Stormers must stay sensible
11 Mar 2010
Forget an expansive performance. Aggressive defence, clinical lineout work and an abrasive breakdown display will set the stage for a win over the Hurricanes.
Ever the diplomat, Allister Coetzee said the Stormers will keep the ball in hand on Saturday. For those desperate for the Sevens-style touch rugby showcased in the Lions vs Chiefs fixture, this may be cause for excitement. For those who took note of Coetzee’s comments earlier in the week, it’s clear the Stormers will keep with a more sensible approach.
Ball retention is the Stormers’ priority, and this means the Cape franchise will look to make better use of their possession than they have in previous weeks. The decision-making hasn’t been great, as players have often kicked when the run was on, or run from their own territory when the clearance was more prudent. They’ve also dropped the ball at crucial moments, and a number of try-scoring opportunities have gone begging.
Against bottom-four teams like the Lions and Highlanders, it’s not a big deal, but you can’t squander chances against teams like the Hurricanes. The Stormers missed out against the Brumbies, and they’ve no doubt taken a lesson from that error-strewn defeat.
You can’t set out to beat a team like the Canes with an all-out attack. As disjointed as the Kiwis are at the moment, they have the individuals capable of turning the spilled passes that have characterised the Stormers backline’s season into try-scoring chances. They are lethal on the counter, but are limited if you tighten your approach.
The Stormers defence has been nothing short of magnificent. They’ve conceded two tries and 48 points in four matches. The miserly Crusaders are a distant second with seven tries and 84 points conceded. The Stormers’ line defence has been impresssive, but so too has their defence at the breakdown. Schalk Burger and Francois Louw have worked well together under the new laws, and pose a big threat to the Canes at the tackle.
The lineout is another strong point, and after two tries earned through powerful mauls that would’ve had northern hemisphere critics out of their armchairs, why would they want to move away from what works? Sure the Canes pack has several All Black individuals, but as the early rounds have proved, they’re not nearly as dangerous as a unit.
Coetzee wants his backline attack to keep striving for that elusive synergy, and has even uttered the Peter de Villiers phrase of ‘when we come off, we’re going to be one helluva force’. You have to appreciate what the Stormers are trying to do in their quest to become the complete team. Their scrum is steady, their breakdown and lineout is thriving, their defence is top of the competition and their kicking game, although still lacking distance, is working. The backline attack is the only concern, but now is not the time to ‘keep trying’.
The Canes thrive in broken play, so why give them the opportunity of scooping a knock on and scoring at the other end of the park? The Stormers have already beaten the Waratahs, they should have beaten the Brumbies and are favourites to beat the Hurricanes. An ugly win will suffice when you’re playing the top teams. As it is in Test rugby, you shouldn’t increase the risk by persisting with something that is yet to come off.
The Stormers’ finishing requires work, but these ambitions need to be placed on hold for the time being. The Canes are too great a counter-attacking threat, and as any coach will tell you, you don’t play to the opposition’s strengths. As Coetzee himself has said, the Stormers want to starve the Canes of possession, and that begins with respecting your own ball. This means playing tighter, smarter rugby.
Whether it rains in Cape Town this Saturday or not, the humidity afflicting the Mother City at present is hardly conducive to an expansive spectacle. These conditions will suit the hosts in what some may call a more conservative approach and others may call a winning one. As a team, the Canes have shown nothing to suggest they’ll trouble the Stormers at home, but of course, this all depends on the Cape side staying true to their winning formula.
By Jon Cardinelli
367 Comments
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11 Mar 2010, 11:56 am
@Transformation: AC didn’t get the Bok job he deserved so he is doing the hard graft twat,this is his 1st season as coach and it’s starting to show,give the guy a chance dumbass..!
11 Mar 2010, 11:58 am
@Storm outta hell:
So now PDV is not a proper coach??
Dude, he is getting the job done at the moment.
I think he is a very humble person to boot. The way the media portrays him in downright pathetic.
I think he has done well with the Boks and will go down in history as one of our most successful coaches.
11 Mar 2010, 11:59 am
@Gonzo Journalism: Auckland is known as the city of sails mate, where I lived it was 30 minute east or west and you were at opposite sides of the north island..
11 Mar 2010, 11:59 am
@wpw: Pdv definitely knows a lot about rugby, I just think he should be more aware of what he says and does. I also think that he has a great coaching staff and he has a very experienced core group of players which obviously contributed to his success.
