Whitehead takes centre stage
17 Mar 2010
Tim Whitehead has replaced Juan de Jongh at No 12 while Willem de Waal is on the bench for Saturday’s clash with the Cheetahs.
After much debate, Stormers coach Allister Coetzee has decided to replace one versatile player with another. Like De Jongh, Whitehead is a Super 14 rookie and has played the majority of his rugby at No 13. He’ll be thrust into a starting role on debut, as Coetzee has neglected the safer option of starting De Waal at No 10 and shifting Grant to inside centre.
‘I’m not a gambling man and I have the greatest respect for the Cheetahs,’ Coetzee told keo.co.za when asked about the Whitehead selection. ‘I really feel it’s time to back our youngsters, and Tim can offer us a lot on attack and won’t let us down on defence.
‘He’s played a lot of Varsity Cup rugby and has already played three Vodacom Cup games this season. He featured in the pre-season matches against Stellenbosch and Boland. Tim’s a class player with a lot of time on the ball, and given the injuries we’ve had at No 12, we need someone like him coming through.
‘I didn’t want to bring Willem into the starting line-up because that would mean making two changes instead of one [by playing De Waal at No 10 and shifting Peter Grant to No 12]. Bash has played well at flyhalf and is the best man for this match.’
After two impressive showings, Sireli Naqelevuki is relegated to the bench. Gio Aplon didn’t start the Highlanders match because of flu and remained among the reserves for the Hurricanes fixture. Coetzee said it’s only fair that Aplon return to the starting line-up.
Coetzee has also decided to stick with the same pack that destroyed the Hurricanes. Although Anton van Zyl is usually a No 5, he’s adapted well to the front lock position and is complementing Andries Bekker.
Conrad Hoffmann will play flyhalf for Western Province in Saturday’s Vodacom Cup game against Border, while Adriaan Fondse is listed among the reserves. Fondse has missed the last six months of rugby with a knee injury, but is expected to tour Australasia with the Stormers.
Centre Paul Bosch returned to the training field this week after successfully recovering from an arm injury suffered in the pre-season. Although Coetzee was encouraged by his return, the No 12 is unlikely to make the touring squad.
Stormers – 15 Joe Pietersen, 14 Gio Aplon, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Tim Whitehead, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Peter Grant, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Francois Louw, 6 Schalk Burger (c), 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Anton van Zyl, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 Wicus Blaauw.
Subs: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 JC Kritzinger, 18 De Kock Steenkamp, 19 Pieter Louw, 20 Ricky Januarie, 21 Willem de Waal, 22 Sireli Naqelevuki.
By Jon Cardinelli
151 Comments
17 Mar 2010, 15:32 pm
whitehead dragons!!!!!!!
17 Mar 2010, 15:35 pm
Not sure why he dropped Naqelevuki. Stormers definately need his line breaking abilities.
17 Mar 2010, 15:36 pm
I am not a Naqelevuki fan, but boy did he have a monster game last week !! Awesome.
Dont know Whitehead at all.
Should be a good game. I am looking forward to the clash of the two packs.
17 Mar 2010, 15:36 pm
@Martin: Does anybody have the stats on this new kid?
17 Mar 2010, 15:36 pm
Lionel Cronje must be fuming over his brain-****…a huge setback for his career imo…
17 Mar 2010, 15:39 pm
@Storm outta hell: True dat!!!!
17 Mar 2010, 15:40 pm
I haven’t seen Whitehead plays, but he got to have the skills, the talent and other attributes for a centre to be picked by Fleck and Rassie, he will be OK.
Welsh or Des Fountain might be a safer option
17 Mar 2010, 15:42 pm
Wow brave call , we shall see what happens this w\end. Cannot believe Naqelevuki is dropped. Was bitterly dissapointed in him last year but boy is he in good shape , also he is the type that needs to be playing constantly. Maybe AC is playing mind games with them.
17 Mar 2010, 15:42 pm
By Craig Ray:
A single try last Saturday has turned Gerhard van den Heever from just another Bulls wing into an overnight sensation.
‘He has pace to burn, which is a primary asset for a wing, and has size’
The touchdown against the Highlanders, from 80m out, has everyone talking.
It wasn’t just a simple run – the 20-year-old had to beat several players on his way to the line. He first ducked inside, then went outside at blistering pace to score.
“He has pace to burn,” said former Bok Breyton Paulse admiringly about one of the best tries in the Super 14 this season.
It had shades of Bryan Habana and Percy Montgomery about it – two Bok speedsters who Van den Heever used to idolise while he was still a schoolboy at Afrikaans Boys’ High in Pretoria.
Now, just two years later, the kid from Affies can consider himself in a similar class. Van den Heever, who improves with every match, has already scored four tries in the Super 14 this year.
A lot of Saturday’s try is owed to another Springbok, the former Stormers try-scoring machine, Pieter “Slap Chips” Rossouw, the master of the intercept.
“The ball worked its way to me but initially I didn’t realise that I could score a try from that far out,” Van den Heever told The Times.
“I noticed that there was a prop in front of me and I knew that I must break outside instead of the other way.
“A few weeks earlier backline coach Pieter Rossouw said that if I make a line break I must go to the outside.
“That try is definitely one I wouldn’t have scored a month ago because it comes with a little experience. Before, when I was making line breaks, I kept coming inside, which was a mistake, because there are always more defenders on the inside.”
Van den Heever is modest but there is a steely determination in his voice that suggests he knows what he wants to achieve, and how to achieve it. “I have a lot to learn still, but I’m happy with my progress so far,” he said.
Obviously natural talent is a prerequisite to being successful at Super 14 level and the youngster has that in abundance.
