Jean wary of Blue backlash
Jean de Villiers believes the returning All Blacks will lend the Blues an attacking edge that’s not to be underestimated.
The Blues backline contains some of the best runners in the business with linebreakers Anthony Tuitavake and Isaia Toeava recently joined by a world-class finisher in Joe Rockocko. Forget the aberration at Loftus Versfeld, as with several more All Blacks lending their pack some bite, the Blues should have a decent platform from which to launch a typical assault.
The Blues conceded seven tries last week, but the first-choice Stormers side conceded four of their own. According to De Villiers, this places the Cape franchise under immense pressure to perform on Saturday.
“After conceding four tries, the team you’d least like to face is the Blues, ” he told keo.co.za. “They have such fantastic attacking qualities. We’ll have to be at the top of our game.”
The Stormers have made one change with Percy Montgomery replacing the injured Conrad Jantjes. One Springbok fullback slots in for another, but when it comes to experience and an imposing kicking game, Montgomery is a clear cut above.
“You don’t get more stability than 102 Tests at the back, and Percy will be a massive help to myself and guys like Peter Grant,” said De Villiers. “It’s all about making the right decisions, and when you have experience like that on your side it makes it that much easier.”
Both De Villiers and coach Rassie Erasmus have talked about the disappointment of last week where they failed to pick up the four-try bonus against the Reds. There will be no room for complacency against the Blues.
“The thing about South African teams is that we don’t really bury the weaker sides, but when we play the bigger teams we stand up for the challenge,” said De Villiers. “It’s a big game for the Blues but it’s a massive game for us at home.”
Erasmus also lamented a poor second half showing against the Reds, but believes his charges are in better shape than they were at the beginning of the 2008 season. The Stormers lost their first three matches during which time they only scored one try.
“The first three matches last year were disappointing, we were creating opportunities but we weren’t finishing,” said Erasmus. “This year we’re creating even more opportunities and unlike the beginning of last season we’ve already scored a few tries. If we get the opportunity to finish against the Blues, we must take it.
“It’s a cliche but you have to find the right balance. At times we were structured last year and at times we were a little too adventurous. It’s about making the right decisions and finding the right balance.”
By Jon Cardinelli
February 26th, 2009 at 11:39 am
#48 TDN:
agree
February 26th, 2009 at 11:40 am
we are not losing any scrums but we are not exactly putting the opp. team under pressure. lineouts good though.
February 26th, 2009 at 11:54 am
JD “Mollig” is niks anders as ‘n vet baba nie…
February 26th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
#53 grootblousmile:
dont be nasty. dont let us get personal.
February 26th, 2009 at 12:09 pm
Ag kommaan man, hys nie SO bad nie!:)
February 26th, 2009 at 12:12 pm
#53 grootblousmile:
Hahaha, bulle het selfs ‘n paar botter bulletjies daar…
February 26th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
#53 grootblousmile: jys net kwaad omdat julle nie vir Jaco Van Der Westhuyzen kon kry nie. Nou dat Hougaard weg is, wie gaan Naas se favourite dropgoals skop? Jaco doen it mos sommer uit sy eie kwartgebied uit.
February 26th, 2009 at 4:48 pm
Is this his way of telling us we’re screwed?
February 26th, 2009 at 5:36 pm
#35 Panthera leo krugeri: THANK YOU!!! It amazes me how the losers on this site say Watson is too loose when he puts in more tackles than any1 else!
Its like these people dont know what the word “objectivity” means!
February 26th, 2009 at 6:12 pm
#35 Panthera leo krugeri: out of the whole team actually.
#59 knight: fact. People see what they want to see and it could also be a combination of that and they live with the results of other people’s opinions… people who I won’t mention
February 26th, 2009 at 6:30 pm
#59 knight: I was at the game last week and Luke was doing a lot of hard work. It was, in fact Schalla that was surprisingly quiet and he also missed a vital tackle that paved the way for the Reds last try. Luke was brilliant.
February 26th, 2009 at 6:32 pm
#61 Stormerfan: Luke was brilliant. But I’m not so sure Schalk was any different than what he was last year… maybe it’s just that I don’t recognise him
February 26th, 2009 at 6:44 pm
#62 SpringbokSarah: I think we all know what the big hulk is capable of and I think he lost a little a bit of intensity. It could be that he is still not 100% so maybe on Saturday he will be at his brilliant best.
He has been known to be almost wreckless in his approach and he started international rugby at a very young age. It eventually takes it’s toll on you, hence the reason he was considering a move to Saracens.
February 26th, 2009 at 6:49 pm
#63 Stormerfan: But he decided no. Schalk hasn’t been his best for a bit now. I don’t think he’ll be his best on Saturday
February 26th, 2009 at 7:04 pm
#64 SpringbokSarah: It is no for now because he does not want to jeopardise his opportunity of playing against the British Lions. He might leave at the end of this season with the Stormers. I was at the Hotel where the Saracens stayed while they were here for the warm up game against the Stormers and they seemed very confident of getting his signature. So we will wait and see.