2010 S14 Half way summary

[PaarlBok]

Always said the S14 is a marathon, not a sprint and maybe a good time to have a look where it stand at the moment and where will your beloved team heading or what we as fans are hoping for. At the moment it look like chasing the Brutes. Something we know very well in SA.

Ill kick off with the Brutes. Brutes setting the marathom pace at the moment with ease. Myself maybe know them better then anybody and I knew from history this lot once they put throphes in the cupboard and get that extra confidense make them just the harder opponent. They have this attetude of its one thing to win something but it require much harder work to stay at the top. So they'll go on tour with a nearly full house of logpoints, got that scare this last game and will work hard to better and keep on setting the pace.

The Stormers usually been accused of a lot of talk and not performances in the past. Their capt qouted that this year they want to do the talking on the field and have a review after 6 rounds. They'll be very pleased with their performances thus far and sure have broke their season in three parts. First the home run, then the tour and then the home stretch to the finish line. Well the home run is done and they are 2nd on the log and will stay there for at least round 6. They tour they'll expect to bag at least two wins and they'll be in good shape. Nothing futher then this at this stage, so lets enjoy our bye this weekend and go back to the marathon S14 approach. One game at the time and nothing more.

Just want to state that it make this old SA rugby supporters feel really good to see the old time two SA super powers at the top of the log and the longer they stay there the more I love it.

Sharks came alive last weekend and they'sure need to know that they cant afford to drop any game from now on. They have a very good change this weekend to get their semi hopes alive , come home and take it one game at a time. Their difficult part is nearly done and dusted, now for the easy ride home.


Tin Ear Cheetahs sure as hell know they have what it takes to be competitive in S14 rugby. Problem is they drop that Highlander game and it look like they learn from that one. They need to play with Tin Ear passion for 80 minutes to win in S14 rugby. They have the Reds at home and then go on a tour close to hell.

The Lions still try to find their A team. Hoping they will pick up any win just not to end with the wooden spoon.

 

[Geeves]

The Stormers may finally live up to expectations. There defence is what has impressed me. So far they have only let in 59 points (just shy of 10 a game so far) this is whats tipping the balance for them. If they can win a couple on tour then who knows.

After last years implosion the fact that the sharks are winning again is good but they have left their run too late. At this stage I can't see them making the finals but they have the ability to influcnce the finals by knocking out sides.

The Bulls are too bloody good at the moment. It will be interesting to see how they perform on the road but surely they are going to pick up a couple of wins and at the moment they are still the team to beat.

In regards to the Lions. Don't worry about the 'A' side find the defensive side.

 

[PaarlBok]

The most important factor in the last third of the competition for all the top teams are player depth. At this stage the Stormers are well serve in this department but they will obvious feel injuries to their star players. Luckily they have produce some real young substitutes this year. Playes like Burger, Bekker, Habana & Fourie you will miss their experience but then young talent like Pieter Louw, Steenkamp, Aplon & du Jongh have made the S14 stepup from CC and look like future stars.

The defense of the Stormers have been great to watch on Newlands this year. They look like a team that can fight out a close win against any opposition and altho its a bit down the line, myself would love to see them playing against the Brutes on Newlands. Thats going to be one huge match, make no mistake.

 

[Langthorne]

Nice post Paarl Bok. It is nice to get some insider input on the 'enemy'.

I know that match isn't until the end of the season, but I think the Stormers will win it as the Bulls' defence has not been that great.

Who have been the stand out players so far? and who should we be looking out for for the rest of the season?

 

[Blue]

Bulls defense will get better, and already has against the Hurricanes. It won them the match.

I would love to believe in the Stormers. I just hope Grant stays fit. De Waal chnaged the way the Stormers played last weekend and I cannot see them win the comp with him at 10. I'd put money on it.

If I may interject on Langthorne's question.

For me the "finds" so far of the season have been (in order of impact):

1. de Jong the Stormers 12 - fantastic
2. Flip vd Merwe - lock - Bulls - there is life after Bakkies and I can easily see him and Bekker for the Boks
3. Duvengahe - scrummie - Stormers - hell of a propsect - needs to work on kicking game and prone to errors at ruck time - four knocks I saw against the Cheetahs - all on attack
4. - Patrick Lambie - 15 for Sharks - if this kid can replicate his performance in his Highlanders debut, hell, he is gold. So composed.

Anyway as for the games on the road coming up I think the Bulls will drop 2 games (Blues, Reds) games and the Stormers only one (Blues).

 

[DPK]

Bulls defense will get better, and already has against the Hurricanes. It won them the match.

I would love to believe in the Stormers. I just hope Grant stays fit. De Waal chnaged the way the Stormers played last weekend and I cannot see them win the comp with him at 10. I'd put money on it.

If I may interject on Langthorne's question.

For me the "finds" so far of the season have been (in order of impact):

1. de Jong the Stormers 12 - fantastic
2. Flip vd Merwe - lock - Bulls - there is life after Bakkies and I can easily see him and Bekker for the Boks
3. Duvengahe - scrummie - Stormers - hell of a propsect - needs to work on kicking game and prone to errors at ruck time - four knocks I saw against the Cheetahs - all on attack
4. - Patrick Lambie - 15 for Sharks - if this kid can replicate his performance in his Highlanders debut, hell, he is gold. So composed.

Anyway as for the games on the road coming up I think the Bulls will drop 2 games (Blues, Reds) games and the Stormers only one (Blues).

If i could ask our SA contributors, Blue and PB especially, is Andries Bekker the future in terms of South African locks?

