Jean wary of Blue backlash

26 Feb 2009

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



65 Comments

Pages: [1] 2 » Show All

  • 1.Disa: Reply to this comment
    26 Feb 2009, 06:01 am

    Fken duif

  • 2.brendon: Reply to this comment
    26 Feb 2009, 06:08 am

    Stormers supporters weary of kak results…

  • 3.anderkantdiewater: Reply to this comment
    26 Feb 2009, 07:06 am

    Gonna be an interesting game. Whomever decides to lift their game in round 3 will be the victor. I also think the return of Rococoko, Moa and Kaino will turn the Blues around.
    Lets hope the Stormers get their game in order (the full 80 mins) and bag this one.

  • 4.I know nothing: Reply to this comment
    26 Feb 2009, 07:15 am

    The Stormers owe their supporters a much better deal than the **** they’ve dished up in the first two games.

  • 5.superBul: Reply to this comment
    26 Feb 2009, 07:17 am

    How dof is your captain.
    “Jean de Villiers believes the returning All Blacks will lend the Blues an attacking edge that’s not to be underestimated”
    in other words they did underestimate the Blues before the new recruits came over.

  • 6.Disa: Reply to this comment
    26 Feb 2009, 07:20 am

    #5 superBul: Ten minste snuif ons kaptein nie coke uit n hoer se doos uit nie

  • 7.Disa: Reply to this comment
    26 Feb 2009, 07:20 am

    Dit was lelik sorry

  • 8.anderkantdiewater: Reply to this comment
    26 Feb 2009, 07:24 am

    Eina donner dit was seer.

  • 9.A_Poc: Reply to this comment
    26 Feb 2009, 07:24 am

    ROFL. ja dit was rerig lelik

  • 10.anderkantdiewater: Reply to this comment
    26 Feb 2009, 07:25 am

    Ek dink iemand gan jou dalk wil bl!ksem.

  • 11.wp_boytjie: Reply to this comment
    26 Feb 2009, 07:33 am

    Dank Vader vir Joost. Ek kan deesdae my Bulle vriende met hul Watson grappe net so stilmaak met die blou bul snuif nie van n hoer af nie….

  • 12.money_man: Reply to this comment
    26 Feb 2009, 07:34 am

    Expect Watson, Bekker and Brits to leave all the tackling of the rampaging Blues backs to the tight three, Burger, Vermeulen and Januarie…

  • 13.Staal: Reply to this comment
    26 Feb 2009, 07:51 am

    IMO….some of us are either blind or stupid cause i saw a Stormers team that were a massive improvement than 2008. The game vs the Sharks were a monster.

    The Reds are gonna klap a few teams if they stay injury free.

    I honestly feel the Stormers will be there come the semi’s.

    OK it must be said that there are players in this Stormer team that are utterly useless (imo) but still Rassie are going in the right direction with them.

    Jou dop…. ons gaan nog verras wees…. dink ek.

  • 14.K9 Pavement-special: Reply to this comment
    26 Feb 2009, 07:55 am

    #13 Staal: More Staal. O bloed maar ek stem nie saam nie ;)

  • 15.Staal: Reply to this comment
    26 Feb 2009, 08:00 am

    #14 K9 Pavement-special: More ou maat. Dit sal nie die eerste keer wees wat ek verkeerd was nie! :lol: En ook nie die laaste nie.

    Moet ook erken …. ek gaan nie in trane uitbars as ek verkeerd was oor die Stormers nie! :lol:

  • 16.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    26 Feb 2009, 08:13 am

    #11 wp_boytjie: :lol:

    #15 Staal: more oom yster :mrgreen: hope ur still doing good

    en moenine sleg voel nie oom yster . jy weet jy weet jy is eintlik a sharks ondersteuner :wink: lol

  • 17.K9 Pavement-special: Reply to this comment
    26 Feb 2009, 08:19 am

    #16 sharks_lover: Staal is ‘n undercover Leeu.

  • 18.TDN: Reply to this comment
    26 Feb 2009, 08:21 am

    #6 Disa: Harsh….but fair!