He ran the 110 metres hurdles in a South African record of 13.8 seconds in high school and ran 20.9 for the 200 metres. He is also big, standing 1.91 metres tall and weighing 96kg, which makes him a formidable sight in full flow. But for all those attributes it’s his ability to learn and adapt quickly that’s most impressive.
“Gerhard is a very talented young player,” former Bok wing Breyton Paulse told The Times. “He has pace, which is a primary asset for a wing, and he has size.
“He certainly still has a lot to learn, but working with Pieter Rossouw he’ll develop quickly, because he’s part of such a professional set-up at the Bulls
17 Mar 2010, 15:43 pm
If we keep our penalty count low we should be okay….. the Canes outscored the Cheetahs on tries, but they lost on penalties.
17 Mar 2010, 15:43 pm
How can they possibly justify the relegation to the bench of Sireli Naqelevuki after his MoM performance against the Hurricanes?
17 Mar 2010, 15:45 pm
@Robzim:
Simple. The Cheetahs have some pace to burn on the wings, with Nokwe, Demas and Mapoe all able to leave Naqueliquelivulivuki in their dust.
So they need the pace of Aplon to counter this threat.
17 Mar 2010, 15:47 pm
@Tacitus:
Speedster my arse…
I trust I was not the only one that noticed the Highlanders wing haul haul him in at a rapid rate of knots… he just ran out of time from a retreating start.
17 Mar 2010, 15:47 pm
The Cheetahs will need to come with their A game to have a chance of upsetting the Stormers, and if they do, it would be interesting to see how the Stormers handle the pressure. This could be a real testing game for the Stormers. They absolutely need to win this one.
17 Mar 2010, 15:47 pm
I t sucks loosing a game that you scored the most tries in, if i’m not mistaken it was against the Cheetahs in last years Currie Cup that the same thing happened to Province. I think it was the 2nd round.
17 Mar 2010, 15:48 pm
@Tacitus:
for once your right
17 Mar 2010, 15:48 pm
Crazy to drop the Figian. Alaister must be on the tik again.
Big game for Whitehead, lets see what he can do.
17 Mar 2010, 15:48 pm
@Tacitus:
The Canes had no slouches on the wing either so I do not buy that.
17 Mar 2010, 15:49 pm
@Robzim: Beats me…they must know sumpthin’ we don’t…
17 Mar 2010, 15:50 pm
Whitehead sounds more like a front row surname
17 Mar 2010, 15:50 pm
@Robzim:
Cheetahs are going to turn Naquelquelivulivuki around and use kick and chase tactics out wide. Naquelquelivulivuki has no hope in a footrace against Nokwe or Demas.
Allistair knows this.
17 Mar 2010, 15:50 pm
@Bod: I tend to agree….. Gerhard almost dove over the deadline going for the try. The boy definitely has pace, but he’s not that quick.
17 Mar 2010, 15:51 pm
robzim….wikkelspies is on the bench….so thats a step in your direction?
17 Mar 2010, 15:52 pm
@Tacitus: i was battling to see the relevance of your copy and paste…but have it now….the common denominator must be the word” white” lol
17 Mar 2010, 15:53 pm
@Martin:
Nope. The common theme is talented youngster.
And raining on a WP parade.
17 Mar 2010, 15:55 pm
@Tacitus: Ermmm Tac.
This is the Stormers we are talking about. Down here we have not worries about defending those midgets, we are more concerned abour running over them on attack.
It is they that need to worry, not us, hence the rather curious move of leaving the Fijian out. If it took 4 hurricanes to haul him down every time, whither a single Cheetahs midget.
17 Mar 2010, 15:56 pm
Tacitus is right. Nachos doesn’t turn well and he’s not the quickest wing around. The Cheetahs will undoubtedly put the ball over him and they have serious pace on the wings, so Aplon is probably a very good call.
17 Mar 2010, 16:00 pm
@Tacitus:
21
I take your point, but:
Naqelevuki has improved this aspect of his game immensely as was evident last weekend. He has lost a considerable amount of weight and seems to be much sharper, nimbler and keen to get involved than a year ago. On the attack there is no comparison between him and Aplon while Aplon’s lack of height also counts against him under the high ball. In terms of creating forward momentum and crossing the advantage line there is also no comparison.
I wonder who Mapoe or Nokwe would rather play against?
17 Mar 2010, 16:02 pm
Jeez
Now we have to worry about the MIGHT of the Cheetahs attack and the HUGE threat a ball over our wings pose.
Can you feel our knee’s shaking at the very prospect down here…
17 Mar 2010, 16:02 pm
@Bod:
Demas was the 3rd quickest wing at the Bulls and is in the top 5 wings in SA in terms of sheer pace.
Nokwe is the 2nd quickest wing in SA, unless Chavanga beats him, in which case he is 3rd quickest.
Mapoe ain’t no slouch.
Naqueliquelivulivuki might be exposed by this blistering pace.
17 Mar 2010, 16:05 pm
@grant10:
23
Yeah, at least a small step.
Peter played very well on Saturday – probably his best game in the last 2 seasons, but I still have no faith in his ability to pull it off against the top teams. He disappointed me too many times in the past.
Pity about Cronje – I wonder what really happened there – they guy was head boy of a famous school in the Eastern Cape, so I do not expect from him to become involved in fights off the field.
17 Mar 2010, 16:06 pm
@Tacitus:
The need the ball in space to do that…. it aint gonna happen.
17 Mar 2010, 16:11 pm
congratulations to Tim Whitehead…
I have faith in AC and would’ve been happy with whatever decision he made…
17 Mar 2010, 16:11 pm
Tim is a machine.. 1 of the best players i have had the privelage to play with. he will be a bok. Good luck boytjie
17 Mar 2010, 16:11 pm
It is for now, and for maintaining the momentum of the Stormer team, the correct thing to do to have PG at F-H and with WDeW on the bench for plan B cover should plan A work out to not answer the needs of the team on the field coming week-end.
