‘Bekker just getting better’
18 Mar 2010
Anton van Zyl is in awe of second-row partner Andries Bekker who’s currently in the form of his life.
In the South African rugby language, there are a number of terms and phrases connoted to the word ‘derby’. What the terminology inevitably boils down to is a rabid and decisive battle between the forward packs, as derbies are seldom won by teams that fail to dominate physically.
The Cheetahs are renowned for their lineout work, but the Stormers have turned that work into an art-form in 2010. The ‘showponies’ of recent years are suddenly setting the trends, fighting in the trenches, taking the spoils at the scrums and perfecting the most underrated weapon in rugby: the rolling maul.
Bekker is a Springbok and has long been touted as the man to take South Africa forward when Victor Matfield hangs up his scrum cap. We’ve heard the rhetoric from critics, coaches and Matfield himself, and after a fine start to 2010, there’s no longer any doubt.
Bekker is no one dimensional trickster; the dependable ability to secure his own ball complemented by the ability to contest the opposition throw. Critics have credited the Stormers’ line defence in 2010, but the best way to snuff an attack is to kill it at source. The Hurricanes weren’t able to get going and neither were the Highlanders. Bekker, whether he’s the man in the air or the one calling the shots from the middle of the lineout, has proved the bane of opposition packs.
‘He’s world-class, he just seems to get better every week’ Van Zyl told keo.co.za. ‘Nobody should underestimate the influence Andries has had on this team. It’s about working together and while he leads the lineout well, he’s been outstanding as an individual.’
Stormers coach Allister Coetzee started the Super 14 season with Bekker and rookie De Kock Steenkamp in the second row, but pushed Van Zyl into the starting line-up in round four. Many feared this would upset a well-balanced pack given Van Zyl is more suited to the No 5 role, but the experiment has paid off.
By his own admission, Van Zyl is no Bakkies Botha, but he’s offered the Stormers the necessary grunt required of a front lock. Bekker has also upped his work-rate significantly, but it’s at the lineout where the 2.08m athlete is at his best.
The Stormers host one of the stronger lineout combinations this week, but they’re fortunate that their own set-piece is firing. Hooker Tiaan Liebenberg has five jumpers to aim at, as aside from Schalk Burger, Francois Louw and Duane Vermeulen have proved useful tail-ball options.
The Stormers are also fortunate that one of the Cheetahs’ best lineout exponents, David de Villiers is not available because of injury.
‘De Villiers is a very good player at the lineout and has done well since Barend Pieterse first retired,’ said Van Zyl. ‘But Walti Vermeulen is no slouch and Barend is still running that lineout, make no mistake. He may only be making his comeback from the bench this week, but he’s been coaching the lineout for a long time. You can see his influence in the way the Cheetahs play.’
Captain Schalk Burger said the Stormers will have to stop the Cheetahs before they can build momentum. The central franchise has scalped the Sharks and Canes and is enjoying some success with an attack-oriented strategy that depends largely on a quick, clean ball. If the Stormers are to limit the Cheetahs’ wide runners, they’ll need to shut down Juan Smith, another underrated player at the back of the lineout.
‘It was never a plan to drive the Hurricanes 50m last week, but it happened,’ Burger told keo.co.za. ‘We are mauling well, but the Cheetahs are also a side that likes to maul, and traditionally a lot of their attacking moves start from the lineout. It’s going to be a great contest between two proud lineout teams.’
Coetzee expressed his concern when it came to scrum time, citing the Cheetahs’ tendency to reset at this set-piece in the first four rounds of the competition. The Stormers coach believes referee Chris Pollock won’t tolerate any nonsense on Saturday.
‘Forwards coach Matt Proudfoot has been working with scrum and we have a plan to counter it,’ he said. ‘It’s going to be a good battle up front, and hopefully we won’t see too many resets.’
The scrum is probably the one area where the Cheetahs will fancy themselves, as the Cape boys are favourites at the lineout and breakdown.
