Van Aswegen in Stormers hot seat
24 Jan 2012
Gary van Aswegen will start at flyhalf against the Lions this Friday and appears to be the favourite for the position in the coming Super Rugby competition.
Stormers coach Allister Coetzee has picked his strongest possible side for the pre-season clash at Newlands. Schalk Burger is back to skipper the side after sitting out of last week’s hit-out in Wellington, while a whole host of established players return to the line-up for the first serious warm-up for the Cape franchise.
Coetzee has excluded several frontline players due to injury. Lock Andries Bekker and No 8 Duane Vermeulen are only expected to be fit for the fourth pre-season clash with the Kings while lock Rynhardt Elstadt could play against the Cheetahs next week. Dewaldt Duvenage will start training with the squad next week and Wicus Blaauw is also expected to be back in the mix.
Otherwise Coetzee maintains that the side selected is one of his strongest. Van Aswegen has been entrusted with the flyhalf duties and the Stormers coach has hinted that the Ole Gunnar Solskjaer look alike could play himself into the starting side for that opening Super Rugby game against the Hurricanes on 25 February.
Since Peter Grant is currently in Japan and won’t be back until the Kobe Steelers are knocked out of that local club tournament, Van Aswegen has a chance to make the No 10 shirt his own.
‘Gary suffered from a serious injury in last year’s Currie Cup and we want him to play as much as possible alongside Jean de Villiers and Juan de Jongh [in these pre-season games],’ said Coetzee. ‘We’ve got to build some momentum and ensure that these combinations gel.
‘I’m not sure exactly when Peter will be back or whether he will come back in one piece, so we have to push on with our plans. Gary has looked very sharp and he has a big opportunity now.’
Coetzee added that matches against the Lions and Cheetahs would serve as good preparation ahead of the competition proper and that he and his assistant coaches would be focusing on quality of performance rather than the scoreline.
Stormers – 15 Joe Pietersen, 14 Gio Aplon, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Gary van Aswegen, 9 Louis Schrueder, 8 Nick Koster, 7 Siya Kolisi, 6 Schalk Burger (c), 5 De Kock Steennkamp, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Deon Fourie, 1 Steve Kitshoff.
Subs: 16 Tiaan Liebenberg, 17 Deon Carstens, 18 Frans Malherbe, 19 Don Armandt, 20 Reuben Johannes, 21 Nizaam Carr, 22 Nic Groom, 23 Burton Francis, 24 Marcel Brache, 25 Gerhard van den Heever, 26 Danie Poolman.
By Jon Cardinelli
94 Comments
24 Jan 2012, 12:41 pm
Not a bad herd of dragons…!!
24 Jan 2012, 12:43 pm
So what’s it going to be, Stormers fans? Is this your year?
24 Jan 2012, 12:46 pm
Good to see Joe Pieterson back.
24 Jan 2012, 12:46 pm
@Tacitus-2: Every year is our year. copy and pasting last year’s comments as we speak.
24 Jan 2012, 12:47 pm
@HHS-3:
Ja, he’s a good player.
24 Jan 2012, 12:51 pm
@Tacitus-2: What to make it to the semis again ?
24 Jan 2012, 12:52 pm
@stew-6:
Well, surely you didn’t think I was referring to more than that?
24 Jan 2012, 12:53 pm
Not bad. Lacking height in the back three but Pietersen was quite dependable in the air before he left
24 Jan 2012, 12:57 pm
Coetzee confirms his Bok snub
Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:06
Allister Coetzee: No Bok call-up. (c) Gallo
Stormers’ coach Allister Coetzee has again confirmed his will not feature in the Springbok coaching setup.
Coetzee told a media gathering on Monday that he has not been approached by Heyneke Meyer to form part of the Bok coaching team.
Speaking after his team’s training session in Cape Town, Coetzee denied media reports that he had spoken to Meyer about taking a job as assistant coach.
Meyer is tipped to succeed Peter de Villiers when the new national coach is named, probably on Friday.
“Heyneke never approached me,” Coetzee said.
“We last chatted about two weeks ago, but we did not speak about Springbok-related matters.”
Coetzee confirmed last week that he was not on the SA Rugby Union’s shortlist for the Bok head coach’s job.