To shift Grant now may cause untold psychological erosion to this clearly, more than adequately, performing player, and he truly has been traumatised enough since Rassie ventured into Cape Town at the end of the year 2007.
17 Mar 2010, 16:12 pm
privilege
17 Mar 2010, 16:13 pm
@Rugga Legend:
he has looked great in the UniCup…
17 Mar 2010, 16:14 pm
Allister is planning to bring Naqelevuki on in the last 5 min, when Stormers are leading with 2 points.
17 Mar 2010, 16:15 pm
@Robzim: 31
jA….COULD OF COST l cRONJE A START HERE?
aNYWAY….JUSTRUGBY HAS SAID sADIE AND wHITEHEAD WERE A INJURY AWAY….SO KUDOS TO HIM.
i AM SURE sTORMERS WILL COME OUT FIRING AGAIN sAT…..
lOOK FORWARD TO SEEING ANOTHER BIG GAME FROM THEM…..WILL BE CLOSE….cHEETAHS STARTING TO GET THE SELF BELIEF….BUT MAY MISS BRUSSOW A HELLEVA LOT!
Sorry caps…damn laptop.
17 Mar 2010, 16:16 pm
the canes’ wingers were bigger and more physical then the okes from bloem that’s why nakkalla played
the guys from bloem are smaller faster of the mark and nakalla is’nt that fast of the mark
i can understand why gio is starting
17 Mar 2010, 16:16 pm
@Horing: @ 38
17 Mar 2010, 16:16 pm
you guys are saying we should be worried about the Cheetahs turning Sireli…??
they should worry about Nokwe and Mapoe stopping Sireli when he does come on…
17 Mar 2010, 16:23 pm
From the Stormers website:
Tim Whitehead
Position: Centre
Date of Birth: 30.05.1988, Port Elizabeth
Physical: 1.88m; 90kg
Club: UCT
High School: Grey High School
Vodacom WP under 21 outside centre Tim Whitehead represented the SA University side in 2009, despite missing out on both the Varsity Cup (UCT) and Vodacom Cup due to injury in the first half of the year. More than capable on defence, his attacking prowess combined with good pace and superb running lines, earned him the 2009 Vodacom WP under 21 backline player of the year award.
Only thing that bothers me is that he is, like de Jongh, also an outside centre?
17 Mar 2010, 16:24 pm
Stormers seem to have a habit of playing their 13′s at 12…
17 Mar 2010, 16:24 pm
@Robzim:
rob… didn’t he play 12 in a couple of the UniCup mateches…???
17 Mar 2010, 16:28 pm
@ufo:
I think he did – reasonably sure.
17 Mar 2010, 16:30 pm
@Robzim:
thought so… saw him scoring a good try against Maties (I think) in a 12 jersey…
so hopefully not too out of place…
17 Mar 2010, 16:30 pm
So it is another one from the Eastern Cape.
Same school as JJ Engelbrecht who is currently injured but has just as much talent as van den Heever (see report from vd Heever’s agent in 9 above)
Luke Watson also went there, as did Greame Pollock but that was long ago.
17 Mar 2010, 16:37 pm
P.DeV and Rassie Eras. became coaches of the national team and the Stormer franchise, respectively, within months of each other.
Since that time both have, individually and collectively, gloriously brought untold misery and confusion to the playing talents and skills of Peter Grant both physically and, more importantly, psychologically by their inexplicable and repetitive confused selections and handling of this player.
When Rassie came to the Cape, there was no de Waal but he brought him sometime soon thereafter to the Cape and the damage began.
When P.DeV selected his first squad in 2008 Grant was there, but was given, at best, just about 20 mins. in the rain vs. Italy at Newlands and, not so slowly, just ignored Grant even when S.A was struggling at that F-H position that season and stumbled from one defeat to another. If between the actions of these two fools not enough trauma was done to the psyche of this player then no damage has been visited upon any rugby player since the beginning of time.
It took an unfortunate and bad injury to De Waal to ensure that Grant, luckily thus, got +/- a 10, or so, consecutive(unbroken) playing streak at F-H for the WP/Stormer’s team to progress and advance to where they now are, 2nd in the S14.
How can they deliberate so long at retaining him in that position? How much of a brain do you need to make such easy decisions after what has been done to totally mess up this player.
Finally they do arrive at the inevitable choice but they do not cover themselves in any glory in the process.
P.DeV the next move is yours. At the very least return him to the national squad.
17 Mar 2010, 16:51 pm
@Robzim: if you have a look at his running lines and distribution,grant is ten times the player he was last season. His tactical kicking is much improved and his use of sleight of hand and dummy runners is proving very effective. As a skarks supporter I wish our kiwi backine coach would take a few notes
17 Mar 2010, 16:56 pm
I don’t think there is a better defending 10 in SA then Grant
17 Mar 2010, 17:01 pm
Fourie du Preez has officially announced that he will leave the Bulls after the 2011 Super 15, and leave SA rugby after the 2011 World Cup to play club rugby in Japan.
17 Mar 2010, 17:05 pm
This just in at iafrica.com:
The Bulls and Springbok scrumhalf Fourie du Preez has revealed that he will continued his career in Japan… after the 2011 World Cup.
In a statement issued on Wednesday the Bulls confirmed that Du Preez has extended his contract with the union till the conclusion of the Super 15 competition in 2011.
Du Preez, who turns 28 next week, also signed his Springbok contract that will keep him in Green and Gold till the end of the World Cup in New Zealand in 2011.
