Sanjay's Rugby World

Saturday was a historic occasion as Orlando Stadium in Soweto hosted an all South African Super 14 final.

It was awesome to be at the ground and witness first hand the atmosphere in Soweto.

The Bulls won 25-17, but the result was secondary in my mind. What mattered most was that it was an unforgettable day for all, a final held in a black township, the resumption of the north-south rivalry that signifies South African rugby is healthy, and confirmation that the Bulls are a champion side, with the Stormers trying to emulate them, and in my view they’ll ensure there are many memorable battles in future years.

The Bulls sealed their 3rd Super 14 title in 4 years, and exhibited what a complete side they have become. It was a game built on forward dominance, strong defence and converting opportunities.

The Stormers game has been based on a strong defence, and utilising their strong loose forwards to gain momentum wide of the ruck to give their backs space to operate in. However they ran into a blue wall at Orlando stadium, the Bulls defence was oustanding in fanning out as the breakdown was set, and then making double tackles which allowed the side to gain momentum and turn ball over as they made offensive tackles.

The Stormers had no counter and were unable to dictate play. Unlike any other side this season, the Bulls showed they are smart enough to find a weakness and peppered the Stormers back 3 with high kicks, and were the better side in contesting the aerial ball as the Stormers lacked height and physicality. This meant the Stormers loose forwards had to hand further back, and the Bulls exploited space up the middle too.

Fourie du Preez once again showed his experience and vision, spotting the gaps as they opened up and got the Bulls going forward before delivering the most delicate pass to put Francois Hougaard into space, who showcased his sublime running skills to clinically score an important first half try. Once the Bulls opened up a decent lead, they were always going to be hard to reign in.

It took a wayward pass and Bryan Habana’s vision to claim the intercept that gave the Stormers a sniff of a comeback in the second half, but this only spurred the Bulls on once more, and they opened a 15 point lead which effectively sealed the game, before the Stormers claimed some respectability to the score.

After the game the Stormers claimed that the referee, Craig Joubert was one sided and had “coached” the Bulls at the breakdown whilst penalising their side. This was interesting given the fact that the only losses the Bulls had incurred this season came when they were nailed by Joubert at the breakdown. Had the Bulls simply learnt their lesson?

Whatever the case, the Stormers did not adapt on the night, and the Bulls were clearly the better side.

The Bulls have also shown this year how complete a side they have become. Initially this season they showed a more attacking game and adapted to the new law interpretations better than any side. As the officiating changed, so did the game plan and Bulls tightened their defence and attacking structures.

The Bulls have shown they are adaptable enough to play any game plan, and more importantly think on their feet to spot an opposition weakness and exploit it on the field during a game. However they have the confidence to play to their strengths no matter how predictable it is to the opposition, they simply say to their opponents, ‘stop us if you can.’

After a poor 2008, a result of being too rigid in their thinking, resting on their laurels and missing Victor Matfield, the Bulls have openly spoken of their desire to succeed as a union and build a legacy. What is more impressive than just claiming the Super 14 title in 2009, is the addition of the 2009 Currie Cup, topping the Super 14 log for the second successive season and impressively laying the foundation to consistently being the best provincial side in the world…the legacy is definitely being built!

The Super 14 final pits the 2 best sides in the competition together!

Most critics believe the Stormers will win as they have the greater momentum, and the most outstanding defence in the competition.

However it is foolish to write off the Bulls. I believe they’ll win for 2 reasons:

1. They are very experienced. To win a final you usually have to have been in a final recently.
The Bulls possess Currie Cup winners, Super 14 winners and World Cup winners. The Stormers by comparison have just 1 Currie Cup and Super 14 winner in Bryan Habana, an ex-Bull.

It’ll ensure the Bulls are not overawed by the occasion, and make better decisions under pressure. The Bulls also have the experience of having played a game at Orlando stadium, with its most unique atmosphere.

2. The Bulls will test the Stormers defence with their kicking game.

We all know the Stormers defence is outstanding. So far this season very few sides have been able to breach it, but then again few sides have had the nous to vary their tactics and create a way through this Stormers wall.

The Bulls have the best kicking game on the planet. In Fourie du Preez, Morne Steyn and Zane Kirchner, they’ll use the tactics that have served them well, the high bombs. The Stormers back three of Gio Aplon, Bryan Habana and Joe Pietersen are not big men, and neither are they the most secure under the high ball. Few sides have tested them this season, but on Saturday I believe they’ll come off second best against an outstanding kick and chase side.