The shortlist has been whittled down to just one name – Meyer.
Just days ago he said his not interested……twirp
24 Jan 2012, 12:59 pm
@Tacitus-5: Actually I’m glad because now we will get more shots from SS camera of his bird in the stands.
I hope Van Aswegen step up, so that Province can shred that Mickey Mouse contract of Grant. Province should back this kid and their other young flyhalfs.
24 Jan 2012, 13:04 pm
With Van Aswegen, Catrikilis and Kurt Coleman on the books why are we bothering with Peter ‘No Distance’ Grant.
24 Jan 2012, 13:07 pm
AC falling back into his Jakey ways…..
Schalk at fetcher is an abomination…..
Sorry AC….sorry Newlands…..I will miss going to the matches ….been a regular since 1976, but that is it for me….
no mas
no more
niks ****** meer nie
24 Jan 2012, 13:07 pm
‘I’m not sure exactly when Peter will be back or whether he will come back in one piece, so we have to push on with our plans. Gary has looked very sharp and he has a big opportunity now.’
Not a good sign.
So with Van Aswegen and now Francis in the line-up and Coleman having had some S15 experience plus having played in last week’s warm-up, wherer does that leace Catrikilis and Swiel?
24 Jan 2012, 13:10 pm
@Tacitus-2:
I am hoping that, like Elstadt was last year, the likes of Stephen Kitshoff, Reuben Johannes, Nizaam Carr and JP Du Plessis will be surprise packages to some…
24 Jan 2012, 13:11 pm
@puff-14:
Add Eben Etsebeth and Marcel Brache to that list.
24 Jan 2012, 13:14 pm
@HHS-10: Just out of interest, when does Grant get back?
24 Jan 2012, 13:16 pm
@Tacitus-2:
But you can say the same for Botha, Stander, Venter, Sadie…
24 Jan 2012, 13:17 pm
@Bok fan-16: JC mentioned it in the article. When his team is knocked out of their tourney.
24 Jan 2012, 13:18 pm
@Bok fan-16:
Preciely the point – not even the coach knows.
It all depends on whether Grant’s Japanese team make the playoffs in their tournament.
If they do, he will be away for longer than Stormers would hope for plus he would have played a lot of rugby by the time he returns – so not ideal.
Which means surely Stormers can’t expect to have him as their first-choice flyhalf as it isn’t a reliable situation?
24 Jan 2012, 13:21 pm
@HHS-18:
Hopefully his Japanese team will stay unbeaten forever
24 Jan 2012, 13:21 pm
@HHS-18: Thanks, just looked at the team sheet
24 Jan 2012, 13:23 pm
@puff-19: Ja not good planning, the position is to NB for this kind of set up
24 Jan 2012, 13:42 pm
15 Fullback Jaco Taute
14 Right Wing Deon Van Rensburg
13 Outside Centre Lionel Mapoe
12 Inside Centre Doppies La Grange (VC)
11 Left Wing Michael Killian
10 Flyhalf Butch James
9 Scrumhalf Michael Bondesio
8 Number Eight Warren Whiteley
7 Right Flanker Joshua Strauss (c)
6 Left Flanker Derick Minnie
5 Right Lock Franco Van der Merwe
4 Left Lock Hendrik Roodt
3 Tighthead Prop Patric Cilliers
2 Hooker Bandise Maku
1 Loosehead Prop JC Janse van Rensburg
Replacements:
16 Reserve Hooker Callie Visagie
17 Reserve Prop Caylib Oosthuizen
18 Reserve Prop Jacobie Adriaanse
19 Reserve Lock Stephan Greeff
20 Reserve Lock Ruan Botha
21 Reserve Flanker Cobus Grobbelaar
22 Reserve Flanker Doppies Le Roux
23 Reserve Back Anthony Volminc
24 Reserve Back Dylan Des Fountain
25 Reserve Back James Kamana
26 Reserve Back Andries Coetzee
24 Jan 2012, 13:49 pm
The Stormers team isn’t bad.
But it isn’t champion material either.
24 Jan 2012, 13:50 pm
@Frik-11: I asked a question in the other thread. What happened to Zorba, and why is Burton in the squad ahead of Zorba and Coleman? Burton was cut by Mitch because he does not consider him to be good enough to play Superrugby …. so Zorba and Coleman are being screwedd.