He will then join a club side in Japan.
Du Preez, who made his debut for the Blue Bulls in 2001 and for the Bulls in 2003, wants to end his successful relationship with the Bulls on a high.
“These were the best rugby years of my life and I could never have played for another union,” Du Preez said.
“By revealing my plans for the future now, it will give the Bulls sufficient time to plan for the future and possible successors. There is already some excellent players like Francois Hougaard knocking on the door, so it is time to move on.
“I was happy to be involved with the Bulls during arguable the best era they have ever had. It remains a massive honor to be part of the structures started and maintained by world class coaches such as Heyneke Meyer and Frans Ludeke.
“The leadership of Victor Matfield and the bond between the team members is also something I will always treasure. There is still time for me to add value and it is something I look forward to.”
With regards to the national side, Du Preez indicated that the joy he had playing for the Springboks in 2009, made it easy to commit himself to the national cause till after the World Cup.
“There is the chance to play in another World Cup, but also the knowledge that I will enjoy the experience,” the veteran No.9 said.
“Last season was the most enjoyable I have had in the Bok jersey and think Peter de Villiers deserve a lot of credit for that. I feel we have the experience and core group in the team to make a serious run at the Webb Ellis trophy again,” Du Preez added.
His decision to play in Japan was equally easy to make, he said.
“After 11 years at the Bulls, I am affording myself the opportunity to change the scenery and to expose myself to a different culture. This contract will allow me that,” Du Preez said.
“I think I can learn a lot and broaden my horizons in the game at the same time, which will help should I opt for a career in coaching later on in my life.”
Ludeke indicated that Du Preez’s decision will leave them with enough time to start a succession plan.
“Again Fourie did not only act in his own interests, but thought of the team as well. As one of the architects of the success the Bulls enjoyed in recent years, his input in our planning will be highly valued and it is nice to know he will be around for a while still. I know he had many offers and options, but he again showed his commitment to the Bulls.
Ludeke said investment in possible replacements will start soon.
“Fourie is a student of the game and will help in the process to identify and bring the right successors through,” Ludeke said.
Fourie du Preez facts:
Blue Bulls (debut, 2001 vs Leopards). 51 matches, 100 points.
Bulls (debut, 2003 vs Brumbies). 89 matches, 90 points.
South Africa (debut, 2004 vs Ireland). 55 tests, 65 points.
17 Mar 2010, 17:05 pm
YAY! Go Bash!
But with hell… Sereli gets man of the match and is dropped! like wtf?!
17 Mar 2010, 17:10 pm
@SpringbokSarah:
Not good for you to swear like that.
Do you want a scolding from Luke?
17 Mar 2010, 17:12 pm
Well Whitehead will have lots of experience inside and outside him.
About backing youngsters…
I am happy Allister has now gone on record saying he wants to do this.
I just question why Lionel wasn’t backed as much then up till now???
Perhaps because Grant has been solid at 10 I suppose so can’t really argue that.
I hope the trend continues, will see a lot more WP boys stay in the Cape if this is the case.
17 Mar 2010, 17:14 pm
It is sad to see FOurie go, only 28… 29 next year…
I suppose he deserves cashing in a bit in his last 5 years of rugby, he has served Bok rugby with distinction.
Best 9 in modern rugby SA has had, Joost does not come close to the class of this guy.
17 Mar 2010, 17:14 pm
@elliott2: I’ve sworn AT him before, I don’t think he cares… and it was way worse than wtf
17 Mar 2010, 17:14 pm
@elliott2:
I think it was a deliberate call they (first PdV and then Rassie) made when the realized that Peter does not have a good enough kicking game to dominate at the top level.
To be fair to them, his kicking game is not on the same level as the top guys who are playing today. Players like Carter, Wilkenson, Steyn, O’Gara, Sexton, Steven Jones, Michalak etc are all able to dominate play with the boot when required. Giteau does not have such a great kicking game but his exceptional attacking skills (which Grant does not have) makes up for it.
Maybe the situation will change under the new interpretations but at this stage I do not think any coach will attempt to play top international rugby with a no 10 who has such a limited kicking range and to a certain degree also a lack of tactical awareness.
I agree that Grant had a very good game against the Canes and also that he is the best defensive flyhalf in SA.
Personally I think he would make a better no 12.
17 Mar 2010, 17:15 pm
@PissAnt:
I don’t think he’s going for the cash.
Going for an easy few years to see that part of the world without too much stress on the field.
17 Mar 2010, 17:16 pm
I hope for Whitehead’s sake that he doesn’t run into Hendro Scholtz or Juan Smith. Juan is playing some of his best rugby and im sure Hendro can’t wait to get on the field.
I think the forwards will decide who wins this one. Cheetahs have a big loss in Dawid De Villiers, but it should be a close one.
go CHEETAHS
17 Mar 2010, 17:16 pm
@SpringbokSarah:
Would you also have liked Bash if he was as ugly as say Jannie de Beer?
17 Mar 2010, 17:18 pm
@Cheetahboytjie:
Jaay,
in jou Cheetah truiieee,
laat my so lekker kry,
as jy verby,
die Stormer gly!
Go Cheetahs!
17 Mar 2010, 17:20 pm
@Robzim: who’s Jannie de Beer?
17 Mar 2010, 17:22 pm
@Tacitus:
EK hoop regtig dat die cheetahs vir ‘n slag kan Currie Beker rugby speel in die S14. dan sal hulle ten minste die meeste van die SA spanne wen. behalwe die bulle, hulle is die beste club in wêreld rugby of mens nou van hulle hou of nie.
17 Mar 2010, 17:22 pm
@Cheetahboytjie:
Cheetahs is nog altyd my tweede span. Maar Saterdag is hulle my eerste span!
