Dont write them off just yet

I’m not quite sure why people are writing the Stormers off already. A team that has won the South African conference for the last 2 years and have finished in the top 2 teams and who won the Currie Cup last year. Granted they didn’t have the best start to their season with a loss to the Bulls but with having a few new players who didn’t perform how we thought they would, they’re just getting started. They have potentially the best squad of players in the South African conference and if on form could beat any team. They just need to actually do it now, focus on the things they need to and just get the job done. They will look to bounce back against the Sharks this weekend who are also out for revenge after their last years Currie Cup defeat to the Stormers. It has the makings of a very exciting game but we all know that big games tend to fizzle out and tend to be quite boring affairs. I doubt it will be a high scoring the game as both teams have something to prove and they will end up cancelling each other out. I have however been wrong before and it might just turn out to be a game similar to that of the Chiefs and Highlanders. Time will tell but the war of the words has already begun and both teams are trying to gain an upper hand in the media.  

Surprises

So it appears my prediction for the Stormers game was off by a long shot. All of the things I said would happen didn’t and quite the opposite actually, with the Lions acquisitions failing to impress and the Stormers team lacking fire, composure and the fight that has been their hallmark over the past few seasons. Elton Jantjies who I thought would have ignited the back line to break open the Bulls defence was rusty in all aspects of his game, kicking from hand and the back line seemed to be standing deeper than usual when Peter Grant usually plays. He didn’t give them that go forward that I think we all expected him to, his place kicking was shocking, missing all of his attempts and some would say cost them the game. It was however his first game of the year and kicking may have been emotional as his father who mentored him in kicking tragically passed away recently. He isn’t however the only one to blame, most of the players who we have come to know as those who can set the game alight seemed to just fizzle out. Aspects of their game that have been so strong of late like the lineout was very poor and they lost numerous of their own throws. They will need to take a step back and asses what went wrong and work hard on it before they face the Sharks this coming weekend who will be out for blood after they were beaten in the Currie Cup final by they very same team they will face in Durban. What I think the most important thing for them to work on is their team spirit that has been so strong over the past few years, one of their coaches once said ‘a team that is united off the field is united on it’ this is true and they need to find that again and become the team we all know they can be.

Take nothing away from the Bulls who were clearly hungrier for the win than the Stormers and deserve the win. All the aspects of their game which I said would be their downfall were absolutely perfect. Morne Steyn was deadly accurate with the boot both out of hand and place kicking. Francois Hougaard looked like a new player and his box kicks were superb and he fired his back line into action almost every time he passed the ball. The Bulls have clearly worked hard and I underestimated them, a mistake which I will not make again. They are a team which all teams should watch out for because they look like the team which won the competition 3 times.

Another game which I was wrong about was the Southern Kings Western Force game which I thought was going to be a white wash in favour of the Force. I was sorely mistaken as the Kings surprised a lot of people with their 22-10 victory in PE on Saturday. Although not devastating and making a few simple mistakes there were a lot of positive from which they can build. Many of their players put their hands up and it was a solid team performance, players of interest were Jacques Engelbrecht who came on for injured captain Luke Watson dominated the forward play with almost every run breaking the line and his power in the tackles was impressive. Demetri Catrakilis who is till think should be wearing a Stormers jersey was solid and well done to the Kings for scooping such a talented player who will become one of the countries best given some time. There were other player who were impressive but none more than 18 year old Sergeal Petersen who ignited the game and scoring 2 tries coming straight out of high school. His performance was sensational and I look forward to seeing more of him this season. I admit I disagreed with the Kings inclusion into Super Rugby but I have to say they made a statement with that win, I’m not saying I changed  my mind about them just that I’m giving them a chance and hoping they prove me wrong.