What does AC know about backline play? Nothing according to Mitch.
24 Jan 2012, 13:53 pm
@HHS-23: on the Lions website you can see the profiles of Mitch’s 30 man super squad. It was posted on Friday.
24 Jan 2012, 14:08 pm
A bold early season prediction on some of the stormers players.
Duvenhage to regress….Bolla to re-emerge
v Aswegen to come up short in S15. CC is his ceiling
Pietersen ditto v Aswegen
PG to end season as 1st choice FH.
Stormers to end outside top 4
Scrum to struggle.
Transie, please don’t save this post.
24 Jan 2012, 14:09 pm
@HHS-23:
Gonna be a close game……..
24 Jan 2012, 14:20 pm
Make or break season for JDV
24 Jan 2012, 14:21 pm
Where has Bolla been?
In witness protection?
24 Jan 2012, 14:22 pm
I am with Grant on this.
Schalk at 6 is a cancer in Stormer’s rugby.
24 Jan 2012, 14:41 pm
@willievz-31:
-_-
It’s not ideal, but to be complaining about a team that made the semi’s the last few years, and have a superb home record… to threaten not to attend games because you aren’t happy with coaching decisions.
All seems a bit self-centered.
24 Jan 2012, 14:42 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther-30: Apparently you were hunting his *** after he saw you and PDV in the car park. That definitely calls for witness protection. It explains your pro stance on the Protection of state information bill.
24 Jan 2012, 14:43 pm
@pompies2-33: *** should be @$$
24 Jan 2012, 14:46 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther-30:
ja, witnessed daylight robbery at the breakdown.
24 Jan 2012, 14:47 pm
@hendrikp-32
I guess the big question is whether or not you pick a fetcher just for the sake of picking one, even if the fetcher is not as good an allround player as another option.
I would.
I view a fetcher / deck player as a specialist position in modern rugby, much like a tighthead.
You don’t accommodate the Beast and Gurthro in the same starting XV simply because they are better allround players than Jannie.
24 Jan 2012, 14:52 pm
Here we go:
“Cape Town – The Guma TAC group say they have initiated legal proceedings to recover their loan following the souring of their relationship with the embattled Golden Lions Rugby Union.
In a media statement on Tuesday, they said they were “disappointed that our dream of transformation in the Golden Lions could not be realised”, adding that “the executive management and the Lions’ new investor, businessman and Lions deputy president Altmann Allers, have left us with no alternative”.
Guma TAC claim they “provided the Lions with millions of rands to pay the salaries of the Lions players and staff for both December 2010 and January 2011”.
They also said in the statement that had the Lions failed to pay the players’ salaries over that period, it would have led to the breach of player contracts which would have led to an exodus of key players.
“Furthermore, the loans enabled the Lions to sign top international players like Butch James and Lionel Mapoe and to pay the 24 amateur feeder GLRU clubs their GLRU grants.”
Guma TAC say they also funded secure accommodation and transport for Currie Cup 2011-winning coach John Mitchell “following the unfortunate house-breaking and stabbing attack on him at his apartment”.
They added: “As you are aware, Guma TAC on its own, within the GLRU, managed to sign up both MTN and Discovery (over R60m, three-year) sponsorships.
“When SARU finally approved our transaction, Lions president Kevin de Klerk and his executive, which included (Allers) frustrated the finalisation of the transaction by refusing to confirm SARU’s approval.
“We nonetheless … afforded the Lions an opportunity to repay our loans and to facilitate an amicable and negotiated exit once they got a replacement equity investor.
“We were dismayed when the Lions’ executive management and the new financier Allers not only refused to pay us but now deny that they owe us anything.”
Guma TAC said it “hurt” them to have to turn to the courts to recover money that was “loaned in good faith at a time the Lions’ bankers refused to extend further credit facilities and the Lions’ president (De Klerk) turned to us in desperation to advance funds to pay, amongst other commitments, the players and staff”.
“We have a deep affection for the team, its players, the staff and fans.””
