So the Stormers have been in the media again this week. Some people saying that they have second season syndrome which is where a team doesn’t live up to the form they had the year before. This may be true as they had a phenomenal year both in Super Rugby and domestically. Young players were dominating week in and week out. The thought is now they have a ‘big head’ after playing so well and now feel that they no longer have to work as hard. The way the last 2 games have gone you would be forgiven if you believed this to be true. I even found myself thinking this same thing. Usually I defend the Stormers no matter what even if they’re wrong as any good supporter would. But there comes a time when you need to stop living in a dream world and face facts. The fact is that it actually might be the case. If that is true well then we’re in a heap of trouble, facing the Chiefs this weekend is quickly becoming a must win game for the Stormers.
For the past few years there was this sense that anything could happen, a never say die attitude that spilled over into the support. A fire that was visible even on TV. So much can be spoken about form of the past but this is now and that’s all gone.
That’s the attitude they need to have, throw away the sense of entitlement of past performances and earn their reputation. You need to beat the best to be the best and at the moment the Chiefs are the best, it will be a good start to recovery if they manage to win. It does not have to be a flashy win, just get the job done and move forward.
I have spoken about a single moment that could turn a whole season. I was actually referring to the Stormers side which sorely needs it. They have the players capable of doing it; they just need a good kick in the pants to get them going.
We can sit here all day about what they’re doing wrong and how they can go about fixing it but when it comes down to it they just need to go out and do it. They do however need that fire back and the only way that’s going to happen is for the senior players to put their hands up and show the youngsters how it’s done.
The inclusion once again of Elton Jantjies bothers me slightly, I’m all for giving guys a chance to prove themselves but if you’re not producing you need time on the sideline. Just look at the good it did for Morne Steyn being dropped from the Boks. He is back to his best if not better.
The coach actually needs to take him aside and give him some tlc because lets not forget his dad recently passed away and that’s a huge thing to deal with for even the strongest people. Give him some time to deal with it and I have no doubt that he’ll be back to his best soon.
The issue of Grant not being match fit is a farce I think, he has never had a problem before, why now? Sometimes you need to make the hard choices and do what is ultimately the best for the team.
What ever happens they need to wake up before it’s too late and that day is looming rather fast. The players themselves need to find that fire that I speak of so often. It is the missing piece to the puzzle.
I am not going to make any predictions for this weeks round of Super Rugby as last time I was very wrong. All I am going to say is that I hope they find the spark and ignite their season the way we’ve been waiting for, for a long time.
