Bulls to borrow Stormers’ blueprint

18 Mar 2010

The Bulls analysed the Stormers’ victory over the Hurricanes closely and believe they modelled the path to success.

The Stormers built their 37-13 defeat of the Canes on uncompromising defence and incisive attack. It is the former facet of play that Bulls backline coach Pieter Rossouw was most impressed with.

Rossouw’s side has struggled in this area, conceding an average of 3.75 tries per match. Their attacking prowess has served to veil their defensive shortcomings, but Rossouw believes they will improve on Friday, and says the Stormers’ defensive display has given them insight into how to beat the Canes.

‘They’re [the Canes] a wonderfully gifted attacking side, and if they get momentum, particularly under the new law interpretations at the breakdown, they can be unplayable,’ Rossouw told keo.co.za.

‘What the Stormers did well from a defensive perspective is commit very few men to the rucks. This allowed them to fan out in defence and put double hits on the Canes’ primary ball carriers. The effectiveness was in the accuracy of the execution and when two defenders are hitting you powerfully you are going to struggle to recycle the ball quickly.

‘That stifled the Canes’ momentum and they often played well behind the advantage line. We’re not in the business of copying other teams, but at the same time it would be foolish to ignore the effectiveness of the tactic.’

Rossouw also praised the Stormers’ kicking game, explaining that it forced the Canes to attack from deep within their territory and when they did, the hosts’ defensive line was near impenetrable.

‘People perceive the Stormers to be this all-out running side, but statistically they’ve kicked more than anyone in the tournament,’ he said.

‘Their kicking game allowed them to play the game in the right areas of the field and they backed their defence to pressure the Canes into mistakes. It was a pretty clinical performance, and one that we’ll be looking to replicate and perhaps better.’

Bulls head coach Frans Ludeke told keo.co.za that there were ‘no excuses’ for their indifferent defensive performances, stressing that they would have to improve significantly in the weeks ahead.

‘We haven’t been good enough defensively. It’s one of the pillars of our game we’ve built our success on and we have to address the issues there, particularly our defence from broken field situations and lapses in concentration.

‘We respect the Canes’ ability with ball in hand and we know that they will be the measure of whether we have improved or not. We’ve put a lot of emphasis on defence this week and are hoping that the fruits show on Friday.’

By Ryan Vrede


526 Comments

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  • 1.Wikus van der Merwe: Reply to this comment
    18 Mar 2010, 09:20 am

    Dragon na-apers!!!!!!!!!

  • 2.GI POT: Reply to this comment
    18 Mar 2010, 09:22 am

    Hope part of the plan is to teach Hougaard how to tackle

  • 3.Mielieboer: Reply to this comment
    18 Mar 2010, 09:24 am

    Shadow (new prince of wings) to score 4 tries

  • 4.Bouts: Reply to this comment
    18 Mar 2010, 09:25 am

    That’s interesting. Stormers took the game-plan from the Cheetahs and improved on that. If the Bulls improve on that, the poor Hurricanes will have a terrible year if everyone continues to make use of those strategies! LOL!

  • 5.Tisme: Reply to this comment
    18 Mar 2010, 09:33 am

    Stormers are a boring 1 dimensional side that kick to much and dont score enough tries

  • 6.ufo: Reply to this comment
    18 Mar 2010, 09:36 am

    hehehehe… :twisted:

    What are the Bulls fans gonna say about the Bulls copying the Stormers game-plan…

    :lol:

  • 7.Martin: Reply to this comment
    18 Mar 2010, 09:37 am

    @Tisme: yaaawn.

  • 8.wpw: Reply to this comment
    18 Mar 2010, 09:38 am

    @GI POT:

    And that Van Der Heever laaitie!!! He can’t defend either

  • 9.Sonito: Reply to this comment
    18 Mar 2010, 09:38 am

    Do you want to send the Canes your playbook as well?

  • 10.Tacitus: Reply to this comment
    18 Mar 2010, 09:41 am

    Something interesting I worked on yesterday. Here are the 5 SA franchises and their rankings in terms of pace among the outside backs:

    Stormers: 4 and 6 (if Aplon is playing, otherwise just 4. Not sure where Joe Pietersen would rank).

    Cheetahs: 2 and 5 (if Demas is on the field, otherwise just 2.)

    Lions: 3 and maybe 8 or thereabouts (Killian is damn quick, and may just crack the top 8).

    Bulls: 1 and maybe 7 or 8 (Dippenaar may be in the top 8, since there was talk that he was quicker than Habana while they were both at the Bulls. But I cannot confirm that yet).

    Sharks: None. (Sad, really).

  • 11.Karen: Reply to this comment
    18 Mar 2010, 09:45 am

    Wow a first = the Bulls learning something from the Stormers :-D

  • 12.Tisme: Reply to this comment
    18 Mar 2010, 09:47 am

    @Martin: Gets boring doesnt it?

