Lets hope 2010 is the year of the Shimla !!!

You are correct that Watson’s skilful and intelligent play and his reading of the defensive needs and the need to attack from that base will be missed as well as his coolhead. Koster as you say is the closest in that regardand I share you hope that he comes back to the loose-forwards where his soft hands and other skills can be used.

Negative coaches will always try to blunt the attacking play of a superior team just to keep the score as close as possible but nothing kills the game quite like that ping pong or kick and charge ploys. The 2007 WC was the most boring rugby spectacle in the fortunately only short history of that tournament.

Thanks.Lets hope for an exciting S14 from all the teams, esp. the Stormers.

The captain is worrying me too – I agree that he is not what he used to be as a player and I also have serious doubts about his ability as a captain being a hothead who spent far too much time in the sin bin.

The balance of the loose trio could also be a problem – 3 fairly similar big ball carriers – we are really going to miss Luke Watson’s intelligence and linking game this season.
(maybe Koster will make his reappearance as a loosie in the not too distant future?)

You are right about the new application of the laws and if the refs continue to apply it to the letter of the law who knows how the game will evolve during the super 14. Hopefully it will lead to more attacking and positive play. On the other hand, coaches might find ways to counter the intentions of the administrators and we might be back to the ping pong battles of the last few seasons – lets hope not.

Anyway, it is getting late, nice chatting and lets see who gets selected by Alister/Rassie – it’s going to be one hell of an interesting season I think.

I am not as confident as most Stormers/WP followers are but it is not because of the lack of adequate players but just the leadership from top to bottom( administrators,coaches, captaincy included). Even on Sat. the captain was hot-headed after being dumped by the Boland fh and again at least twice thereafter and then fortunately he went off injured. I hope that between Tiaan, Andries, Van Zyl, Habana,Fourie and even vermeulen and Flo enough pressure can be exercised on the present captain who in my opinion has not since his neck injury played two consecutive games at the level he played before that injury.

On the FH position I completely understand where you are coming from and I know your concern but I have a slightly different read on the stricter applications of of the laws and how it will affect the attacking team. I believe they are to be applied to favour the attacking team and thus refs. will be looking for the ball to emerge quickly( no slowing down the emerging ball is to be tolerated) from the breakdown so that the attack can flow on. If this indeed happens is De Waal more effective in getting the potent backline away than Grant? Will the need for a kicking fh still be as important?

It all depends on the refs. and no one knows yet. We all should have a better take on this after, at least, the first two rounds of the S14. Only time will tell, but I hope the attacking team is advantaged as this will suit our WP/Stormer type of play.

#14

With a bit of luck the Stormers have a good chance to make the semi’s this year.

Re the flyhalf issue:

I would like nothing more than for the Stormers to be able to play a running game. Unfortunately, in my opinion, under the current laws and with the very structured and organized defenses of the top teams it is very difficult and sometimes even impossible to achieve.

Ideally, the Stormers (or any team) should have an all round type of flyhalf with the necessary distribution skills, attacking flair, tactical ability and a good kicking game. Here I am thinking of players like Phil Bennett, Hugo Porta, Jonny Wilkenson, Dan Carter and Matt Gittau who have or use to have all these qualities. (Herchelle Gibbs and Peter Kirsten probably would also have been in this group if they have decided to concentrate on rugby)

As here are currently no such players (not even remotely) available we need to find the second best option and that is where I think de Waal is at the moment the best. Peter Grant’s kicking game is just not up to standard (I finally lost all my faith in him during the semi against the Bulls last year where his pathetic tactical and line kicking largely contributed to us losing the match). Further, despite of what some are saying, he has also never really convinced as a running flyhalf or distributor – he is very predictable and easy to read by the defenses and hardly ever ignited any spark in the backline (the Stormers’ try scoring stats during the last few seasons with him at no 10 proves this)

At least de Waal is a brilliant kicker (tactical, line, and for the posts) who will win more games for a team than he loses and imo we should play him until Cronje is ready to take over or until we find (buy or develop) someone else. He is also underrated as a distributor and is in fact one of the best passers of a rugby ball in the local game.

So, what I am saying is let us rather go on the short term for a limited player who is at least brilliant in the very important aspect of kicking and at least average in the other aspects than for someone who is a far below average kicker and only average in the other aspects.

Grant should compete at 12 with the likes of de Jongh, Newman and Bosch (de Jongh is actually better suited at outside centre but at this stage of his career cannot compete with Fourie)

My friend Skopskiet will of course disagree with just about everything I have posted here At least our music taste is fairly similar.

That’s your bad choice then as there are many physios. that I saw at Groote Schuur and Somerset hospitals that would make you look at them in the hallways a second or third time.

hey what are the Stormers/WP going to do this S14. I read that you are big on De Waal though I accept you do not have much choice.

I will say if the Stormers want to be competitive with the new applications of the elvs that survived 2008 then they must be encouraged to play old W.P.rugby with a FH that can set the potent backs away. Thus I say Grant as Cronje has not been blooded yet, not even at W.P. level.

LoL, I was never that lucky – the physios were all males with hands like gorillas and forearms like Popeye – I guess it was a prerequisite to apply that type of procedure properly.

I never mentioned anything about being an ex Matie to them, just in case.

But as you say it worked and nothing succeeds like success. You must understand that that pain was due to necrotic tissue needing to be broken up to expedite the recovery. Also because you are/were a Matie Tim probably told them to increase the pain level. For your sake I hope those physiotherapists were all beautiful Cape ladies who would then (s)mother you after the treatment.

#6

I suffered many hours of pure agony undergoing cross friction (also called crucifixions) applied to chronic muscle tears. I blame Tim for that as he influenced quite a few sport physiotherapists to apply that technique with unbridled sadism – it worked though!

So excuse me if I take a little dig at him every now and then – it is only because of that!

I said I am not interested and I doubt whether you are seriously intersted and it is for you a loaded topic on this site. You can still do some good here as you have enough humility in you to so do.
Very cryptic, I know.

I have to run again though – I have judo practice to go to.

Not trying to avoid any issues, I’ve just been so busy and have forgotten the exact content of the response you wanted from me?

Post here and I’ll try to have a look at it later?

Oh, right. Sorry, I’ve been away for a while – that thread was, what, two weeks ago?

If you can provide me with the response you require again, I can have a look at it?

Robbo are you knocking the doyen of Exercise Physiology in S.Africa? That is naughty if you are. Remember this is not Ikeys vs. Maties now, this is international research you are messing with and Ikeys will demand your scalp.

I note you have finally worked up some stamina after very many days, but I guess not enough to comprehensively fulfill your promise.

Relax I am not intersted as I understand your reluctance. You are probably just scared that your responses will show your ‘friends’ here the real colour of your petticoat, correct?

Yip, Prof Noakes will probably not be too happy about that.

Watermeyer and Maloney were the star performers for Pukke last week, too.

Gagiano’s always been class – very experienced campaigner at this level.

Am impressed with Hartzenberg, the man comes off a match only two days ago!

Their no 8, Gagiano, is having a fantastic game while the up and coming no 6 Hartzenberg seems to spend most of the time in the backline. For Pukke, the 2 centres Jacobs and Watermeyer as well as scrumhalf, Maloney impressed.

UCT should fancy themselves to win from here as they will be playing with the strong wind.