin knows that there are times that opposition will focus on him, but while he may be small, he is a really tough guy and he knows how to handle himself. There’s a reason why opposition single him out, it’s because he’s a dangerous player and he is the type of guy who could make an idiot of you in a telephone booth.”
On Tuesday Kolbe told the Cape media via a telephone hook-up that there was no need for anyone to worry about his health – he was able to handle himself and the impact of the bruising derby against the Sharks has been shaken off to the extent that he is in the selection mix for Saturday’s clash with the Chiefs. And there is no doubt in his mind that he wants to be considered only as a fullback.
“There will always be a few words and speculation, but at this stage I don’t want to think about extra stuff, and just want to focus on my role as a fullback,” said Kolbe.
Stormers backline coach Robbie Fleck isn’t thinking of Kolbe as anything but a fullback, and says that the last line of defence is his best position as it offers him the space he needs to move in.
“He is a guy who must operate in space. I think the chat about him playing at No 9 is because he had two line breaks close to the fringes against the Sharks,” said Fleck.
“For me he is a quality player, and I believe 15 is his best position, and where we are going to concentrate on him playing. There are examples of fullbacks who have not been that big who have made it, and Willie le Roux is one of those. Is he the biggest fullback? By no means, but he has skill, ability and vision. And that makes him a quality international fullback.
“He’s a couple of kilos heavier and a couple of inches taller than Cheslin, and there’s no doubt in my mind that the game at international level has a place for a small guy like Cheslin. Willie has proven that and Cheslin will prove that too if given the opportunity. Ben Smith isn’t the biggest guy in international rugby either, and neither was Christian Cullen.”
SuperSport
Its a tough one. I am a kolbe fan but how can ben smith be considered small? He has 20kg and 20cm on kolbe while cullens international career also ended 12 years ago. Fleck is spin doctoring now.
It isnt our obsession with size, the all blacks would almost never risk a small player, not even in their domestic teams.
That Kolbe has a tough year ahead to prove himself and he should be judged on that and not on one late tackle by fransie, but deserves a chance at FB. That is the position he has wormed himself into the stommers side.
We are so lucky UAE sent us in to bat, we would not have chased 220 runs with this bunch.
always good for 20
flippen good 50 by Farhaan.
are we seriously going to go forward in this world cup without Abott?
@ MacroBull:
Hi MB. I really think the number 7 spot is an issue that continues to baffle the selectors . . . Abott/Parn/Beh – therin seems to lie the problem.
MacroBull wrote:
Not an easy decision:
Imo we have to play 5 front line bowlers, including Abbott & Philander, with Duminy as the outright #6 bowler.
Thus 6 batsmen/5 specialist bowlers would be the way I’d go.
Batsmen 7-11 would simply HAVE to accept the responsibility of having to compensate (batting AND bowling wise) for the loss of a 7th batsman.
This implies that 2 of De Kock, Rossouw & Behardien would then miss out.
But it is a tough decision – neither our batting nor our bowling been totally convincing this tournament.
Hope whatever decision the Proteas make that hindsight will vindicate them.
A B bowling (& being more successful at it this tournament than JP & Farhaan) suggests that the Proteas will continue with Quentin as WK/Batsman.
Why else would AB be bowling?
If a 5th specialist bowler & the dropping of QdK were serious considerations, then surely JP & Farhaan would’ve been bowling AB’s overs – they need the practice, a boost in bowling confidence & an opportunity to stake their claim for selection for the QF.
AB bowling (in the match immediately prior to the QF) & having thus far taken 3 wickets (from few overs bowled) in this tournament, suggest that the Proteas see him as part of the 5th bowler together with either JP or Farhaan.
It’ll be tough on them, but it seems as though both Farhaan Behardien & Kyle Abbott will miss out on QF selection …
Anyway, that’s how it looks …
Steyn being whacked … 🙁
@ Angostura:
I agree, it is simpler said than done.
It is crazy that they dragged Mclaren along these last few years only to leave him behind at the last minute.
@ Angostura:
AB really does not look a bad bowler to be honest, last thing our over rate needs is another fast bowler with a long run up, and AB can take some pace off the ball.
In only 3 matches Abbott has taken more wickets within the 1 st 10 overs power play than Steyn & Morkel combined in 6 matches (of 1st 10 overs power play).
I think the stat is Abbott 6 wickets, Steyn 3 & Morkel 1.
That is if the Radio commentators are correct.
Are taking early wickets important, or not?
Kinda makes one think …
Personally id have rested amla today and have rossouw open today.
By process of elimination (see post 8 above) it looks as though the Proteas have already decided on the following QF lineup:
1. Hashim Amla
2. Quenton de Kock (might drop down to #6, with Riley opening)
3. Faf du Plessis
4. Riley Rossouw
5. AB de Villiers
6. David Miller
7. JP Duminy
8. Vernon Philander
9. Dale Steyn
10. Morné Morkel
11. Imran Tahir
In further confirmation, I also heard Peter Kirsten say this morning that it is Proteas policy that once a 1st choice injured player recovers fully, he is automatically re-selected to the 1st XI. Kirsten gave this as reason why Philander made today’s team at Abbott’s expense. If that continues to be the policy, then Faf (if fit) will come back into the team for the QF at the expense of his replacement, Farhaan Behardien. This is despite Farhaan’s very good showing today.
Quenton de Kock had a fair opportunity to bat today (unlike most of his other CWC innings), but I have to grudgingly admit that he really looked out of sorts. His timing of the ball was poor, & he did look as though he might lose his wicket at any stage, & this against sub-standard bowling. His confidence & belief must be shot, Sadly, right now he does not inspire confidence as a batsman.