11 Mar 2010, 11:59 am
@Oubaas2009:
Yeah like thay would say in England….”he’s aving a laugh mate”
Goode is just enjoying mucking about the southern hemisphere, in the sunshine, probably got a bet on with his mates regarding yellow cards
if there the Fifa WC was on you would see him getting arrested amongst the English football fans
cant take that owe seriously
11 Mar 2010, 12:01 pm
@The Almighty Shaun:
Nah dude, I will try my utmost to refrain from making insults.
I think I am in a good mood today cos it’s my birthday tomorrow and I’m looking forward to it!!!
11 Mar 2010, 12:02 pm
@The Almighty Shaun: You don’t criticize, you just insult.
11 Mar 2010, 12:03 pm
@Gonzo Journalism: If you look closely at Jannie Kanniescrumnie and Goode, they might have been seperated at birth.
11 Mar 2010, 12:04 pm
@stormer in a teacup: 149agreed Sharkies looked much better with Ruan 9 Goode 10.. and Waylon must start b4 Swannie..!
11 Mar 2010, 12:05 pm
@5t0rmer54eva:
And yet PDV has more coaching experience than both Gary and **** put together.
He has been coaching for about 15 years now.
I think he is underrated and the media is at fault for that.
They obviously have agendas and need to ‘sell news’
I know he has made a few mistakes or silly comments but he is not the first coach to do so AND more importantly, I think he despises the media because he can see them for what they really are.
Why should he ‘koop gevriet’ by them?? They don’t deserve it after the way they have treated him.
11 Mar 2010, 12:06 pm
@Storm outta hell: #151 sure chap, so AC deserved the job before Heyneke Meyer?
11 Mar 2010, 12:06 pm
@wpw: PdV is a great guy and he’s done fantastically well,I just think we could have done better.
PdV is also a ‘goofball’
11 Mar 2010, 12:07 pm
Look, PDV is not perfect but he is doing a great job.
I know people who have met him and they are astounded at his passion for the game.
I’m not sure if you guys know a bloke called PaarlBok??
Ask him for his opinion as well… you will be pleasantly surprised!!!
11 Mar 2010, 12:09 pm
@Transformation: ag please…your words not mine…Heyneke was the most successful coach at the time but he was far too pale..AC would have bought continuity in game plan and management and he’s the right shade of tan…WHY is this so hard to understand…???
11 Mar 2010, 12:10 pm
@Oubaas2009: LOL ……and both there presence there causing very irrational criminal behavior amongst themselves! Its an identity thing, the field aint big enough for the two of them! like you cant have 2x John Wayne’s in the same town!!!
11 Mar 2010, 12:11 pm
@wpw: See,there’s this mindset out there that Divvy can do no wrong,the blinkers are on and anyone who has a different opinion is attacked…I call that the Malema syndrome..!
11 Mar 2010, 12:12 pm
@Storm outta hell:
Well, we will never really know if AC would have done a better job.
2008 is behind us. I still believe we struggled because of the ELV’s.
As far as AC is concerned… I met him a month or so ago and he is just about the nicest guy I’ve met in a long long time!!!
And he was very humble to boot!!
11 Mar 2010, 12:16 pm
@wpw: Please don’t think I don’t like the guy. The current bok team has to be one of the best ever and he obviously had a lot to do with that but he does occasionally do weird things.
11 Mar 2010, 12:17 pm
@Storm outta hell:
Nah dude… he is definitely not perfect BUT he is better than a lot of coaches we’ve had in the past.
11 Mar 2010, 12:19 pm
@5t0rmer54eva:
I know dude…
11 Mar 2010, 12:20 pm
@wpw: No,we will never know,but I have my opinion and I feel strongly about it…just like I felt strongly that Morne Steyn and Heinreich Brussouw should have been picked for the B&I Lions tour..as it happened they came thru’ by default(injury+suspension)but at least they were there to save the tour for us,
11 Mar 2010, 12:22 pm
@wpw: Enough about PdV, what do u think will happen at Newlands come Saturday night? I think things are going to come together nicely for the backline. I just wish Gio was 10kg heavier, that boy plays his heart out.
11 Mar 2010, 12:22 pm
@5t0rmer54eva: Like I said.. Moenie Huil Nie!!!
11 Mar 2010, 12:24 pm
@wpw: He’s got the best record and it will stand for some time…maybe forever…but don’t be surprised if we lose the 2011 WC he steps down and AC takes over.