24 Jan 2012, 14:58 pm
@WP Till I Die-37: this is huge…..
oh hell
24 Jan 2012, 15:00 pm
@willievz-36: That’s a very good way of structuring the argument. I however say that only to a point must you accomodate a specialist.
If, for example, I thought that Kitshoff was 80% of the level required I’d say fine, pick him at 6 and SB at 7.
But I remain unconvinced. If it were PLO it would be a no brainer, which is why the decision to release him is so perplexing. Just don’t understand it. There must be more to it than meets the eye.
So I’m on the “lesser of 2 evils” train, i.e. Schalk at 6.
For now.
But this is what warm up games are for, if this pack get given a good hiding, especially at the breakdown, it may require a change of strategy,
If I were the Stormers management I would have gone after Jaques Botes, he’;s not getting game time at the Sharks and he may have been the answer (considering who’s out there and possibly available).
Anyway it will be interesting to see. I’ll be there.
24 Jan 2012, 15:02 pm
@grant10-38: Yes it is. I hope it works out for them.
24 Jan 2012, 15:04 pm
@grant10-38:
yip, really stupid if you as me.
just makes them look bad, like nigerian 419 bad.
they should just do their best to renegotiate the terms of payment seeing as everybody knows they dont have the money to pay it back quickly.
i guess autoglass is not raking it in, or allers didn’t make money in business for nothing?..
24 Jan 2012, 15:08 pm
ah the downside of the BEE honeypot.
when investments suddenly become loans.
thought they could get a union on the cheap.
24 Jan 2012, 15:09 pm
@willievz-36: Couldnt agree more, spot on. PS I think Deon Fourie would make an excellent 6
24 Jan 2012, 15:12 pm
@willievz-31: @willievz-31: I’m gonna present a slightly different viewpoint. While I understand your argument, I’m gonna counter it on the basis of observations i”ve been making in the game of in the last year.
Because of the almost rugby league like structure to the game, emphasis is now being placed on offensive front-on tackling. This is as a result of the almost predictable pattern plays being employed. The result is that support runners almost don’t anticipate as much as they already know where the attacking player is going. The negates the defensive opensider in that he mostly relied on an attacking player isolating himself.
What has become prevalent is the importance of numbers to the breakdown to force turnovers. Vital to this aspect of play is the tackler who has to ensure he gets to his feet asap, but instead of competing for the ball on the groupnd, now has to wrestle the oncoming support players to pave the way for his teammates to dominate at the ruck. The other noticeable things is that attempts are being made to kick the ball while the ball is in the ruck. This causes a delay for the scrummie when clearing the ball.
For me, dominant front-on defensive players will hold more value in the current playing constructs and the team which best manipulates this rugby-league like defensive system wil build a bigger momentum which leads to a numbers game and ultimately success.
Hopefully this wasn’t too long.
24 Jan 2012, 15:14 pm
@stormersboy-39: The only way IMO you can play Schalk on the flank is if hes playing with another “Hybrid” flank like Flo as a left right combination as opposed to blind and open. Ever since his neck injury and all the yellow cards he was getting, hes always been a classic no8
24 Jan 2012, 15:14 pm
@pompies2-44: Very valid.
24 Jan 2012, 15:15 pm
@Bok fan-45: I hear you and you are right. My opinion is based not on Schalla’s suitability for the openside role, but rather the lack (in my opinion) of a semi-decent opensider worth playing.
24 Jan 2012, 15:20 pm
@pompies2-44: Ive always said the most important aspect of a fetcher is not the turnover but securing possesion, which I think alludes to your point and makes a fetcher even more vital?
24 Jan 2012, 15:23 pm
@stormersboy-47: Ja is a concern, I think Deon Fourie could do a good job though, worth a try
24 Jan 2012, 15:24 pm
@Bok fan-48: not the same. The fetcher being referred to is the 1st supporting player to the ruck actually competing for the ball directly. What I am referring to is any defensive player not necessarily competing for the ball, but competing at the ruck. It’s become just too risky to compete for the ball at the ruck. The law is too subjective. Players have now become accustomed to “entering through the gate”, which was a problem initially, which minimizes that threat.
24 Jan 2012, 15:25 pm
@Bok fan-49: Yes he does play that way, doesn’t he?
But I’d still rather have him come on for Tiaan, because then you have him in the mix in the second half.