17 Mar 2010, 17:23 pm
@SpringbokSarah:
OK, Janni was before your time.
Lets replace him for the sake of the question with Tana Umaga, Neil Jenkins or Phil Waugh.
Now answer it!
17 Mar 2010, 17:23 pm
@SpringbokSarah: The guy Who inspired Johnny Wilkinson to learn how to Drop. 1999 springbok flyhalf
17 Mar 2010, 17:23 pm
Go Cheetahs? The only place the Cheetahs are going is down!
17 Mar 2010, 17:24 pm
@SpringbokSarah: am i correct in saying you are a shark supporter?
17 Mar 2010, 17:25 pm
@Tacitus:
#66
Jy haat hulle dan altyd so veral vir Ollie en Rassie na daardie fatal dag op Loftus toe Ollie die sigaar gerook het??
17 Mar 2010, 17:26 pm
@Robzim: probably not. But take into account I like Sereli, Wicus, Tondi and Tiaan too… not the prettiest of boys but if you do right by my team I like you no matter what your face looks like… it’s just an added bonus when they’re hot
@Cheetahboytjie: 1999 world cup.. so I was 5 turning 6
17 Mar 2010, 17:26 pm
@Robzim:
I do not subscribe to the kicking game, having been brought up all my life on the WP running game since the days of Dawie De Villiers or Dirkie De Vos (same time period Maties), H.O., Jan Boland or Morne DuP and all the subsequent Dups(4 of them brothers, all from the E.C) and Divan, Whipp etc., etc.
The kicking game can only bring limited success when you catch you opponents unawares as did the Boks part of last season(but were found out by the EOYT).
Also the laws interpretations favour the running, fast moving game(read Bulls-can’t believe I’m writing this).
17 Mar 2010, 17:27 pm
@Cheetahboytjie: no and say it again I may have to call Schalk for you
17 Mar 2010, 17:27 pm
@SpringbokSarah:
10/10 for the answer
17 Mar 2010, 17:28 pm
@SpringbokSarah: You have to go and find a video of the game SA vs Eng. Jannie dropped 5 successfull drop goals. still the record
17 Mar 2010, 17:29 pm
@Robzim:
71: O ja, dis waar.
But I liked them before Ollie’s time. Ollie just put me off of them big time.
Now that he’s gone, I am starting to like them again.
17 Mar 2010, 17:29 pm
@SpringbokSarah: I know Schalk he is very chill. i hope he plays rugby on saturday the way he plays golf. then the cheetahs will have a easy game.;)
17 Mar 2010, 17:29 pm
@Tacitus:
The **** wanted to pay Grant R10-mil for 3 years, I would guess Fourie’s paycheque would easily double that.
17 Mar 2010, 17:30 pm
@Robzim: Do I get a gold star?
hey you should know these things… Sereli’s my boy!… not in a weird way
@Cheetahboytjie: youtube?
17 Mar 2010, 17:31 pm
@PissAnt:
Really? Well then, I stand corrected. I heard he is loaded, but R20 million for 3 years isn’t to be laughed at. Especially if you aren’t really going to work very hard for it.
17 Mar 2010, 17:32 pm
@SpringbokSarah: I think it is to long ago for youtube. maybe ESPN classics. but Youtube might have it. its worth watching
17 Mar 2010, 17:32 pm
@Cheetahboytjie: not a chance… Schalk will crush the Cheetahs! Or face the wrath of Sarah
@PissAnt: I have yet to find a Durban boy so committed to Cape Town
17 Mar 2010, 17:32 pm
@elliott2:
That is fair – personally I also prefer the running game but I have become disillusioned during the last few years when it did not bring good results to my favourite teams.
I am very worried about the type of game the Bulls are playing and also the fact that I enjoy watching them
17 Mar 2010, 17:33 pm
@Tacitus:
No matter, I guess you are partly right, Japanese rugby is far removed from the stresses of SANZAR and European rugby – he will be treated like a king there, doing what he loves, and building a nice nest-egg for when he calls it a day.
Best of all, he deserves it.
17 Mar 2010, 17:33 pm
@Cheetahboytjie: ok will give it a shot
17 Mar 2010, 17:34 pm
@SpringbokSarah: Schalk will be up agains the best flanker in the world in Juan Smith. so it should be a great game.
17 Mar 2010, 17:35 pm
@SpringbokSarah:
Grant is so difficult to place.
No doubt he has the potential and even temperament – I just wonder why he never kicked on and will therefore, unfortunately, remembered as a solid, but average player in years to come.
I know Naas Botha rated Grant big-time.
17 Mar 2010, 17:36 pm
@Robzim:
Remember also when Rassie took charge of the Stormers they lost their first 4 games because of over-concentrating on the forwards and trying to convert Grant to a De Waal clone.
On the Stormers thread I begged Rassie ( after vilifying him) to allow Grant to play his normal running at the opposition game and they started winning like it was going bonkers (sans the suspended Burgerand with Luke at #6 sometimes).
They did not make, as you well know, the play-offs because of reverting to cautious rugby again vs. the Lions.
You know the result and pain all too well.
The clear message play our normal run at all cost, crowd pleasing W.P./Streeptruie rugby. Now is the time for that with the law interpretations.
It will take much to convince me that Div. and Rassie are not responsible for messing up Grant.
17 Mar 2010, 17:38 pm
@Cheetahboytjie: Should be a good game cos it’s a SA derby!
@PissAnt: He was recovering from a ankle injury… and now Joe’s just doing so well so they don’t see the need to change
17 Mar 2010, 17:39 pm
As far as the Stormers goes, I hope they approach this game as a win at all costs scenario, they really need it before their bye and tour.