  • 19.BULLSBRAINSBRAWN: Reply to this comment
    26 Feb 2009, 08:21 am

    Hiers nou vir jou n ding! Joost le rustig en snuif en hy word by die gesprek betrek.

    Die Stormers sal maar hulle praatwerk op die veld moet doen en nie so groot praat hier nie!

  • 20.skunkie: Reply to this comment
    26 Feb 2009, 08:30 am

    #12 money_man:
    bekker is the top tackler in the stormers squad for the last 2 games, versusco stats. luke made huge turnovers and 2nd with tackles, as well as brits but he missed 5 tackles…

  • 21.st.a.t.w: Reply to this comment
    26 Feb 2009, 08:47 am

    i remember chavanga made rokoko look like a schoolboy on edenpark a couple of seosens back,in that same game i think hendrik gerber tackeled king carlos out of the game and of the field

  • 22.bokbal: Reply to this comment
    26 Feb 2009, 08:48 am

    Die game gaan erg tight wees…net jammer ek moet by ‘n troue wees as die game aan is. Ek kan dit nie glo nie, dis CRAZY!

  • 23.skunkie: Reply to this comment
    26 Feb 2009, 08:54 am

    one on one tackling will be crucial for this game.

  • 24.K9 Pavement-special: Reply to this comment
    26 Feb 2009, 08:56 am

    #22 bokbal: Verstaan nie hoe mense in die rugbyseisoen trou nie. Woensdag voor die magistraat klink reg vir my.

  • 25.mbaxman93: Reply to this comment
    26 Feb 2009, 08:59 am

    lets hope tonderai chavanga gets a chance to stretch his wings coz we all know he could burn any rugby player for pace anyday

  • 26.K9 Pavement-special: Reply to this comment
    26 Feb 2009, 09:03 am

    #25 mbaxman93: All depends if Bekker is going to pass and what lines Bekker will be running.

  • 27.Lion till I die: Reply to this comment
    26 Feb 2009, 09:03 am

    #22 bokbal:

    Jy’s nie regtig n man nie.

  • 28.tight head: Reply to this comment
    26 Feb 2009, 09:06 am

    The reality is this:
    The Blues will be a lot better than last week.
    They have a much better tight five than the Stormers on paper.
    If they play a game that is tighter and does not allow the game to become helter skelter they have a good chance of winning.
    However the Stormers have to win this game.
    If they lose it will once again only be as a result of the loose game plan they have favoured.
    It would be totally unacceptable for the Stormers to lose this game.

  • 29.Lion till I die: Reply to this comment
    26 Feb 2009, 09:07 am

    #26 K9 Pavement-special:

    He must be the top centre in the country. The only centre in world rugby that can steal line-out ball

  • 30.siener: Reply to this comment
    26 Feb 2009, 09:10 am

    This is going to be a very tough game. Also, if the Stormers don’t win this one then we might as well prepare ourselves for yet another middle of the log finish this season.

  • 31.Lion till I die: Reply to this comment
    26 Feb 2009, 09:14 am

    The team under the radar that I think has a good chance of making the semi’s are the Chiefs.

    They had two really tough games to start with. Crusaders and Waratahs away and they got bonuspoints out of both. They are a good team with really good players.

    Think the Sharks are in for a tough one come saturday.

    And who can tell me why the hell the Cheetahs and Reds are playing on a sunday!!!

  • 32.bokbal: Reply to this comment
    26 Feb 2009, 09:17 am

    I hope JD performs this weekend, I am sure he can surprise us all. I think he is a very underestimated loosehead prop in terms of his scrumming abilities. He should just start doing some more work on the field when not scrumming.

  • 33.Staal: Reply to this comment
    26 Feb 2009, 09:22 am

    #16 sharks_lover: Hey….. al haai wat ek laaik is die in die water! :lol:

    #17 K9 Pavement-special: Om eerlik te wees moet ek erken iets issie lekker in daai JOburg nie….laaikie die plekkie…..en die Lions is goed maar is hul great? :lol:

  • 34.Staal: Reply to this comment
    26 Feb 2009, 09:25 am

    #22 bokbal: eina…..

  • 35.Panthera leo krugeri: Reply to this comment
    26 Feb 2009, 09:30 am

    #12 money_man:

    Point of fact, Watson made the most tackles of all the forwards last week, so retract your statement.