For my money I would have gone and recruited a decent opensider. Our youngsters are still a year or so away from being ready in that postion.
24 Jan 2012, 15:26 pm
@grant10-12: Really Grant? Your sports team is like your family, you can’t desert them when they screw up, you just keep loving them.
If you feel that way then good riddance, go join the Bulls brigade.
24 Jan 2012, 15:29 pm
@wpjoulekkading-52: Aah, and if they do happen to win while Alistair is there please don’t suddenly become a fan..
24 Jan 2012, 15:30 pm
On the plus side if deon fourie is playing at 6 he won’t be throwing in at the lineouts.
24 Jan 2012, 15:32 pm
@stormersboy-51: Deon Fourie should be only considered as a hooker. There are loads of good loosies. If he’s not good enough, which i think he’s not, he has to play vodacom cup.
He’s not a good scrummager, a lightweight in the tight-loose and not a very good lineout thrower. All that should be overlooked because he can possibly fill the “fetcher role”? Ludicrous!!!
24 Jan 2012, 15:36 pm
@pompies2-55: Read my post again. That’s exactly what I said
24 Jan 2012, 15:37 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther-54: Yes. It freaks me out. Much like Schalk Britz, it doesn’t matter how good you are in the loose if you lose all your lineout throws.
24 Jan 2012, 15:38 pm
@stormersboy-56: one thousand apologies. I’d go as far as saying they should get another decnt hooker as backup. Liebenberg won’t be able to play the whole season as a starter.
24 Jan 2012, 15:39 pm
@stormersboy-51: Ja agree, hasnt exactly been the best recruiting this year for the Stormers, too much confusion up top perhaps
24 Jan 2012, 15:40 pm
@wpjoulekkading-53: I HAVE BEEN A SUPPORTER SINCE 1976
WILL ALWAYS BE A SUPPORTER PLONKER!
JUST NOT GOING TO GO TO THE GAMES TILL WE GET AN OPENSIDER
STOP CRYING MAN
IT IS MY DECISION
NOT YOURS
NOW GO CHANGE YOUR PANTY
24 Jan 2012, 15:40 pm
@stormersboy-57:
Dixie was the last decent hooker the stormers had.
They should have converted luke to a number 2.
24 Jan 2012, 15:46 pm
@pompies2-58: All of them accepted
@the artist formerly known as gunther-61: I always though we missed out on a gem there. Great all-round game.
Looked like a newborn first love doll though, maybe that’s why no one took him seriously.
Thinking of Luke makes me want to go no 2.
24 Jan 2012, 15:46 pm
@grant10-60: does my earlier post even affect you view on the fetcher discussion? I’d like you to present a rugby response and not some Flo or Brussouw infatuation.
Others might even accept your response as a student of the game.
24 Jan 2012, 15:53 pm
“Controversial New Zealand referee Bryce Lawrence will not travel to South Africa to officiate Super Rugby matches after he refereed the Springboks in their 11-9 Rugby World Cup quarterfinal defeat against Australia.”
Zanzar onderskat ons geduld. Ons sal vir hom wag!
24 Jan 2012, 15:54 pm
@pompies2-63: schalks body type is a no no as an opensider….niether does he have the brain for the role….I have been impressed with Rohan Kitshoff….
Schalk will be murdered at the breakdown , as he has been for the last 8 / 9 years….
Minnie will sort him again…..not to mention Brussow, Pocock, The young Sader chap Todd, etc , etc….
We just dont learn…..
24 Jan 2012, 15:58 pm
@grant10-65: Sorry G10. Not convinced. If body type is the crux of your argument, then I’m sticking to my viewpoint. have you read my take on opensiders in my earlier post?
24 Jan 2012, 15:59 pm
This thread is like a time machine. Didn’t we have this exact same scenario a year ago? It was also in the build-up to the pre-season friendlies that the names of van Aswegen, Coleman, Cronje etc were thrown around. There was much desperate hopefulness among the Stormers fans here about each of the 6 or so candidates, and much smirking among just about everyone else. How is it that a year has passed and they’re still struggling to answer the very same question/
24 Jan 2012, 16:04 pm
@>^..^< katman-67: Who cares. It’s about the Stormers and everyone (including the non stormers supporters) seem to love to talk about them all day.