The kick-chase should also open the Stormers defence up the middle as they’ll drop men back and be kept guessing by the Bulls tactics.

The Stormers meanwhile can be oustanding on attack, but they’re more one-dimensional on attack and as long as the Bulls defence can man up, they can be kept at bay if they are unable to gain any forward momentum.

It promises to be a mouth watering all South African clash, played with immense intensity. Whatever the result it’ll be a win for South African rugby and a momentous occassion, but i’m picking the Bulls by 10.

Go Bulle Go!

Vodacom Bulls:

1. Gurtho Steenkamp
2. Gary Botha
3. Werner Kruger
4. Danie Rossouw
5. Victor Matfield (c)
6. Deon Stegmann
7. Dewald Potgieter
8. Pierre Spies
9. Fourie du Preez
10. Morne Steyn
11. Francois Hougaard
12. Wynand Olivier
13. Jaco Pretorious
14. Gerhard van den Heever
15. Zane Kirchner

16. Bandise Maku
17. Bees Roux
18. Flip van der Merwe
19. Derick Kuun
20. Heini Adams
21. Jacques-Louis Potgieter
22. Pedrie Wannenburg

Stormers:

1. Wicus Blaauw
2. Tiaan Liebenberg
3. Brok Harris
4. Adriaan Fondse
5. Andries Bekker
6. Schalk Burger (c)
7. Francois Louw
8. Duane Vermeulen
9. Dewaldt Duvenhage
10. Peter Grant
11. Bryan Habana
12. Juan de Jongh
13. Jaque Fourie
14. Gio Aplon
15. Joe Pietersen

16. Deon Fourie
17. Eusebio Guinazu
18. Anton van Zyl
19. Pieter Louw
20. Ricky Januarie
21. Willem de Waal
22. Tim Whitehead

Previous Super 14 results:

2006: Bulls 43, Stormers 10 (Cape Town)
2007: Bulls 49, Stormers 12 (Pretoria)
2008: Bulls 16, Stormers 9 (Cape Town)
2009: Bulls 14, Stormers 10 (Pretoria)
2010: Bulls 10, Stormers 38 (Cape Town)

The Bulls and Stormers set up a dream South African Super 14 final to take place at Orlando Stadium in Soweto on Saturday

Both the Bulls and Stormers based their semi-final victories with their defence. The Bulls exhibited a more balanced approach between attack and defence during their 39-24 victory over the Crusaders, whilst the Stormers defended like Trojans for 80 minutes in suffocating the Waratahs during their 25-6 victory at Newlands.

The Bulls finally started strongly in a match, and their intensity and execution were brilliant in the opening stanza. Once a handy lead was built they possibly became a bit more conservative, and the Crusaders had the majority of the ball and field position.

Unlike their encounter 2 weeks prior, the Crusaders could find no way through the Bulls defence. The Bulls defence was much better in midfield, with Jaco Pretorius and Wynand Olivier ensuring their channels were well covered. This ensured the Crusaders could not gain any momentum, and wave after wave of red and black attack was met by a blue wall.

Referee Stu Dickinson was prehaps the only method by which the Crusaders were rewarded for their efforts.

The Stormers had a similar strategy in their match against the Waratahs. Their defence strangled the Waratahs and meant the Australian side could never gain any momentum and mount any serious pressure. This resulted in the Waratahs constantly transgressing, especially at the breakdown which resulted in possession and kickable opportunities that the Stormers could use to keep their scoreboard ticking over.

Both South African sides produced performances similar to the successful pattern that the Boks have employed over the last 2-3 years of strong defence, and clinical counterattacking. Even with the new law interpretations, it has been interesting to see the pattern employed by both sides, but especially the Bulls, change as the season has progressed to a more defensive one as the referees change the way they blow the game too.

It makes for a mouth watering clash, and as this weekend showed, both sides like to build a lead and then rely on defence and penalties to keep the scoreboard ticking over. Whilst the Stormers have shown at times how brilliant they can be with ball in hand, and they have scored some great tries, generally it has come when playing New Zealand opposition who present more opportunities on the counterattack.

For this reason I feel the Bulls have the edge. They have a greater ability to score tries (the Stormers only finished 9th in terms of tries scored, whilst the Bulls were joint equal) which will allow them to score points. The Stormers are great defensively, but may struggle to really test the Bulls defence.