 

[PaarlBok]

Yep Bekker probably one ofd not many to shine for the Dirt trackers on EYT last year. Interesting Rob Louw told me Andries played fullback for De Kuilen U16B team, then his dad, Hennie took him to Paul Roos and made him a Craven Week lock at U18 level. He will take Matfield place in the future.

 

[Scotty]

Bulls are a long way ahead of the competition at the moment, but something tells me they are having it a bit too easy. If they can win a few ugly on the way into the finals, then I will back them to pull it off, but there are still a few teams that could knock them off. There have been some entertaining games to watch in this S14, but I feel that the standard of some of the top teams is down on years past (you only have to witness most of the performances of the 4th and 5th placed teams to see that).

 

[PaarlBok]

Look like the injury toll just strucked the Stormers camp. Blaauw out for the season with a broken hand and Pietersen having a hip problem ruling him out of the tour. Well this open the space for JC Krizinger in the starting lineup and brings back the Argie prop and JD Moller to tour. Aplon will start now in 15 and Sereli move to start on the wing. Grant & de Jongh will be ready for the Force.

Stormers touring sqaud that will leave on monday
Gio Aplon, Andries Bekker, Schalk Burger, Juan de Jongh, Willem de Waal, Dewaldt Duvenage, Adriaan Fondse, Deon Fourie, Jaque Fourie, Peter Grant, Eusebio Guinazu, Bryan Habana, Brock Harris, Ricky Januarie, Fabian Juries, JC Kritzinger, Tiaan Liebenberg, Francois Louw, Pieter Louw, JD Moller, Sireli Naqelevuki, De Kock Steenkamp, Anton van Zyl, Duane Vermeulen, Frikkie Welsh, Tim Whitehead

News from Brutes is that FdP injured his ankle again and is doubtfull for the Force game.

 

[PaarlBok]

Anyway as for the games on the road coming up I think the Bulls will drop 2 games (Blues, Reds) games and the Stormers only one (Blues).

Sound pretty positive Boetie, this bring us to the Reds.

They'll enter a very important stage of their S14 tournament now. They always struggle with depth in the past and will play the Tin Ears, Sharks, Lions, Brutes & Stormers. Unfortanetly for them they'll have to travel back and have to face the Brutes at home and lastly the Stormers and can be low on player stock by then. This surely will be their big test starting this weekend. If they can beat the Brutes at home after all the travel they'll probably beat the Stormers aswell.

 

[Hawko]

Interesting PB that you see the Bulls as better than the Stormers. On what I've seen so far I am more impressed with the Stormers, their loss to the Brumbies was a close run thing and they have beaten some good teams so far. They are proving to be the defensive champions so far, way ahead of everyone else.

I cannot see the Bulls losing to the Reds. The Bulls will have been away 3 weeks and fully acclimatised. The Reds get off the plane from SA that week. No team yet has come west to east and played well in the first game off the flight. That actually makes the Force game this week a bit of a banana skin for the Bulls if the Force turn up to play like they did last week.

 

[PaarlBok]

Interesting PB that you see the Bulls as better than the Stormers. On what I've seen so far I am more impressed with the Stormers, their loss to the Brumbies was a close run thing and they have beaten some good teams so far. They are proving to be the defensive champions so far, way ahead of everyone else.

I cannot see the Bulls losing to the Reds. The Bulls will have been away 3 weeks and fully acclimatised. The Reds get off the plane from SA that week. No team yet has come west to east and played well in the first game off the flight. That actually makes the Force game this week a bit of a banana skin for the Bulls if the Force turn up to play like they did last week.

No I'll never see the Brutes better then the Stormers, not in a million years, :nta: Just think they have a better change to put the Reds away (my Blue broer think his team may drop that game) for the same reasons you stated. From a Stormers point of view its all important that the Brutes smash their opponents to make it easier for us. If they drop games it will give the opposition much more confidense the next week against us.

 

[Blue]

Reason I think we will drop the Reds game is becuase the Reds will go hard against the Bulls because of that 90 point pasting a few years back. They seem to grow an extra testicle when they play the Bulls, like last year. By that time the Bulls will be tired having had two on the trot accross the ditch and are bound to have some injuries.

The Bulls have always battled with the last game on tour especially. They can already taste Ma's back home cooking by that time.

 

[Hawko]

PB,

If its any comfort I'm picking Stormers 1, Bulls 2 and then Crusaders, Brumbies and Tah's to fight over the scraps.

 

[HG]

Reason I think we will drop the Reds game is becuase the Reds will go hard against the Bulls because of that 90 point pasting a few years back. They seem to grow an extra testicle when they play the Bulls, like last year. By that time the Bulls will be tired having had two on the trot accross the ditch and are bound to have some injuries.

The Bulls have always battled with the last game on tour especially. They can already taste Ma's back home cooking by that time.

100% agree!
This game against the Bulls is one that I think the Reds will win.
After a few weeks away and the last game before heading home should see the Bulls a bit Jaded.
With the Reds returning home with 2 wins ( I hope) and happy to be at home.

 

[PaarlBok]

Reason I think we will drop the Reds game is becuase the Reds will go hard against the Bulls because of that 90 point pasting a few years back. They seem to grow an extra testicle when they play the Bulls, like last year. By that time the Bulls will be tired having had two on the trot accross the ditch and are bound to have some injuries.

The Bulls have always battled with the last game on tour especially. They can already taste Ma's back home cooking by that time.

100% agree!
This game against the Bulls is one that I think the Reds will win.
After a few weeks away and the last game before heading home should see the Bulls a bit Jaded.
With the Reds returning home with 2 wins ( I hope) and happy to be at home.

or they can return home totally fucked and no players left.

 

[HG]

Well that is possible, but shall not be spoked about.