A 1 point win will be enough, and looking at this Cheetahs side, it might just be that close too.
17 Mar 2010, 17:41 pm
@elliott2: WE DID NOT!
we won our 4th…
17 Mar 2010, 17:42 pm
@PissAnt:
If the Stormers lose this game, their perfect season suddenly takes on a rather despondent look.
2 losses at home makes a home semifinal virtually impossible, and makes even a 4th placed finish difficult to achieve.
17 Mar 2010, 17:42 pm
@PissAnt: it is a win at all costs… bye next week… we can’t afford to fall too far down the log
17 Mar 2010, 17:43 pm
@Robzim:
My post #89 will tell you that I blame Rassie, predomintly, and also P.Div for those oh so near and poor results.
In fact I tend to believe we need w. Cape coaches who have grown up in our rugby culture to be in charge of Cape rugby e.g. Nick Mallett.
History has shown that we can win with scraps (34% ball) and the game is still mostly the same now with still an oval ball and 15 players on each side. Ok I am lying a bit as the defences are better organised and everybody seems to go for size but look at our small packets of dynamite such as De Jong, Pietersen, Aplon and more.
17 Mar 2010, 17:44 pm
@Tacitus:
I sense some overconfidence from the Stormers in the approach to this game…
They do not seem to trust their structures as much as I would like to see just yet – so if the Cheetahs manage to get under their skin, they might just lose the plot.
However, class team, and they should take it (on paper)…
17 Mar 2010, 17:45 pm
@SpringbokSarah:
Does a poster called Flower still post on the IAMASTORMER’s site.
17 Mar 2010, 17:45 pm
@SpringbokSarah:
That it is, and Newlands will be packed.
Problem is, this is vital for the Cheetahs too to erase their Highlanders home defeat.
17 Mar 2010, 17:46 pm
ryan vrede must be miffed that he missed this scoop on the “best rugby mind on the planet”!!
17 Mar 2010, 17:47 pm
@SpringbokSarah:
Ok but we lost the first 3 then which is just as bad and then things turned around because Grant was allowed, in Rassie’s total desperation, to play his normal game. Happy now?
17 Mar 2010, 17:47 pm
@elliott2: hate to break it to you but the team only goes on the blog once in a blue moon… Lindsey does most of the work
17 Mar 2010, 17:49 pm
@PissAnt:
The Stormers pack is a juggernaut at the moment. That is the most ominous sign for their opponents. I don’t really rate their backline as that much of a threat. Partly due to Grant, who is average at best. And partly due to the lack of cohesion built up over many seasons in the same structures.
Duvenage is new, De Jong is new, Fourie is new, Habana is new, Pietersen is new and Naquelivuki has only recently showed up (mentally).
In contrast, Dippenaar, Hougaard and vd Heever have been training in the same Bulls set-up for years, even though they didn’t make the starting line ups on a regular basis before now.
17 Mar 2010, 17:50 pm
@elliott2: don’t think so
not many people stay there… like once in a while they’ll come on… Mishkah is on quite a bit, Carmel and hhmmm think that’s it
@PissAnt: neh they can do it some other week… who has a better shot at the semis? For the good of SA Rugby
17 Mar 2010, 17:55 pm
@Tacitus:
Yes Proudfoot has really been a revelation there. Fleck I do not know so much but hey, it is his first season.
They are starting to get things right there, and it is about time.
But the thing I find with the Stormers is that their scared of losing…
As an old saying goes, fear causes hesitation, and hesitation will make your greatest fears come true…
That will change with time of course, if they allow it to and not panic like they always do.
@SpringbokSarah:
Spoken like a true Blue & White supporter…
17 Mar 2010, 17:56 pm
@PissAnt:
Sorry, sick like a dog here and on drugs…
Their – they’re
17 Mar 2010, 17:57 pm
@PissAnt: aaaawww thanks man
17 Mar 2010, 18:01 pm
I’m off… cheers guys, hope you feel better PissAnt
17 Mar 2010, 18:04 pm
@SpringbokSarah:
Sarah, I am not talking about Flo( my favourite loosie), but about a Stormer poster who was based in Pretoria at the beginning of the 2008 S14 season called Flower(that was his nic).
17 Mar 2010, 18:06 pm
@elliott2: why on Earth would I call Flo, Flower? 1. He looks nothing like a flower and 2. I think he would shoot me.
I remember a Flower on the blog, but like I said, the haven’t been there in a while…
g2g bye
17 Mar 2010, 18:11 pm
@SpringbokSarah:
Have worked it out, your post #101 was referring to my pleading and vilifying Rassie comment ealier.
Sorry for the confusion of my post 108.
Have to go now .
17 Mar 2010, 18:38 pm
Good selection AC.
Glad you kept Grant at 10.
JC:
“After much debate, Stormers coach Allister Coetzee has decided to replace one versatile player with another.”
Debate amongst who? The Keo bloggers? Do you have any prove that there were much debate among AC and the others about who to select?
Trying to cover your tracks after punting for WdW to be selected, are you?
17 Mar 2010, 19:17 pm
Frikkie Welsh could have done the job at 10
17 Mar 2010, 19:23 pm
oops i mean 12
17 Mar 2010, 19:35 pm
@nama1:
Good question, to be fair to JC, WdW has made the bench ahead of players like Welsh and des Fountain so they must have discussed him and perhaps he is not far from starting a game.
Like on a wet,cold and windy day in New Zeeland perhaps?
It is great to hear that Bosch is back at training – he is a top class player who can distribute and defend and should soon be challenging for a place in the team.
@SpringbokSarah:
Flower Louw?? hehehe – If I were you I rather call him Blom(metjie)
17 Mar 2010, 19:53 pm
@nama1: @Robzim: an “impeccable source” informed jom cardinelli that there was much debate anout this selection.