The Bulls are also the more adaptable side and if either side finds itself falling behind on the scoreboard, the greater composure and ability to change tactics surely must rest with the Bulls. They’ve got players who have consistently won games with their brilliance such as Pierre Spies, Victor Matfield, Fourie du Preez and Morne Steyn.

Whilst the Stormers have some great players, if they fall behind they may struggle to come back and change their tactics if they need to score multiple times to get back into the game.

There are 2 other factors that should swing it in the Bulls favour too.
1. The home ground advantage and altitude
2. The Bulls are probably fresher after their rest a week ago. The Stormers had their bye quite some time ago, and have had some harder games (mentally as well as physically) which take their toll at this stage of the season.

I am sure there will be massive buildup and hype this week leading up to what is shaping up as the biggest game in South Africa for 2010!

The Stormers demolished the Waratahs 25-6 at home in Cape Town to set up an all South African final in Soweto.

The Stormers showed how far they have come as a team as the weight of public expectation was no hindrance as the clinically outplayed the Waratahs to move into their first super rugby final.

The match was very similar to their round robin encounter in week 2, with strong defences dominating the match. The Stormers only concede an average of 1 try, and 10 points per match at home this season, and the Waratahs could find no way to penetrate it. All they had to show for their efforts were a lone penalty and a drop goal.

For the Waratahs to have won this game, they needed to play a high risk game, and chance their arm. To lose by 19 points without even firing a shot shows they suffer from the same disease many of the South African sides have, and that is trying no to lose.

The Stormers (and Bulls) have shown that to win, requires enormous self-belief and the confidence to go for the win. Whereas that inhibited Stormers sides in the past, this side was able to enjoy the occasion in front of their home fans because they believed they would win.

A large part of their success comes in knowing how they want to play. They have absolute faith in each other on defence, and that is why they’ve conceded so few points. It also requires the commitment of each individual to make their tackles and boy do they make them count.

Stormers coach Allister Coetzee had this to say “Our defence against the Waratahs was splendid. It just goes to show how systems can win matches. We pitched up physically and the work rate was good, and when you have those two attributes working for you, it will be very hard for the opposition to cut your defence.”

Juan de Jongh provided the “x” factor and moment of brilliance to swing the match, and from there it was back to the game plan and strangling the Waratahs.

Other than de Jongh’s superb solo effort, the Stormers victory was built on teamwork. As individuals each player did his just and that made the collective effort effective.

“It was typical semi-final stuff and it’s fantastic to get through it. They contested the ball pretty well at the breakdown but at the end of the day we won it and that’s all that matters” said Stormers captain Schalk Burger after the match.

They now face the Bulls in their first final. Whilst their defence is strong, it remains to be seen if they can score enough points in a pressure environment against a quality side.

“The Bulls have been the form side this season. They’ve led the way and we’ve been trying to follow in their footsteps. We’ve made it to the final and anything can happen in a final” said Burger.

Stormers 25

Try: Juan de Jongh
Conversion: Grant
Penalties: Grant (6)

Waratahs 6

Penalty: Barnes
Drop goal: Barnes

Stormers player ratings:

1. Wicus Blaauw – 7

Solid around the field although didn’t get the scrum dominance his side would’ve wanted.

2. Tiaan Liebenberg – 8

Strong with ball in hand and always a danger. Consistent at the set pieces.

3. Brok Harris – 8

Gets through a mountain of work around the field and always making tackles.

4. Adriaan Fondse – 7

Revels in the tight exchanges and muscled up well.

5. Andries Bekker – 7

Gave away 1 penalty but always a danger on attack.

6. Schalk Burger – 9

I’m not quite sure where Schalk plays as he is everywhere! He leads by example and makes tackle after tackle after tackle. He’s also everywhere on attack and has regained the form that made him so feared.

7. Francois Louw – 7

Works hard at the breakdown and even if he can’t make steals he puts the opposition under enormous pressure. Was unlucky a couple of times as he was standing over the player but they wouldn’t release and he didn’t earn a penalty.

8. Duane Vermeulen – 7

Has such safe hands and always willing to do the hard yards. Another solid performance.

9. Dewaldt Duvenhage – 8

Kicked really well, getting the Stormers out of their half and deep into Waratahs territory. Had been inaccurate in the last few weeks, but showed his class when it really mattered.

10. Peter Grant – 7

Missed a couple of kicks but no chances were particularly easy. Took the ball to the line well when his options were limited.

