‘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
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18 Mar 2010, 14:44 pm
The breakdown bandit… classic
18 Mar 2010, 15:18 pm
If you watch some of the old games on ESPN classic, Matfields work rate was phenomenal, and he has almost earned the right to play a little more lose. Bekker needs to get stuck in a lot more if he is going to compete at international level. He’s just not hard enough.
18 Mar 2010, 15:20 pm
@4thWiseMan: he is not as young as i thought though, 26 if I remember correctly.
18 Mar 2010, 16:22 pm
@bok1906: You obviously haven’t watched him play yet this season.
18 Mar 2010, 16:47 pm
@4thWiseMan: i hate to dissagree but bekker may not be the future, he isnt guaranteed a spot in the springboks setup same with shcalk burger ,flip vd merve i think is better than bekker and as far as line out ability i dont think bekker is anything special i rate hargreeves at line outs more, the one player in the wp setup who does look awesome is frans louw ,hes the stormers best loosie buy a country mile , bekker looks great in a side where he doesnt have to do much ,the stormers defence is tops at the moment ,but when the chips are down hes abismal he lacks raw physicality that bakkies ,rossouw and flip have and although he is physically impressive he isnt that good in the line out ,spies i feel is a better line out option as with juan smith-sorry my wp brothers i agree with the bulls blogers on this particular note -hope this isnt a case of a bunch of supporters trying to boast their players into the springbok team
18 Mar 2010, 16:48 pm
@baw: or into the starting line up
18 Mar 2010, 22:59 pm
@ARK: I agree that Bekker has been awesome this year, his work rate and defense has improved a lot and he has always been very good in the lineouts.
20 Mar 2010, 12:14 pm
the best is stil to come from him he is something special…
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