17 Mar 2010, 21:08 pm
Ok, here goes.
I want 4 hospitality suite tickets for 15 May Bulls vs Stormers.
I can pay for them or exchange a weekend ( fiday and Saturday night)any time until September 2010 at our 4 star beachfront guesthouse in Wilderness. I am willing to offer 4pax (2 double rooms) including breakfast in exchange for this. Value R 4,800
June 23-26 we are fully booked with Japanese.
Let me know.
17 Mar 2010, 21:11 pm
Sorry
June 3 – 26 and if they qualify to 2 July
17 Mar 2010, 21:55 pm
good thinking AC I’m glad to see you got some kop of your own and you not just a feeble JW clone thinker. Glad you got the balls to call it right by sticking with Grant and Duvenhage and not tinker with a winning combination.
Glad you got enough courage to stick with the attack mode game and not revert to chicken rearward thinking re De Waal to stuff up all the momentum. Glad you got the guts to go with instinct and let the backline motor even with a rookie at 12 is way better than stuffing it all back into reverse gear.
17 Mar 2010, 21:59 pm
@SpringbokSarah: check rugbydump.com for the 5 drop goal highlights from 99.
am well please that AC has kept the majority of backline intact.
keeping grant at 10 and introducing a youngster to partner a bok incumbent is good practice. the motivation is clear. cheetahs will not know very much about whitehead and thus could put a bit more focus on the unknown, allowing fourie, habs, grant to dictate more.
going to be one epic battle between juan and schalk. without doubt the 2 biggest hardest loosies EVER
in fact i hope collins tunes in and grabs the popcorn coz this could be a gun show!
17 Mar 2010, 22:20 pm
@skopskiet:
Hi Skoppy,
I see de Waal has made it to the bench for Saturday. He is moving in, slowly but surely, it will only take one loss for the team and he will be back in the saddle. My prediction is that it will be during the third week of the overseas tour. Or maybe they will even be forced to give him a SOS on the bench on Saturday to come and pick up the pieces
On a more serious note; Grant was very good on Saturday, in fact, it was the best I ever saw him play.
I am however still not convinced that he is the man for the big occasion against the top teams – he failed too many times in the past and I am worried that it will happen again.
Just thinking about his kicking in the semi’s against the bulls last year is enough to let me break out in a cold sweat.
17 Mar 2010, 22:30 pm
To cheetahboytjie en Tacitus:
This is not the CC where SA refs rule and the Cheetahs beat us with Marius wanker!!!!
That is the only reason the cheaters do well in the cc… because of the refs…. so the S14 proofs this.
So Tac I take it you support the cheetahs this weekend? Good, then I will be here to blast you on Monday!
As for the rest of you: You seem to miss something very important!
Finally As and Fleckie makes Juan De jongh see he is not the only player in the Stormers backline. This kid got so much potential but probably cost us 2 bonus points with being so suinig on attack.. always hangs onto the ball. Maybe this will be a wake up call more than anything else. Dont know Tim, but I m sute this is only good for our rugby to have good competition for places in the team.
As for Naqelivuki….. keep him on the bench… he will lights out Daniller in the last 20 minutes….
Stormerslam!!!
17 Mar 2010, 23:02 pm
@Provvas: i am still on the fence with regard to de jong and his role in the stormers backline. sometimes it looks like he is trying to break the line by himself over and over again and not giving the ball wide.
but i have to wonder whether he has instruction to straighten the line every now and then to keep the defensive lines honest. if he keeps swinging it, the defence will just shut down fourie or the wings and force the turnover with more numbers. if he tries to take the line on and straighten he will give fourie more time and space for the other times when its on.
he is still newish to the 12 channel, and it looks like with some work he could develop his play there. the last thing stormers need is a 12 who just shunts the ball wide at every opportunity allowing the center and wings to get smashed. its a lot easier to defend those wider channels when you know that the ball is most likely gonna get sent there quickly.
he has to mix it up. not saying you dont agree but he has to build up all parts of his game equally or opposition teams will crack onto the strategy and shut the stormers down.
17 Mar 2010, 23:25 pm
Xkreni willing to trade R4800 worth of time share to watch his team get pomped like pampoene
17 Mar 2010, 23:29 pm
@skopskiet: He has decided to by R95 tickets.. he wishes to remain anonymous
17 Mar 2010, 23:40 pm
@skopskiet:
forgotten 75-14 so quickly?
17 Mar 2010, 23:44 pm
@Brigadier Van Zyl:
It is a new era now.
Those days are over and it wont happen again soon
At least not within the next few years.
I would at this stage say the game at Newlands will be 50/50.
18 Mar 2010, 00:05 am
@The Almighty Shaun:
Like I said, give me your number…..
You remain pretty anonymous. I cannot find a way to contact you on your website other than filling in a form and giving my details.
Where in the UK do you stay? Are you listed? I would love to have a chat with you.
18 Mar 2010, 00:06 am
I am sure somehow I will get the box tickets. I always get what I want
18 Mar 2010, 00:14 am
@Robzim:
remember that afternoon like it was yesterday
18 Mar 2010, 00:21 am
Breaking News: I see Lionel Mapoe is trying to get out of his contract with the Cheetahs to come to the Bulls with immediate effect.
Yeah baby. Succession planning in motion.
18 Mar 2010, 00:22 am
@Tacitus: Does that make the Bulls the new Sharks?
18 Mar 2010, 00:24 am
@scar:
Not at all. They haven’t made him an offer.
It seems they expressed their interest at some point in the past, but because he was under contract, didn’t go any further. Now he is wanting to leave on his own volition, due to the fact that the Cheetahs are paying him the minimum allowable salary for a SA S14 player – R28500 per month.