11. Bryan Habana – 7

Minimal opportunities on attack, solid on defence.

12. Juan de Jongh – 10

Produced one of the tries of the season to give the Stormers a handy lead. Stepped beautifully 3 times and it was a great solo effort. Was also strong on defence including one awesome cover tackle when the Waratahs were looking dangerous. Has improved with every outing this season.

13. Jaque Fourie – 7

Solid in the midfield defence but had few opportunities with ball in hand. One chance in the second half produced an expertly positioned kick that gave the Stormers great field position.

14. Gio Aplon – 8

Dangerous with ball in hand but limited chances. For a small guy he is committed on defence and wrapped up the danger of Drew Mitchell well.

15. Joe Pietersen – 7

Good positional play and kicking.

16. Deon Fourie – 7

Mobile around the field and made his presence felt almost as an extra loose forward.

17. Eusebio Guinazu – 7

Did his job well.

18. Anton van Zyl -

Not on long enough to make a decent rating.

19. Pieter Louw -

Came on for Schalk Burger but the game was won by then. Not on long enough to make a decent rating.

20. Ricky Januarie – 7

Strong around the base of the ruck when he came on.

21. Willem de Waal -

Not on long enough to make a decent rating.

22. Tim Whitehead -

Not on long enough to make a decent rating.

The Stormers have the first home semi-final in 11 years. Can they produce under the weight of expectation, in front of their home fans?

3rd min – Early penalty to the Waratahs for holding on.
Berrick Barnes with the early kick and he pushes it wide.

7th Min – All the early pressure from the Waratahs and the Stormers defence has been great.
A turnover and breakout sees the Stormers with a lienout 10m out.

8th Min – A penalty right in front to the Stormers.
Grant makes it 3-0.

10th Min – Great counterattack from Joe Pietersen running it from his 22m.

12th Min – Another penalty to the Stormers and Peter Grant makes it 6-0.

15th Min – Penalty to the Waratahs for a high tackle.
Berrick Barnes has a second attempt and kicks it. The gap is closed to 6-3.

17th Min – A completely different semi-final to the first one.
Duvenhage kicks deep into Waratahs territory and Barnes has to kick out from his in-goal.

25th Min – Waratahs building up phases and Berrick Barnes kicks a drop goal.
The score is 6-6.

25th Min – Juan de Jongh brilliant solo effort. 3 Awesome side steps and he scores the try! His first in super rugby.
Grant converts to make it 13-6.

32nd Min – Waratahs get the scrum penalty just inside their half.
The penalty attempt comes up short.

35th Min – Penalty to the Waratahs and I thought lucky not to be reversed as 2 players threw punches (albeit weak ones) to Schalk Burger.

39th Min – One last chance to the Stormers with a lineout deep in Waratahs territory.

Half Time – Stormers 13 Waratahs 6

It hasn’t been an open game. Tight defence and a moment of brilliance from de Jongh have been the way so far.

The game will open up a bit in the second half, but discipline, defence and goal kicking will be important.

42nd Min – Penalty to the Waratahs, and they go for touch.

44th Min – Polota-Nau found tons of space up the middle and the Waratahs blew a try-scoring chance as they knock on.

46th Min -Penalty to the Stormers straight out in front, 40m back.
Grant pulls the kick left.

50th Min – Penalty to the Stormers. Waratahs getting penalised for not releasing the tackled player.
Grant nails it to make it 16-6.

51st Min – Berrick Barnes with his second drop goal attempt.
Hooks it wide.

55th Min – Another penalty. Phil Waugh penalised. Possibly a bit harsh, but he never really released the player.
Grant kicks another penalty to make it 19-6.

59th Min – Waratahs have had a couple of chances, but the Stormers scrambling defence has been great.

61st Min – Great defence Stormers, good breakout down the left hand flank, and Jaque Fourie kicks ahead well.
Penalty Stormers.
Grant nails it and the score is now 22-6. Game over?

64th Min – Waratahs have now thrown caution to the wind. They need some miracles.

66th Min – Penalty to the Stormers. Grant kicks another penalty to make it 25-6.
Tiaan Liebenberg and Wicus Blaauw go off for a rest.

74th Min – Another penalty to the Stormers who have dominated the battle at the breakdown.
Now Schalk Burger is pulled off, resting up ahead of the final.
Habana comes off too.

Full time Stormers 25 Waratahs 6

It will be an all South African final next week.