    Now you know what the bulls fans had to endure week in and week out dispite winning their games!

  • 13.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    18 Mar 2010, 09:54 am

    soooooooo, th blue bulls coaches are actually admitting they have defence frailities…hehehe rossouw must drill those three boys cos they’re **** on defence [ironically i've been saying this from the get]

  • 14.Bouts: Reply to this comment
    18 Mar 2010, 09:58 am

    Tacitus, Nokwe is still faster than that young lat of yours. As for Mapoe, I doubt the Bulls will make him such a big offer if he was slow!

  • 15.gunther: Reply to this comment
    18 Mar 2010, 10:02 am

    Transie

    How is that ironic?

  • 16.Tacitus: Reply to this comment
    18 Mar 2010, 10:02 am

    @Bouts:

    Thats a clearly articulated opinion. Pity it is not based on FACTS.

    I base my statement on FACTS. I know what Mapoe’s pace is. And I still think he is a great player. He is probably faster than the Ndungane twins, JP Pietersen ans Sireli Naquelivuki, and he is a very balanced runner with a great step.

  • 17.Geen-Pyn-Morne-Steyn: Reply to this comment
    18 Mar 2010, 10:04 am

    @tac…..agree 100%

  • 18.namaI: Reply to this comment
    18 Mar 2010, 10:05 am

    Mapoe = just a nother pawn … nice quota for the Bulls

  • 19.Geen-Pyn-Morne-Steyn: Reply to this comment
    18 Mar 2010, 10:05 am

    Stormers k@k……PROOOOOOBBBLLLEEEMMMMSSSSSS!!!

  • 20.Tisme: Reply to this comment
    18 Mar 2010, 10:05 am

    @gunther: What is really ironic is that Transie thinks he is rather clever!

  • 21.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    18 Mar 2010, 10:10 am

    @gunther: ironically = strangely enough…happy now? :roll:

  • 22.wp_boytjie: Reply to this comment
    18 Mar 2010, 10:10 am

    Tacticus:

    Raw pace is just another statistic. Nokwe and Chavangha will never start consistently for a top Super 14 franchise, cause pace is all they got…

    I’d play the Ndungane’s ahead of Nokwe/Chavangha , those okes can at least tackle and catch the ball ….

  • 23.Storm outta hell: Reply to this comment
    18 Mar 2010, 10:11 am

    ‘Borrowing a blueprint’…The sincerest form of flattery :lol:

  • 24.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    18 Mar 2010, 10:11 am

    @Tisme: where you get off making such k@k assumptions only you know…hahaha

  • 25.Loftus_Nabyveldt: Reply to this comment
    18 Mar 2010, 10:12 am

    its not just about pace guys … the bests wings ever : Carel Dup, Ray Mordt weren’t that quick ….

  • 26.Mick Dundee: Reply to this comment
    18 Mar 2010, 10:12 am

    @ufo: That should be fine – just as long as they don’t copy the hairstyles as well!

  • 27.gunther: Reply to this comment
    18 Mar 2010, 10:13 am

    Nama

    How is he a pawn ?

    The bulls wanted him last year.. he will dominate at the bulls..

    Quota ? Not a good look from you my friend …it makes you look otherwise.. You aren’t otherwise ate you?

  • 28.seamus: Reply to this comment
    18 Mar 2010, 10:13 am

    The beauty of the Stormers side is that, at some point, they will start believing their own hype

  • 29.Storm outta hell: Reply to this comment
    18 Mar 2010, 10:14 am

    @Mick Dundee: Yah…they got their own loslyf hairstyles to maintain :mrgreen:

  • 30.bokbal: Reply to this comment
    18 Mar 2010, 10:16 am

    @Tacitus: Tacitus how did you work this out? Based on what tests? Are you saying that Van den Heever is the fastest guy around? I am not so sure about that..what about Tonderai (hamstring) Chavanga? And I will be willing to put money on it that Joe Pietersen, Gio Aplon as well as Habana (and maybe even Deon Fourie ;-) ) will be faster than Van den Heever…it also depends over what distance you are talking about. First 40m, Pietersen, Aplon, Habana, Tonderai, Nokwe, Fourie, Van den Heever…or something like that. What do you think?

  • 31.st.a.t.w: Reply to this comment
    18 Mar 2010, 10:17 am

    @wp_boytjie:

    from what i’ve seen chavanga can catch and kick and he definatly can tackle

  • 32.gunther: Reply to this comment
    18 Mar 2010, 10:18 am

    Transie

    You misunderstand..

    What is ironic or “strangely enough” about you slating the bulls..

  • 33.Tisme: Reply to this comment
    18 Mar 2010, 10:18 am

    @Transformation: irony is an opposite, not a strange occurance!