It’s not like no one ever repeats themselves on this blog….
24 Jan 2012, 16:06 pm
Almost time to don my tinfoil hat.
24 Jan 2012, 16:06 pm
@stormersboy-68: If everybody down at Polsmoor has sloppy pap every day, it doesn’t necessarily mean they like it.
24 Jan 2012, 16:08 pm
@>^..^< katman-70: Sorry? Cant’ hear you with my tinfoil hat on. It acts as a shield. Drowns out all the bullshit.
24 Jan 2012, 16:12 pm
@>^..^< katman-70:
hehehe
that’s like saying people just wonder down to pollsmoor and lock themselves up…!!
not like you or anyone else is locked into keo or to the stormers threads…
24 Jan 2012, 16:15 pm
@ufo-72: My metaphor. I decide what applies.
24 Jan 2012, 16:17 pm
@>^..^< katman-73:
hahaha…
24 Jan 2012, 16:24 pm
@pompies2-66: read it….interesting…but flawed….will discuss with you soon..damn busy currently
24 Jan 2012, 16:56 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther-61:
They actually had the powerful Stellenbosch Varsity Cup captain and 2011 player of the VC in the ranks too… and… let him slip through the ranks… he’s on the bench for the Lions…
24 Jan 2012, 17:01 pm
Can I take off my tinfoil hat now
Is it safe
24 Jan 2012, 17:15 pm
@Dawn-77: Yip. Apart from the giant protrusion growing out of my neck everything seems to be OK.
24 Jan 2012, 17:19 pm
@grant10-60:
Oooo, big strong man using capital letters.
Trust me, no crying, more like a sense of disgust.
You came on here posting “no f**** more” etc, looking for some reaction, you got some reaction, now take your medicine and go cry into your teacup as you sit on the couch and watch the rugger on the telly.
24 Jan 2012, 17:20 pm
@>^..^< katman-67:
Second season in a row and it’s AC flying by the seat of his pants a couple of weeks before kick off. But this year, he’s cleverly managed to get rid of some of our best prospects and established regulars.
Marvelous.
Anyway, as a loyal and faithful Stormers fan, I think I need to contribute and help the cause this season.
So I am busy making 2 x A1 posters of an arsse and an elbow highlighted with luminous arrows, with the words ‘ARSSE’ and ‘ELBOW’ written at the bottom of the respective picture of said appendages in size 72 bold text, and sending them by DHL to Newlands for AC to pin on his wall.
Who knows, maybe at the start of next season it might have sunk in and he may be able to tell the difference…
24 Jan 2012, 17:23 pm
@Dawn-77:
Keep it on. I’ll bet you rock the tinfoil look
24 Jan 2012, 17:25 pm
@pompies2-44: Pompies
We’ve had this discussion before.
Of course counterrucking is a very important element of defensive systems. However, I believe fetchers or deck players have specialist roles in attack and in defense and that you cannot depend on counterrucking solely.
Let’s consider defense, arguably the most important part of a deck player’s job description. You are right in that most modern defensive systems aim to shut down the space of attacking players in which they need to make decisions, with a tackler and tackler assist defending on the ball more frequently vis-a-vis the carrier than in the past. In modern defensive systems, the non-tackler’s positioning and anticipation are as key to the defensive line as that of the tackler and tackler assist.
The fetcher’s role in any defensive system, if he is not the tackler in a particular phase, is to be a defensive interpreter. He needs to slow down the opposition’s ball at appropriate rucks. But – and this is the first key point – the very best opensiders can make a difference even if you don’t dominate the collision point by just stifling opposition momentum that split second longer.
Defensive opensiders need to play a support or continutity function at most rucks (not every ruck, as no player can attend all the rucks all the time) and cherry-pick the rucks that they enter – this is my second key point and essentially what seperates the wheat from the chaff. A top fetcher, even though he positions himself to enter most rucks, only enters those rucks where he has the best chance of laying his hands on ball to slow it down, and allow the defensive line to reorganise.
A low body position and center of gravity are useful attributes – why? Because it is more difficult to counterruck an opponent with a low body position effectively, and sometimes results in counterruckers falling over their feet at a ruck, giving away a penalty.