The Stormers played a tight game and won the battle of attrition by dominating the tight exchanges. Can they do that to the Bulls?

Vodacom man of the match: Juan de Jongh

It’s time for the Stormers to step up!

After many lean seasons for Western Province and Stormers rugby, it is time for the Stormers to step up and show that cape rugby is a force to be reckoned with once again.

CHOKERS?

The Stormers (and Western Province) have failed to deliver under pressure during recent times. Critics have noted that the Stormers once again faltered under pressure when losing to the Sharks 2 weeks ago.

With a massive home crowd expected, can the Stormers deliver for their fans?

Earlier this week, Stormers coach Allister Coetzee said, “I will be really disappointed if, after we have worked so hard for 13 weeks in week 14 we say ‘Oh no, there is a hell of a lot of pressure on us. I am going to urge them to live the moment, to embrace the pressure of playing in a semi-final, to enjoy it. This is what we have worked so hard towards. It’s an exciting week. We are at Newlands playing in a semi-final in one of the toughest competitions.”

“That is the attitude I know the players will have when they pitch up at training at the start of the build-up week. We spoke throughout the season about getting to enjoy what we are doing and play the best of the team’s and individuals’ performance in front of a passionate home crowd. It (pressure) has been there for a while, and we’ve obviously got it right so we can’t worry about the pressure. We’ve got to go out there and win this game” said Coetzee.

Coetzee believes his side just needs to continue doing what they’ve done all season, as it has been proven to produce the right results. “Our systems have been working for us and they have got us this far, and there is no reason for us to suddenly change it now” said Coetzee.

THE BEST DEFENCE IN THE COMPETITION

The Stormers have been superb on defence this season. In 13 matches they have conceded just 17 tries and points in total, stifling the opposition into errors and frustration.

The intensity of the tackling, the teamwork and making double hits has allowed the Stormers to gain momentum on defence, and they’ve also performed well in the loose trio which has allowed them to place real pressure on the opposition at the breakdown.

‘If you can’t go around or through a team, then I suppose there is only one more alternative, you have to go over,’ he told this website. ‘The Cheetahs tried it when they came to Newlands, and the Brumbies enjoyed some success through the kicking game of Matt Giteau. The Waratahs have some great kickers in Berrick Barnes, Kurtley Beale and even Drew Mitchell, and we are wary of their abilities with the boot.’

TEAM SELECTION

Allister Coetzee has been blessed by the lack of serious injuries this season (other than Joe Pietersen and Wicus Blaauw), and once again he can field an unchanged starting lineup.

The pack remains a strong, settled combination with no glaring weaknesses. It possesses pace, physicality, power and plenty of lineout options. All it requires is a strong performance on the field

In their previous clash with the Waratahs, Coetzee opted for the greater physicality of Ricky Januarie, but with his sublime form, Coetzee has opted to keep Dewaldt Duvenhage at scrumhalf.

Coetzee had this to say about his young scrumhalf, “Dewwies (Duvenhage) has really stood up and the tackle count will verify my statement. I don’t want to make unforced changes at this stage, but I have to say I’m happy with Dewwies’ defence. He’s not only made a lot of tackles, but the kind of positive hits that drive attacking players back. He’ll certainly take that momentum into the semi-final.”

The backline remains the same, and has become a well-drilled cohesive unit.

The ability to retain largely the same side has been a strong contributor towards the success of the Stormers this year. “Obviously when you stick with pretty much the same team you give the players a chance to bond together and to grow together as a team” said Coetzee.

“Having the same side play together over a period of time means that each player in the team knows what he needs to do, where he fits into the strategy. That is obviously a massive plus for us. Continuity is linked to the success of any team” said Coetzee.

THE WRONG TACTICS?

The Waratahs were impressive last week against the Hurricanes and have ended the season strongly, even without two of the influential Wallabies, prop Benn Robinson and number 8 Wycliff Palu.

In an effort to keep the team focused and away from the media hype, the Waratahs have elected to base themselves in Durban instead of Cape Town.

Waratahs coach Chris Hickey said “We reckon it is a good place to prepare in fine conditions, away from the hype of Cape Town, and then do a hit-and-run raid on Newlands.”
It’s a tactic the Aussies (and Kiwis) have used for games on the highveld, and it hasn’t brought much success. You can’t hide on match day, you have to deal with it and it’s a decision I can’t understand. Better to face the atmosphere and conditions and get used to them rather than different conditions some 1600km away.