    That is where I get off making these STATEMENTS not assumptions

  • 34.Bill Reyts: Reply to this comment
    18 Mar 2010, 10:20 am

    Tacitus is cringing now…poor lonely lady.

  • 35.Bill Reyts: Reply to this comment
    18 Mar 2010, 10:21 am

    Sorry I base my comment on the fact that a man would never be so bitchy.

  • 36.Bouts: Reply to this comment
    18 Mar 2010, 10:26 am

    @Tacitus: LOL! Tac, nothing in your post even give the slightest clue that you’re basing your list on facts! Give us the facts then!

  • 37.Karen: Reply to this comment
    18 Mar 2010, 10:26 am

    Hallo Bill :-) – you being a ***** so early on this beautiful morning hahaha

  • 38.Storm outta hell: Reply to this comment
    18 Mar 2010, 10:26 am

    @Bill Reyts: …a ***** in heat imo…

  • 39.Bill Reyts: Reply to this comment
    18 Mar 2010, 10:28 am

    @Karen: Good Morning Karen. Actually I’m being nice today! ;) How are you?

  • 40.Bill Reyts: Reply to this comment
    18 Mar 2010, 10:29 am

    @Storm outta hell: …on heat yes…lol

  • 41.Karen: Reply to this comment
    18 Mar 2010, 10:30 am

    @Bill Reyts: Hey I know that is your nice side :-) My evil twin also runs around sometimes but the nice me is here today :-D I am always good and you? Am actually looking forward to the rugby on Saturday

  • 42.Tacitus: Reply to this comment
    18 Mar 2010, 10:30 am

    @bokbal:

    (Rubs hands together in satisfaction):

    Most SA rugby players who have been asked to give their opinion have generally believed Nokwe to be the fastest player in SA (before this season).

    Other players with very good 40m sprint times are Henno Mentz, Zahier Ryland, Gio Aplon, Tonderai Chavanga, Michael Killian and Danwell Demas. And of course Brian Habana, although his pace seems to be somewhat overrated.

    Anyway, Nokwe’s best 40m sprint time is known, it is VERY QUICK, and this is used as a base for comparison. It is therefore with confidence based on fact that I make my statement.

  • 43.ufo: Reply to this comment
    18 Mar 2010, 10:31 am

    @Mick Dundee:

    c’mon dude… that’s so last decade… you’re way too late… they’ve already copied that and taken it to another level…

    the Bulls are the ones with all the fancy hairstyles these days… Victor, Meisie, JLP, Kuun, Ndungane and especially Dewalt Pottie… Heck they even showed a close-up of Dewalt this weekend with little rubber bands and stuff in his hair… looked like a real girl… :twisted:

    :wink:

  • 44.Oubaas2009: Reply to this comment
    18 Mar 2010, 10:31 am

    Sharks Team vs Highlanders

    15. Patrick Lambie
    14. Stefan Terblanche
    13. Adrian Jacobs
    12. Riaan Swanepoel
    11. JP Pietersen
    10. Andy Goode
    9. Ruan Pienaar
    8. Ryan Kankowski
    7. Jean Deysel
    6. Keegan Daniel
    5. Johann Muller ( C )
    4. Steven Sykes
    3. Jannie du Plessis
    2. Bismarck du Plessis
    1. Tendai Mtawarira

    Replacements
    16. Craig Burden
    17. John Smit
    18. Alistair Hargreaves
    19. Willem Alberts
    20. Jacques Botes
    21. Rory Kockott
    22. Waylon Murray

  • 45.Bill Reyts: Reply to this comment
    18 Mar 2010, 10:32 am

    @Karen: You going to the game? I’m always nice. Love ripping the old soul off though.

  • 46.baw: Reply to this comment
    18 Mar 2010, 10:32 am

    @Tacitus: what a normative statement you have made :) factless and completely biast um well the sharks dont have nice accents so they must have the slowest wings and backs -facts boy ,facts…

  • 47.Bill Reyts: Reply to this comment
    18 Mar 2010, 10:33 am

    @ufo: Moftus is doing well lately! Have you ever checked the chics in the crowds?

  • 48.Tacitus: Reply to this comment
    18 Mar 2010, 10:34 am

    @baw:

    JP Pietersen has stated quite clearly in an interview that Nokwe is much faster than him. Who is the Sharks other wing?

    If it is Ndungane, well, then we know he aint one of the quickest around.

    So what part of my statement do you actually dispute?

  • 49.Karen: Reply to this comment
    18 Mar 2010, 10:34 am

    @Bill Reyts: Of course I will be there. I know you like stirring the pot a little :-)

  • 50.baw: Reply to this comment
    18 Mar 2010, 10:35 am

    @Oubaas2009: lambie should still be playing vodacom cup ,i think hes still carrying bags-like that burden is included in there

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