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
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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.
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