MAKING THE CORRECT DECISIONS

Both sides have strong defences. The Stormers strength has been their mindset, and they have great firepower out wide with Jaque Fourie, Bryan Habana and Gio Aplon. However for both sides, it’s about being switched on mentally to play for the full 80.

Waratahs coach Chris Hickey said this week, “We have to ensure that our minds are right. We lost heavily at Newlands in round two when we did not have the right mental focus. We did not perform well and this week is about getting mentally switched on.”

“Their defensive record speaks for itself. It is outstanding, and on the back of that, they have been able to frustrate the opposition and force them into taking chances they would not ordinarily take. That said, we are the third best team in the competition, so it will be a huge contest on Saturday to see who can unlock the opposition defence”

Stormers coach Allister Coetzee has said the key is to read the situation and adapt accordingly. He has mentioned that it’s important to kick when warranted but important to keep the ball in hand when the opportunity presents itself.

As he rightly suggests, it is performing the desired actions with purpose that is most important.

“The Stormers enjoy the collisions and keeping the ball on attack, but I want to see the correct decisions being taken,’ he said. ‘When players kick, there must be a reason for that kick, and if they attack, it will be because there’s an opportunity to run. We have to get the balance right” said Coetzee.

Coetzee also mentioned the importance of the squad and that’s another area that I believe the Stormers should be able to gain the advantage with later in the game.

“It’s the positivity from the bench and the guys not in the 22 that’s made a helluva difference. That’s shown the character of a championship side. The starting XV gather before kickoff in a huddle and scream “Stormers, yes!” but it’s not just about their positive attitude. It’s also about the attitude of those guys not on the park, and those not in the 22″ said Coetzee.

PREDICTION

Both sides are very similar in playing pattern, but in my mind the execution of the Stormers should shade the Waratahs in each area. Their defence, physicality, skills at the breakdown and class out wide should see the Stormers edge the Waratahs in each facet of play and secure a victory.

Their may not be many try scoring opportunities, but the Stormers have top class finishers which should see them able to cross the line, whilst the Waratahs are full of endeavour but lack the finishing ability. As long as Kurtley Beale and Drew Mitchell are watched closely, the Waratahs attack should be fairly predicatable and able to be shut down.


Stormers by 13.

Stormers:

1. Wicus Blaauw
2. Tiaan Liebenberg
3. Brok Harris
4. Adriaan Fondse
5. Andries Bekker
6. Schalk Burger (c)
7. Francois Louw
8. Duane Vermeulen
9. Dewaldt Duvenhage
10. Peter Grant
11. Bryan Habana
12. Juan de Jongh
13. Jaque Fourie
14. Gio Aplon
15. Joe Pietersen

16. Deon Fourie
17. Eusebio Guinazu
18. Anton van Zyl
19. Pieter Louw
20. Ricky Januarie
21. Willem de Waal
22. Tim Whitehead

Waratahs:

1. Dan Palmer
2. Tatafu Polota-Nau
3. Al Baxter
4. Dean Mumm
5. Kane Douglas
6. patrick mcCutcheon
7. Phil Waugh (c)
8. Ben Mowen
9. Luke Burgess
10. Berrick Barnes
11. Drew Mitchell
12. Tom Carter
13. Rob Horne
14. Lachie Turner
15. Kurtley Beale

16. Damien Fitzpatrick
17. Jeremy Tilse
18. Chris Thomson
19. Dave Dennis
20. Josh Holmes
21. Daniel Halangahu
22. Rory Sidey

Previous Super 14 results:

2006: Stormers 26, Waratahs 32 (Cape Town)
2007: Stormers 16, Waratahs 10 (Sydney)
2008: Stormers 13, Waratahs 13 (Cape Town)
2009: Stormers 6, Waratahs 12 (Sydney)
2010: Stormers 27, Waratahs 6 (Cape Town)

In this short video clip, Schalk Burger thanks his men for a wonderful performance against the Crusaders.

It was a brilliant effort from all 22 players and they thoroughly deserve to enjoy the victory.

Long may it continue (unless they are playing the Bulls of course!)

The Stormers

Is this finally the year for the Stormers? Every year I say this will be it, and last year I even predicted they’d win it. Doh!

They seem to have a losing culture and consistently lose easy home games, and win the difficult ones.