Burger tried to play down Heinrich Brussow’s season-ending injury, but the reality is the Cheetahs won’t be as dangerous at the tackle without the breakdown bandit. If the Stormers can keep the scrum steady and Bekker and company can dominate the lineout, the win should be a formality.
By Jon Cardinelli
108 Comments
Pages: « 1 [2] 3 » Show All
18 Mar 2010, 09:03 am
@wpw: That’s capitalism for you!. And you can be sure that all this talk will have the Free State okes very nervous! No doubt they will be prepared to give him a nice increase to keep him there.
18 Mar 2010, 09:10 am
All this conjecture is nothing more than market research, to ascertain market value.
18 Mar 2010, 09:11 am
By the way, Bekker is playing great rugby this year. He is breathing right down Victors neck, certainly a bonus for Bok rugby.
18 Mar 2010, 09:16 am
@RugbyRulz:
And that is the last place you want a Cape Town boy to be, breathing down your neck.
18 Mar 2010, 09:18 am
Maybe is was mention alreeds, maar onthou there is still Flip van der Merwe also to possibly take over from Matfield.
Terloops, is Flip van der Merwe seun van groot Flip van der Merwe who played prop a game or two for the Boks back in the 80′s?
18 Mar 2010, 09:18 am
@Duffman:
LMAO
18 Mar 2010, 09:19 am
@the chosen one:
Yes, he is.
18 Mar 2010, 09:22 am
@Duffman: hahahahaha very funny.
18 Mar 2010, 09:26 am
@the chosen one:
the only place he’ll take over from matfield is at the bulls definately not in the bok team
18 Mar 2010, 09:35 am
I can see why Saffer rugby players are heading for europe in droves.
18 Mar 2010, 09:35 am
@st.a.t.w:
Well, if Matfield plays for the Boks like he did in 2008 then Bekker will be a shoe in!
Or are certain players guaranteed their place in the Bok side???
18 Mar 2010, 09:45 am
I want to apologize to all Bulls fans out there for Skopskiet’s demented comments. He is either always stirring the pot, or he is genuinely staring senile dementia in the face and doesn’t know it.
He by no means reflects the views of other WP and Stormers supporters.
The Bulls are the greatest team in the world at the moment, their record proves this and to continue attacking them from the old ‘chip on the shoulder – race issue’ just proves how little else there is to attack them with.
The Stormers are on the up, and about time too, but you cant deny how good the Bulls have been, this year being their best so far IMO.
Skop – to label everyone else as ‘know-it-alls’ just because their views differ from yours speaks volumes for your character, and then of course there is your penchant for gutter talk that is quite embarrassing really.
18 Mar 2010, 09:47 am
Mapoes salary started off a very low base..generally a player needs to leave province in order to break this cycle.. this salary is low but not unheard of…
The bulls tried to buy him last year but were rejected out of hand by the cheetahs..looks like the cheetahs might regret that..you can bet the bulls lawyers will me poring over that contract as well as lionels agent…
A great buy and exactly what the bulls need..
18 Mar 2010, 09:50 am
Skopskiet you are quite mad…
18 Mar 2010, 10:03 am
@wpw:
The only players that are suposedly garenteed a place in the bok team smit,matfield,du preez habana,bakkies,jpp,spies
whether or not they are in form or if there are better players in that positions seems to be irrelevant
18 Mar 2010, 10:04 am
You see me there at Roftus with me brandy and coke breath , giving okes k*k and tuning the ref. Drinking brandy till i get totally zef
18 Mar 2010, 10:10 am
I for one understand the Bulls anxiety to sign up a wing, as at the moment its the one real weakness they have…. a lack of decent wingers
18 Mar 2010, 10:12 am
@Bod: …and a lack of black wingers imo…
18 Mar 2010, 10:18 am
@Duffman: 54
Real funny!!
18 Mar 2010, 10:20 am
@Storm outta hell: Certainly, thus a Ndugane Mapoe combination would be a hell of an improvement on what they have at the moment.
That woukld mean they would finally be able to shift this “Jetshoes” (sic) charactor to where he belongs… the Vodacom cup
18 Mar 2010, 10:32 am
On the issue of Bekker.