www.sport24.co.za

Liverpool building for the future

Liverpool have not had the season they would have hoped for with so much promise at the beginning of the season with a new manger and some new signings. Their performances have not lived up to that promise however. Having not been able to beat a team above them on the log it hasn't helped in their quest for European football next year. When on form they have looked as some people have said the best team in the league. The new system coach Brendan Rogers has introduced into the team is impressive when it comes off but consistency is key. They have buried teams this season and have looked like the Liverpool of old but they still need some time. Their players seem to be gelling well together and some good partnerships are forming, that of Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge is looking extremely good. The way they linked up against Swansea was lethal and would have made the top teams sit up and take notice. Given some time this Liverpool side could be fighting for the Premier league title sooner then most people think. They need to work on a few things before then such as their consistency and the ability to fight until the last whistle. They have dominated some games but through stupid mistakes have conceded late and unable to score the winner. This needs to change if they are to contest for a title that has eluded them for 20 something years.

Stomers look to dominate at Loftus

The Stormers will be favorites when they travel to Loftus tomorrow night to face the Bulls who had a disappointing 2012. With additions from the Lions such as Elton Jantjies, Jaco Taute, Martin Bezuidenhout to name but a few as well as players returning from injury. They look like the team to beat this year and could possibly be the favorites to win the whole competition if everything stays as is. The addition of the Lions players gives the team a lot of depth this season which they were missing last year. They will face an ever physical Bulls team especially as they look to improve on last year’s performance and will not be easy to beat. There are a few factors which I think will lead to the defeat of the Bulls tomorrow night. The Stormers game plan last year was to use their water tight defense to grind down teams and capitalize on their mistakes with their pin point accurate kicking. However not flashy it was highly effective and lead them to lose very few games. During the Currie Cup they kept their defense but developed a powerful attacking system which won them the Currie Cup. With the big names they have acquired and returning players they will have an impressive team with which to break down teams and hit them hard on attack. They now have the best of both worlds and have developed the complete game and will be very hard to beat especially with their blend of experience and youth. The factor which I believe is the most important is the fact that the Bulls have not changed at all. Coach Frans Ludeke has opted for experience and this will be his downfall. The Bulls had a terrible season and so did most of their players and yet they find themselves back in the team ahead of younger players who have proved themselves worthy. The Bulls style of rugby has not changed in the last 5 years and however it dominated 5 years ago, rugby has evolved. They still maintain the kick and chase method but with players such as Jaco Taute, Bryan Habana and Gio Aplon they might have a long evening. Their players are passed their sell by dates and they need new blood to revive their team. Its not like they don’t have such players, Wian Liebenberg, Handre Pollard, Shaun Addendorf are just a few players in a long list of players who could bring the X-factor they so sorely need. They could surprise us but I think it could turn out to be a Stormers domination at Loftus.

zimbio.com

rugby 15.co.za

Stormers year

So this could be the year for the Stormers to finally win the Super Rugby Tournament which has eluded them for the past few seasons. Having won the South African conference for the last 2 years but being unable to win the competition but making the semi-final or final in the last 3 years has been impressive. They have been labeled as chokers, making it to the final stages and then losing, this however is a thing of the past with their impressive Currie Cup title of last year under their belt, there is no monkey on their back anymore. The addition of most of the Lions team and a host of players returning form injury only reinforces their chances. Michael Rhodes, Elton Jantjies, Jaco Taute, Pat Cilliers and Martin Bezuidenhout are just to name a few that have joined the Cape side. Players returning from injury are Schalk Burger who missed the whole of last year getting injured in the first game. Andries Bekker, Bryan Habana, Siya Kolisi and Nizam Carr are other players returning from injury as well as Dewald Duvenage. The depth of this side seems pretty good and the quality is spectacular, competition for places will be intense and will also give the team an extra edge. A good mix of youth and experience should give them what they need to finally break that chokers label at this level and win the Super Rugby.

There is however an injury concern to lock Eben Etsebeth and he looks set to miss 6 to 8 weeks. There are plenty of options for coach Allister to replace him but he will be missed sorely. It will not be easy as the Bulls and Sharks especially also look to have bolstered their packs and seem to be in fine form heading into the competition. It should be an interesting beginning of the season as the Stormers face both the Sharks and the Bulls after each other.

Gallo images