However I truly believe something special is brewing in the Western Cape, and their position as a powerhouse of South African rugby will once again be re-established. The appointment of Alistair Coetzee as coach is a good move, and Rassie Erasmus can add value without the added pressure of coaching.

The arrival of match-winners Bryan Habana and Jaque Fourie will have a massive influence in turning this side into championship material and there are a host of youngsters coming through the ranks that bodes well for the Stormers.

With a fanatical fan base that always provide strong support, the Stormers simply have to turn Newlands into a fortress where they rarely lose. If they can can do that they’ll surely pick up a few victories on the road and be looking at a semi-final spot.

As with most sides, a good start is imperative to ensuring the right state of mind.

Their biggest hurdle could come when Willem de Waal is fit again. He is not the right player for the Stormers, and could prove to be a bigger hindrance than help. Peter Grant at flyhalf is steady, but I’d like the Stormers to be brave and go with Lionel Cronje. Big, strong and a great boot combined with good running skills could see the emergence of a star flyhalf.

The loss of Jean de Villiers is offset by the potential in his replacement Juan de Jongh. Fellow centre Morgan Newman also waits in the wings and is highly rated.

The front row looks solid, and for once the forward pack looks formidable, which should allow the large number of talented backline players to shine.

It’s a squad with plenty of talent, depth and the opportunity to make their mark. this year there can be no excuses and if they come up short, heads must roll.

Watch out for: Wicus Blaauw at prop, Schalk Burger who leads the side for the first time and who’ll be keen to restablish himself as a world-class player, Lionel Cronje if he plays as flyhalf, the centre pairing of Juan de Jongh and Jaque Fourie, and Bryan Habana. This could be the side to put him into space consistently and if that happens, he’ll score many tries!

Prediction: Semi-finalists

The Stormers confidently demolished a second string Force side 54-12 at Newlands.

Whilst most of the Wallabies were rested by Force coach John Mitchell, the Stormers showed the ruthless demolition that is required by sides who aspire to be championship material.

It represented a significant step-up from from the second string Stormers side that only beat UCT 21-3 last week.

After 12 minutes the Stormers who started strongly had raced to a 21-0 lead.

The Stormers scored 6 tries in the first half and 7 tries in the match in total.

There were problems with the scrum and at the breakdown, but the Stormers backs looked particularly sharp. Straight running and the ability to create space for their teammates was a highlight. The influence of Juan de Jongh, Jaque Fourie and Bryan Habana was especially evident.

After the match Alistair Coetzee said, “I’m unhappy with our discipline at the breakdown. It’s still at that stage of the season where referees are basically coaching players at the breakdown during the matches, and we got pinned quite a few times for not rolling away or holding on after the ref had called ruck. It is something we need to analyse and work on in the coming week.”

“I’m not too worried about the scrum. These are the pillars of the game we wanted to better this season. We’ve just got to make sure we don’t look for the short cut. We know what we wanted to achieve in this game and we got what we wanted” said Coetzee.

The injury to Willem de Waal may be a blessing in disguise. I favour Peter Grant at flyhalf, he has the ability to set the backline away and then de Jongh and Fourie can create space for the outside backs. I am sure Habana in particular will benefit and score many tries this year.

If de Waal is selected, he’ll bring a steadier kicking game, but I doubt the Stormers backs will score many tries, and the mindset of the Stormers may turn more and more defensive. I’d rather see them back their ability and score tries.

Habana set to be a crowd favourite

The crowd of 18 000 cheered Bryan Habana from his first touch, and he looks set to become a crowd favourite on his new home ground of Newlands.

Earlier this week Habana said “No matter how big the stage is that you have played on, you do obviously feel nervous when you are starting out with a new team. I obviously also want to make as big an impression as I can for my new franchise, and it will be crucial to win our opening Super 14 match.”

“I can’t believe how welcome everyone makes me feel. Everywhere I go people are going out of their way to welcome me to the Cape. It is really humbling. Of course in Pretoria you get the true blue Bulls fan, and they are special people, but it is astounding how in Cape Town you can be 600 metres away and people will shout out to you and let everyone in the shopping centre know you are there. This is fanatical rugby country” said Habana.

Habana knows what a winning culture is like, and it appears he wants to recreate the success he had at the Bulls down in the Cape.