11 Mar 2010, 12:26 pm
@5t0rmer54eva: Kokerot will make a huge impact coming off the bench once Naquelevuki has run the defenders ragged and dragged them legless all over the pitch
11 Mar 2010, 12:27 pm
@Storm outta hell: Hoe is dit daar onder… Hullllllooooooo lllo lo.. Great echo!!
11 Mar 2010, 12:27 pm
@The Almighty Shaun: Wa was jy?
11 Mar 2010, 12:27 pm
@Storm outta hell:
They were definitely stand out players but i suppose each coach has his favourites and Ruan and Schalk have been in the system for a while.
What do you think of Jake’s comments that he would still have selected Schalk ahead of Brussow if he was coach???
11 Mar 2010, 12:29 pm
@5t0rmer54eva: Did daylight blind you.. I was here all the time
11 Mar 2010, 12:30 pm
@5t0rmer54eva:
I think it will be VERY tough for the Stormers but we MUST play to our potential.
I will be over the moon if we can put the Canes away!!!
11 Mar 2010, 12:31 pm
@Storm outta hell: That’s a picture I like to have in my head. Do u think AC should have played Deon after his performance Last week, that boy got speed for a hooker, but I also like Tiaan a lot.
11 Mar 2010, 12:33 pm
@wpw: I totally lambasted Jake at the time,couldn’t believe HE was being so short sighted and blinkered…still waiting for an apollogy
11 Mar 2010, 12:33 pm
@wpw: Ditto!!
11 Mar 2010, 12:36 pm
@5t0rmer54eva: Teabag’s the man to front up in the scrum…but to have Deon AND kokkerot coming on in the last 1/4 is gonna make any team **** their pants…when the game opens up there’s gonna be HUGE k@k upwind…
11 Mar 2010, 12:38 pm
U know who I rate as a coach….. Treu. I know he’s a sevens coach but I think that ouk can think “outside the box” and his roots obviously comes from the 15 man format.
11 Mar 2010, 12:39 pm
@Storm outta hell: Well said!!!
11 Mar 2010, 12:41 pm
@Storm outta hell:
And Januarie will bring much needed mongrel and expreience when he comes on for Dewald!!
11 Mar 2010, 12:43 pm
@wpw: Yah,yah…man and Ball..just when we need the go forward..!
11 Mar 2010, 12:47 pm
We’re gonna lose
11 Mar 2010, 12:48 pm
@Storm outta hell: kokkerot?
11 Mar 2010, 12:50 pm
@SpringbokSarah:
Gio Aplon!!
I don’t know who gave him that name. It might have been Bob Skinstad.
11 Mar 2010, 12:50 pm
@SpringbokSarah: Why? Just natural pessimism? We have a strong all-round squad who are playing positive creative rugby and defending like demons. Have faith young person.
11 Mar 2010, 12:51 pm
@SpringbokSarah: Aplon’s nic..the way he runs…difficult to smack down..Newlands crowd is picking up on it
11 Mar 2010, 12:51 pm
@Storm outta hell:
Ricky is a very good player!!!
11 Mar 2010, 12:52 pm
@wpw: Aplon is a star. WP have a great tradition of producing little guys with the hearts of Lions. Breyton, Brent, Gio and Joe are part of a fine heritage.
11 Mar 2010, 12:57 pm
@Storm outta hell & @wpw: I thought it was Apples? Lindz calls him Apples
@stormer in a teacup: THEY’RE HUGE! And They’re ticked off…
11 Mar 2010, 12:58 pm
@wpw: I hope Jaque scores this weekend. If WPRU gets JdV back we are going to kick @ss in the Currie Cup.
11 Mar 2010, 13:00 pm
@stormer in a teacup: Yep..I wish Joe would be a bit more consistant with he’s kicking,AC should get Monty from SACS to give him some pointers..might have to kick in the wet.
Stormers may have to start with De Waal soon as the rainy season starts in the Cape.
11 Mar 2010, 13:01 pm
@5t0rmer54eva: Yeah…that would be one awesome Bok backline..!!
11 Mar 2010, 13:01 pm
@wpw: Belated but relevant, you said I gave the Boks and especially Butch James no hope in 2007. Either you are suffering from a serious mental condition or someone fraudulently posted on my behalf.
I gave the boks and Butch my full support from day one.
Anyway, have a good day.
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