And of course – opensiders, in their quest to position themselves in close proximity to most rucks (but not necessarily enter them) will make the most tackles in a game, particularly in early phases.
Now consider attack. Opensiders need to assist ball carriers as continuity players more often than other players, to assist the ruck as the first supporting player. Ball carriers entering collusion might stay on their feet or go to ground, and as the first supporting player, the opensider need to secure or speed up possession, particularly if defensive lines are well organised or if first phase possession was not ideal.
I guess anticipation is a key word here. Burger will never be an effective 6 as he is a hybrid player (and a superb one at that), with no clear job description on the park. A fetcher has his mind focused on what I’ve described above, and if you are focused on a particular objective from the outset, you will have a greater chance to succeed than someone who is expected to perform across the board functions.
24 Jan 2012, 17:31 pm
@stormersboy-78:
your head?
24 Jan 2012, 17:37 pm
The Stormers are a f’cking wasteful lot.
Dimitri Katrakilis was brilliant for them in the currie cup. He won a player of the months award and WP only lost when he was out injured.
Now he is fifth in the pecking order after Grant, van Aswegen, Francis and Coleman.
Stuff you Stormers.
Sharks and Lions are my favs this year.
24 Jan 2012, 17:46 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther-83:
24 Jan 2012, 18:02 pm
Foil on head dodging incoming!
24 Jan 2012, 18:56 pm
At last a break of the mid summer boredom, a welcome change
And it comes with a bonus in terms of Aplon on the field, the wing who scored twice vs The Mighty Namibia last RWC in NZ!
24 Jan 2012, 19:10 pm
@wpjoulekkading-79: sorry wp…never saw the bloody caps till i drukked the send…my bad…
ons wp manne moet vas staan…wil nie met n u baklei nie
ek raak net befok met scalkie as n no fetch vokkall fetcher…dis al
24 Jan 2012, 19:18 pm
This is not the last warm up game, the Greek will play unless he is injured. Coleman was injured, Francis is new and needs assessed, Van Aswegen is returning from injury as well. The Greek played most of the Currie Cup last year.
Patience…
24 Jan 2012, 19:22 pm
Deon Fourie is a far better hooker prospect than Liebenberg in a tight affair where a game breaker is required at the coal face of the breakdown
And Van Aswegen far better fly half prospect than Catrakillis
Frans Malherbe , Eben Etzebeth , Rynhardt Elstadt, Siya Kolisi , Nick Koster , Reuben Johannes , Nizaam Carr , Louis Schrueder , Juan de Jongh , Joe Pietersen also all rearing to show what they got.
24 Jan 2012, 19:50 pm
@grant10-88:
Fair enough, ek was ook so bietjie van a ‘n drol.
I just don’t want province boytjies buying into the constant propaganda stream coming from the rest on this blog.
About the fetcher, is a bit of a pity, but I reckon there are a few plans in place for the fetching, regardless of what Alistair says to the media. No-one could watch the WC this year and not see how crucial fetchers were.
I do believe that it is possible to have a loose trio sharing jobs, but it needs a mighty fine balancing act.
Fourie is a bit lig in die broek, but maybe he can bulk up a bit more. And he is a little bit better in that sense than Brits, at least he doesn’t hang around in the backline so much when he is picked at 2.
For the line-out throwing I just don’t get it, surely that is a skill any 2 should be able to learn? I mean scrumming obviously has a lot to do with body type, but there is no reason the likes of Fourie and Brits cannot be great line out throwers. I suspect the reason Fourie struggles a bit is more a lack of practice (and game-time) with this jumpers with Liebenberg at the front of the queue.
24 Jan 2012, 19:52 pm
@ashampoopaloo-90: deon is a good contributor in the tight (and loose) stuff. His set pieces could use a bit (lot) of work.
I agree with you on Van Aswegen. A lot more to offer than karlkikilus.
25 Jan 2012, 04:13 am
Quite a few new names (for me) in that squad. Good to see some young blood comming through….. can they cut the mustard in S15 though? Will know shortly I guess.
25 Jan 2012, 04:25 am
@grant10-12:
Jeez Grant, I swear you have more female hormones than male ones………and a monthly cycle to boot!
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