“I had an honest chat with Rassie Erasmus when I was being recruited by the Stormers. It took me about 10 days to make up my mind, and one of the things I wanted to make sure of was that I was moving to a place where a winning culture could be created. I was impressed with Rassie’s plans and his determination to get the Stormers and Western Province to succeed. I felt I wanted to go somewhere I could make a difference, but I would never have moved down if I could not see the potential for the Stormers to be a winning franchise” said Habana

“The work ethic here has been amazing. To see the work the guys are putting in, and to be part of it, has been really encouraging. Work ethic is a big thing at the Bulls, and it was one of the reasons I might initially have been sceptical about moving down, but thankfully my fears have been completely allayed” continued Habana.

The Stormers have started well and are working hard. They’ll welcome back captain Schalk Burger soon, and appear set for a big Super 14 season!

The Stormers aim to produce their best performance in their Super rugby history.

For a franchise that often has bucketloads of talent, they’ve failed to deliver on most occasions. Other than semi-final appearances in 1999 and 2004, they’ve often disappointed more than dazzled.

However lock Anton van Zyl spoke of the desire to perform well this year. “The high expectations of supporters are justified. The team started showing promise from the end of last year’s Super 14 through the Currie Cup, and there are also new acquisitions. We’re working hard at becoming the complete package, not as individuals, but as a team. As a team we’d like to come up with the best Stormers performance ever, but on a more practical level and in terms of vision, we’d just like to improve our performance every week. We’d like to perform better as a team than any Stormers team before us” said van Zyl.

“There’s a huge emphasis on harmony in the team context to ensure that we’re all pulling in the same direction. Last week during our training camp, for example, we spent some time away from rugby to ensure that we get to know one another. It’s important that everybody pulls together in tough times” continued van Zyl.

Every year I pick the Stormers to do well, and almost every year I tear my hair out to say I’ll never make that mistake again! This could be the year however (like every other year!). There is a lot of talent, good depth, but perhaps the injection of Bryan Habana and Jaque Fourie, 2 experienced players, could be the trump card.

I’d like to see them throw caution to the wind, play attacking rugby and utilise their talent. Too often I think they fear losing more than striving to win. I am sure if they start well they’ll have a good year.

Their first performance wasn’t anything spectacular however.

Whilst it was essentially a second string side that play the University of Cape Town (UCT) at Riebeek West, they’d have expected more than a 21-3 win.

Tries were scored by wing JJ Engelbrecht, lock Rynhardt Elstadt, and replacement back Jurgen Visser.

To win the Super 14 you need great depth, players who can step into your starting lineup or reserves and ensure a side doesn’t lose any value. It’s important that the Stormers develop depth to avoid a repeat of last season where injuries were plentiful.

I still think the Stormers will have a good season, but there’s been nothing special served up yet. They’ll need to hit the ground running ahead of their first clash against the Lions in Johannesburg on February 13!

Rassie Erasmus and Allister Coetzee have had their contracts with Western Province rugby extended until 2012.

It shows confidence and satisfaction in the performance of what has been an underperforming coaching team by Managing director of WP Rugby Ltd, Rob Wagner and his board. They obviously believe that although the results have not been forthcoming, Western Cape rugby is moving in the right direction.

The 2009 Currie Cup was a step in the right direction, but after the 2009 Super 14, I’m not sure I’d have given them a 2 year extension so hastily.

Wagner appears confident ahead of the 2010 Super 14 and said “There are three reasons why I’m confident about the new season. The first is the rugby institute that has been established at Stellenbosch, the second is the High Performance Centre in Bellville, and the third is team management and players. We are now entering the third year with this management. The extension of their contracts will help establish confidence among the players.”

I am glad Coetzee’s value as a coach has been highlighted as he did a great job with the Western Province Currie Cup side in 2009, and finally stepped out of the label as a token assistant coach. His ability to get the best out of players has been highlighted as a key strength.

Rassie Erasmus meanwhile will take on a role similar to a director of rugby as senior professional coach. He will keep an eye on the institute and high performance centre whilst still performing a hands on coaching role as needed.

The results in the 2009 Super 14 may have been disastrous, but I’m hoping that the lessons have been learnt. With a centrally-controlled training facility in Bellville, the rugby institute producing talent such as Springbok centre Juan de Jongh and other structures in place to aid in the success of WP rugby, there can be no excuses in 2010.

With a star studded lineup which now includes new Springbok acquisitions Jaque Fourie and Bryan Habana, much is expected of the Stormers. However each year I predict the Stormers look dangerous and will set the competition alight only to see them underpeform dismally. Let’s hope 2010 finally brings some results!