He really is playing very well this year. I just hope that he keeps it up for the rest of the S14 campaign and that his habit of hanging out wide will become less and less.
Never like it when a lock score a try on the wing or at outside centre unless it is via a cross kick by the fly half which would suggest that it is a pre-planned move.
18 Mar 2010, 10:34 am
@Bod:
He is getting by with his weak defense for now but wait until they play the stronger sides like the Saders and the Stormers!!
18 Mar 2010, 10:41 am
@wpw:
According to “those in the know”, his “blinding” pace will carry him through all his other deficencies…
nudge, nudge, wink, wink
18 Mar 2010, 10:47 am
woot woot! Bekker’s gonna run them off their feet!
18 Mar 2010, 10:49 am
@Bod: 70
“Jetshoes.”
You’re bordering on treason now
Reminds me of a soccer player from the Cape in the 70′s called “Dancing Shoes”
18 Mar 2010, 10:51 am
@SpringbokSarah:
Are you in school?
18 Mar 2010, 10:52 am
@nama1: Yup!
next period g2g bye
18 Mar 2010, 10:53 am
@SpringbokSarah:
And this is the person who posted last week …
“We so gonna lose”
18 Mar 2010, 10:54 am
@nama1: My favourite nicname will always be Jerry “Legs of Thunder” Sikhosana
18 Mar 2010, 10:57 am
well done to ROY for banning Shaun Langenhoven … we’re better off without him …
18 Mar 2010, 11:00 am
@Dawn: Yeah…I didn’t get that either
18 Mar 2010, 11:06 am
@Loftus_Nabyveldt:
Is he banned? What did he say/do?
18 Mar 2010, 11:09 am
@Bod:
Is that so???
hahahahaha
18 Mar 2010, 11:11 am
@Loftus_Nabyveldt: um….shaun langenhoven has been banned sooooo many times
he he
18 Mar 2010, 11:25 am
read the Saru in financial dispute article comments
18 Mar 2010, 11:25 am
Maybe Roy should concentrate on permanently banning the nic thieves.
18 Mar 2010, 11:26 am
And who would Shaun Langenhoven be??
18 Mar 2010, 11:28 am
porapagande! keo =nazis
18 Mar 2010, 11:31 am
@nama1: Yah…and the Cape Town moffie comments….I’m sure there’s more verkrampte moffies in Tshwane…all those moustaches
18 Mar 2010, 11:34 am
@Storm outta hell: I have been in Cape Town on nights out and in Pretoria on nights out. There are plenty more homosexuals in Cape Town than in Pretoria!
18 Mar 2010, 11:38 am
@Stawm:
Thanks…and RESPECT !!!
18 Mar 2010, 11:39 am
My post with the word h0m0sexual is being moderated! Bunch of Nazis! Surely that is less offensive than moffies?!
18 Mar 2010, 11:39 am
homosapien
18 Mar 2010, 11:39 am
They even moderate h0m0sapien!
18 Mar 2010, 11:52 am
@WOLFMAN21: try posting the name c@st£r s£m£ny@.
18 Mar 2010, 11:54 am
homogenous
18 Mar 2010, 11:56 am
@Transformation: Lol, I think I’ll give that one a miss! Can’t post anything with h0m0 in it – h0m0genous and h0m0phones are obviously bordering on hate speech!
18 Mar 2010, 12:01 pm
@Blouste: Sorry Blou…it’s dealing with lunatics like Blueblood and Tac that gets my blood boiling …
18 Mar 2010, 12:11 pm
@Loftus_Nabyveldt: 85
WOW!! That was a bit hectic, hey.
Ou Shaun. I sometimes get the feeling that most of what he says is tongue in cheek and aimed at getting a reaction.
18 Mar 2010, 12:45 pm
Bekker is the future. Matfield is nearing the end of his tenure. Rather than argue who is better at what, we should be relieved that we have players stepping up to take over where others have made their mark.
At the end of the day, it’s what’s best for the Bokke. And it doesn’t hurt that he plays for the Stormers either
Pages: « 1 [2] 3 » Show All
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.