Be that as it may, AB’s conduct today suggests that it has been decided: Quenton will keep wicket, & therefore be selected & bat (but exactly where in the order may still be a moot point).
Best that we saffas can now hope for is that both Quenton & Vern (as an all-rounder) hit form & contribute richly (in both of their respective all-rounder capacities) to a QF victory for the Proteas, which might then enable the Proteas selectors to select (only) 6 specialist batsmen & 5 specialist bowlers for the semis. Imo (if & when we reach the semis) the Proteas are really going to need that 6/5 split in personnel.
But, hey, I’ll be happy to be wrong & for the Proteas to go all the way & take the trophy with a 7/4 specialist split …
@ Angostura:
That would work.
But I’d like to see Quinton de Kock travel further down the order to 7. He can’t come in before Duminy. QdeK cannot be considered a top 6 batter in the Proteas set-up right now.
It beats me why people even waste their time to talk about the useless Proteas on a Cheslin Kolbe thread knowing very well that they will not win the world cup any time soon.
As far as Cheslin is concerned i think he is a great little player who will most likely win a Olympic medal for 7’s and play for the Boks in 15’s before his career is over.
With some luck he might even win a super rugby title too
@ Angostura:
No way that Riley can be considered at 4 ahead of AB. AB should bat at no. 4…no further discussion needed about that. Riley is in the team to stand in as either an opener or bat at no. 3.
Miller will be a waste at 6 as will Duminy be at 7. Therefor the lower middle order should be:
4. AB
5. Miller
6. Duminy
Our problem currently lies in the top 3 when chasing with de Kock totally out of sorts. I do believe that he will come right when it matters most. So, I’ll stay with Amla and de Kock to open with a toss up between Riley and Faf at 3. Both have been good in the tournament so far.
No 7 is the conundrum. What with Behardien putting a spanner in the works with his batting today. Do we want a proper batsman who can bowl a bit (Behardien) or a proper bowler who can bat a bit (Parnell) at 7? That is the question.
AB’s bowling today should be seen as an advantage. It means among him, Duminy and Behardien (if selected), they can split 10 overs while we still have 4 front line bowlers in Steyn, Morkel, Vern and Tahir to do the job. It therefor also means that with Steyn batting at 9, we don’t have that much of a tail.
Time for Steyn to come to the party or is he going to turn out like Kallis who could not carry the weight of responsibility bestowed on him in the big tournaments?
robzim wrote:
Now thats how you balance the extremes of optimism and pessimism 😆
@ MacroBull:
Lol. I do think a medal for Kolbe at the Olympics is a fairly save bet to take..at least a silver…. I won’t bet a cent on the Proteas ever again.. not sure about the Stormers either…
@ robzim:
Only see now that Schreuder is the starting SH. Never bet on Stormers when he starts. Too bad I already picked them for a win on bru. Will probably be the game we lose at Newlands this year.
Fukkit AC! It could’ve been 5/5.
@ Angostura:
post 14 refers ” Quenton de Kock had a fair opportunity to bat today (unlike most of his other CWC innings)” Im not sure i understand that. As an opener he has had, together with Amla, the most opportunities to bat. What is “fair opportunity”? The batsmen coming in later when the slog is on and lose their wickets chasing sixes have less than a fair opportunity compared to an opener who has potentially a full 50 overs to bat
@ nortie:
Fair opportunity = He showed patience this time, displaying a measured, more discerning approach, tried to judge & acclimatise to the pace of the pitch & to curtail his instinctively aggressive batting & in the process he personally (for a change in this tournament) faced 7 1/2 overs of the allotted 50. Also, this time he was not out to a jaffer of a ball, but rather to a poor shot.
“Ample” (rather than “fair”) opportunity would perhaps have conveyed my intention more accurately. In this sense fair (or ample) opportunity is something a batsman affords himself by his mindset & style of batting, rather than merely his position in the batting order.
Be that as it may, my impression of this CWC is that batting in the final 15 overs is more prolific (easier?) than in the first 10 overs (which mostly need to be faced by opening batsmen). In this tournament to date the 2 batsmen who have scored the most runs are non-openers; likewise the 3 batsmen with highest tournament batting averages are also non-openers.
match on in Hamilton …
22 @ Angostura:
Ok, understand now.
Agree about the final overs being easier, balls are softer, fields must be in, but you need a batsman being set to exploit it properly.
If AB can come in at over 39 and hit 149, imagine what he can do with 50 overs if he were to open and bat through….Gayle’s 215 will look trivial compared to what AB could potentially get
@ nortie:
Unfortunately AB’s record suggests otherwise:
His record as an ODI opener is not that great.
He is best batting as a floating #5, coming in from about the 28th over – AB does not bat like a person likely to bat for 50 overs at the rate & intensity that he does against top flight bowlers swinging or seaming the ball in the initial conditions – AB is goer, 2nd to none – he should therefore bat in a goer’s position, one wouldn’t want to sacrifice him to jaffer of a ball early on. One wouldn’t want to tranform AB into another Gayle or McCullum who would just come off occasionally… what a waste that would be.
(Imo)
NZ 33/2
25 @ Angostura:
His record may not show his capabilities, but I’m not going according to stats and what he did in the past, I’m saying that should he open and bat through 50 overs he is one of the few players to rewrite the record books for highest ODI score.
By that I mean if he can inflict such damage in half the amount of overs the openers have available, imagine what he could do if he opens and carries his bat through the innings
@ nortie:
Of course,
one can imagine anything …
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