  • 36.Gambit25: Reply to this comment
    26 Feb 2009, 10:09 am

    I also thought Watson had a decent game last week. He did well and i think its commendable that he is giving his all for the Stormers.

    I don’t know if any of you saw this, but at the Sharks game, as was it Schalk’s 50th, so was it Luke’s. When Luke came on as a blood replacement, he affectively ran on for his 50th appearance for the Stormers. And while the crowd booed him on, Jean De Villiers walked up to him and congradulated him on his big occasion. This despite Watson’s comments about the Springboks…

    I thought that was quite a great moment! So you call our captain “dof?” You don’t know better!!!

  • 37.Gambit25: Reply to this comment
    26 Feb 2009, 10:13 am

    Having said that, its really frustrating that the Stormers are not “gelling” together as a team under what seams to be such a good captain.

    Anyway, hope the Stormers blow hot this weekend… GO STORMERS!!!

  • 38.grootblousmile: Reply to this comment
    26 Feb 2009, 10:21 am

    Hellooooooooooo

  • 39.grootblousmile: Reply to this comment
    26 Feb 2009, 10:25 am

    Expect the Stormers to come out firing in the first 20 to 30 minutes, then have a bit of a relapse….. then start the 2nd half well but expect the Blues to finish very strong !

    With the changes in the Blues team, all quality players, this is going to be a toughy !

  • 40.Andre_WP: Reply to this comment
    26 Feb 2009, 10:42 am

    Eish , not going to be easy one that’s for sure. Stormers will have to start firing now. Can’t afford to lose another game. Puke watson will score us two tries :-)

  • 41.grootblousmile: Reply to this comment
    26 Feb 2009, 10:43 am

    Lykmy nie iemand wil oor of met die Stormers praat nie…. soos die spreekwoordelike “boetie innie tronk”…

    Daar’s baaaie meer aksie oppie Tjarks thread !

  • 42.Corndog: Reply to this comment
    26 Feb 2009, 10:46 am

    #41 grootblousmile: Dis omdat hulle ons harte altyd so seer maak. Weet nie eintlik wat om oor hulle te se nie. Die hart se dit gaan n slagting op Nuweland wees en hulle gaan almal se bekke toespeel. Die kop se dit lyk na n goeie Blues span met van die groot name terug.

  • 43.grootblousmile: Reply to this comment
    26 Feb 2009, 10:50 am

    #42 Corndog: Mieliehond, janee… daar’s ‘n paar games wat moeilik is om te pick hierdie week…

  • 44.Corndog: Reply to this comment
    26 Feb 2009, 10:52 am

    #43 grootblousmile: Is ook in twee minds met die Stormers/Blues en Sharks/Chiefs games die res is redelik straightforward net n kwessie van wat die margins is.

  • 45.bokbal: Reply to this comment
    26 Feb 2009, 11:07 am

    Het iemand my post oor JD gelees? Wat dink julle van hom as loskop vir die Stormers?

  • 46.bergbok: Reply to this comment
    26 Feb 2009, 11:24 am

    #44 Corndog: Kan ek jou help? Tip die chiefs en die blues en jy’s ‘n wenner die naweek.

  • 47.Corndog: Reply to this comment
    26 Feb 2009, 11:26 am

    #46 bergbok: Sal maar sien, ek het so R10 op die spanne gesit wat ek nie op Superbru gekies het nie so dan as ek verkeerd is wen ek nogsteeds erens.

  • 48.TDN: Reply to this comment
    26 Feb 2009, 11:33 am

    #45 bokbal: Agree Bokbal, but I do feel that he needs to do more than just scrum if he wants to put his hand up and be noticed as a player of quality.

  • 49.skunkie: Reply to this comment
    26 Feb 2009, 11:33 am

    #45 bokbal:
    good but not GREAT in the scrums, other than that he does nothing, minimum tackles, and doest carry the ball ever? dont think i have seen him run with a ball ever?

  • 50.bokbal: Reply to this comment
    26 Feb 2009, 11:36 am

    #49 skunkie: Very true now that I think about it. He was a different player at school and under 21 level though…

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