This while the Bulls were reportedly willing to offer him R1.4m per year.
Anyway, it is for him to decide. If he comes to us, we certainly won’t take him if he is just after the money. But if he wants to make a lifelong career committment, then he is welcome in the Blue family.
18 Mar 2010, 00:28 am
Looking at those numbers just make my stomach turn. It just tells why the Cheetahs will always be the underdogs and no matter what morons like Povvas might write about referees, the Cheetahs have so much more to overcome to be competitive.
Unions like the Bulls (credit given to the brilliant rugby they are playing) will always have the advantage with cash in hand
18 Mar 2010, 00:46 am
bulls definately need a demon tackler out wide but lionel would do well to see the season out with the cheetahs first.
18 Mar 2010, 00:49 am
@scar: The bulls will pay him that amount to sit on the bench or play Vodacom cup.. Air (TV)Time is more valuable than R1.4million this early in your career… That is how nuch the bulls (Boere Network) is prepared to pay to kill off black talent.
18 Mar 2010, 01:02 am
Mapoe making the wrong call altogether should be heading South not North. Dunno what he sees as succession planning at that sterile franchise where they have players lined up in que’s on benches 1 behind the other and white gets right of way easy peasy like Fdp keeping Adams on his back burning *** for 6 seasons. Gary Botha just comes clicking his little overrated fingers and Ludeke bends over backwards to open wide so he can slide in through the back door uninhibited while Maku sits in the shadows making up the numbers.
No Lionel my boy you should be knocking on Rassie’s door, he won’t think twice to make the offer if Bulls are still deliberating. Then you can join the backline of all backlines, thats where you future lies not that sham shackled half knit non transforming pigment placade that pretends to be progressive but just simply isn’t. You should be joining Stormers. Just imagine this backine.
Duvenhage
Grant
Habana
De Jongh
Fourie
Mapoe
Pietersen
Thats world beating stuff, not that frazzle dazzle airy fairy tinkerbelle bull dust like
Fdp
Steyn
Hougaard
Olivier
Dippenaar
Van den Heever
Kirchner
No Mapoe you gotta open your eyes wide. South is the direction you should be heading, I’m telling you clearly if you want success to be your motto then give Rassie a call right now thats the direction you should be thinking without a doubt.
18 Mar 2010, 03:24 am
@skopskiet:
“thats where you future lies not that sham shackled half knit non transforming pigment placade that pretends to be progressive but just simply isn’t”
Why waste all the time typing that when you could have just said ‘the most successful franchise in world rugby at the moment’.
18 Mar 2010, 06:31 am
@skopskiet: 136
classic
18 Mar 2010, 06:36 am
@grant10:
He might be sitting on the bench at the Stromers as well. A bit light in the PDI’s this year.
Fiji does not qualify in my books. For that matter, Habs neither
18 Mar 2010, 07:07 am
@grant10:
138
What assurance do we have that De Jongh is really injured?
Most of the WP Die hard supporters told me the less than satisfactory production from the expensive Boks duo Hab and JF so far is blamed on De Jongh, it was expected that he is removed from the line up.
So I heard,,,
18 Mar 2010, 07:16 am
@Hondo: #140 you are clutching at straws Hondo…this is low even for a **** like you…
18 Mar 2010, 07:16 am
juan de jongh has been a revelation this year…..got better and better…..i reckon Jean de villiers may regret his Munster escapade….he may be having to go to the sharks or lions to resurrect his career now. Not sure Stormers will have the room …
18 Mar 2010, 07:17 am
bloody sharks…where is there team?
18 Mar 2010, 09:54 am
@grant10: That’s crazy talk. Jean would always be welcome at the Stormers and Juan does not come close.
18 Mar 2010, 10:00 am
This S14 is a 3 horse race:
Bulls – defence will be their undoing if not addressed.
Stormers – Great pack. Great defence. Attack could be their undoing.
Saders – good at everything, but wonder about their mental toughness.
18 Mar 2010, 10:18 am
And talk about putting unwanted pressure on your new boy! “Tim can offer us a lot on attack” and “Tim’s a class player with a lot of time on the ball”… you can just imagine Juan Smith thinking, “Isss iiit? Well see…”
18 Mar 2010, 10:40 am
shaun ..stop your k@k man
18 Mar 2010, 10:50 am
@seamus: …spot on..!!
18 Mar 2010, 11:29 am
I still think it was silly to dump Sireli on the bench for this match as it would have been wiser to start him at 13 then bring in a newboy with not much “high level” experience at that position, I bet 100% the cheetahs will target him. fourie and naqelevuki in the centres would have given the cheetahs a scare as Sireli’s linebreaks would easily help him set up tries for Gio and Fourie whereas now the cheetahs midfeild backs will target the stormers centres and because of that Fourie would have to work double time. No one in their right mind will attack Habana’s wing but they will now take chances on Gio’s wing….
18 Mar 2010, 11:49 am
@Tacitus: @9, I am seriously tired of this ****, 13.8 could never have been a SA Youth Record ( Boys U/18,17, 16,15 yrs), period. Marthinus Van der Vyver ran 13.35 in 2001.
Here are the links: www[dot]gbrathletics[dot]com/ic/wy.htm
and
www[dot]athletics[ot]org[dot]za/uploads/SAYouthRecords.pdf
I’m not saying the boy is a slouch but he broke or held no SA Record FFS!!!
18 Mar 2010, 13:07 pm
Oh, wow. Just… wow.
Good thing you don’t have an import currently playing. Also, Tony Brown is a born and bred previously disadvantaged individual, born on the Cape Flats.
****!
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