2011 S15 Semi Stormers vs Saders @ Newlands

[PaarlBok]

Unfortunatly I am running lines in the frost and dont have much news on saturday. Will be the first make of break match for the Stormers all season. Hope they show their improvement this time and break lose like last year against the Saders.

 

[Baldric]

Enormous expectations of the Stormers who to date in the Super comp have not delivered.
The Cru will be a hard act to beat, but with having just travelled and the Stormers being fresh and at home it will be a Stormers victory.

 

[REDinCPT]

the big news in cape town this morning is schalk brits having landed this morning from sarries. as much as i'm happy to see him back in super rugby as he is one of the most dynamic forwards playing the game (never thought i'd hear myself saying this about a south african), how can this be allowed, conditional or otherwise?

 

[REDinCPT]

Unfortunatly I am running lines in the frost and dont have much news on saturday.

oom, what are you up to out there?

 

[Hawko]

The first 30 minutes of this game could be absolutely crucial. If the Crusaders can post a couple of early tries in that period then I doubt that the Stormers will know how to come back. All year they have had trouble scoring tries (and no fans screaming for a fan forum to protest either). I don't think they will be very successful against the Saders' defence if they are trying to play catch-up. They caught and passed the Blues in what might have been their best display this year but I think the Saders defence, especially in midfield, is a significant step up. So for mine the Stormers need to be within a few points at half time, otherwise I think their chances will not be good.

 

[Riptide]

Saders have effectively played every game on the road this season and they have figured out a way to cope. I don't see this Saturday as being a trip too far for them (but the Reds should surely benefit the following week). Saders have beaten Stormers already this year iat Newlands in a game in which they had to empty their bench for injury replacements, lost their entire back three and had a flanker on the wing for the entire 2nd half. Berger will rue not kicking for goal when Saders infringed repeatedly later in the game, and I think they will be quite conservative in playing territory and pinning the Saders back with a high-ball kick and chase and a long touch-finding territorial game. Moreover, the Saders lineout has been the weakest of all playoff teams and is vulnerable.

McCaw's leadership presence may be felt but his timing and form will be off significantly. I think this is an area that the Stormers might have an edge and it was evident that Ellis was under a lot of pressure clearing ball at ruck time against the Sharks.

I think the Saders scrum, defense and tactical nous with Ellis/Carter directing traffic should bring them home in a tight game.

 

[qwerty51]

I don't like the mentioning of the Crusaders having played every game away this season. It's not true, it implies they've been on the road for most of the season constantly traveling where as they've just played a different ground. The distance from AMI is about the same as Sydney to Canberra I think? Not that big of a deal tbh.

Initially I would have this game in the balance if Duane Vermeulen was fit. Coupled with the fact that Pieter Louw has been out with a season ending injury for some time I reckon the Crusaders should win this upfront. Hopefully the Stormers persist with de Jongh so it's a contest.

However given the intensity this match will be played out and remembering the performance the Crusaders put in the match after the regular season fixture (Cheetahs) I would have to say they have no chance winning the final back in Aus/NZ. Unfortunately for them the travel will be just too much.

 

[Mank]

the big news in cape town this morning is schalk brits having landed this morning from sarries. as much as i'm happy to see him back in super rugby as he is one of the most dynamic forwards playing the game (never thought i'd hear myself saying this about a south african), how can this be allowed, conditional or otherwise?

I'd love to know.

 

[qwerty51]

He certainly should be rejected.

Deon Fourie and Liebenberg are fit aren't they? Or will they claim Fourie is "injured" because his throwing is shit? Probably claim he is #8 cover like the Sharks.

 

[Riptide]

Fair enough, and maybe it's more accurate to say that the Saders havent played at home all season. I wouldn't underestimate the toll it takes on players though.

Thought this article was interesting is depicting the player/coaches psyche and frame of mind in Christchurch especially given the ongoing tremors.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/crusaders-rugby-team/news/article.cfm?c_id=166&objectid=10734589

 

[PaarlBok]

oom, what are you up to out there?

My laaitie played U13 IPT hockey at Potch till yesterday. Glad to be back home.

 

[PaarlBok]

Stormers:
15 Conrad Jantjes, 14 Gio Aplon, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Peter Grant, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Nick Koster, 7 Francois Louw, 6 Schalk Burger (captain), 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Rynhardt Elstadt, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 Wicus Blaauw

Substitutes: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Anton van Zyl, 19 Schalk Brits, 20 Louis Schreuder, 21 Juan de Jongh, 22 Johann Sadie

Crusaders:
15 Tom Marshall, 14 Sean Maitland, 13 Robbie Fruean, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Zac Guildford, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Andy Ellis, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw (capt), 6 George Whitelock, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Corey Flynn, 1 Wyatt Crockett

Substitutes: 16 Quentin MacDonald, 17 Ben Franks, 18 Luke Romano, 19 Matt Todd, 20 Kahn Foutali'i, 21 Matt Berquist, 22 Ryan Crotty

 

[PaarlBok]

Look like quite a usefull Stormers match 22. Cant go wrong with 5 Paarl Gim Boys in your team, hope they show some real guts on saturday. Only see Brits now in the side, WTF?

 

[REDinCPT]

Only see Brits now in the side, WTF?

indeed what's going on there? not so sure if i agree he should be allowed to play but imagine the impact he can make coming off the bench after 50/60 minutes. there were some reports of jfourie and duvenage having to sit out training sessions due to injury but i think it's mind games.

got your ticket for the game?

 

[tigerland12]

Minus Israel Dagg, that is the Crusaders best side an will be hard to stop. I'm really strugglin to pick a winner here

 

[Mank]

indeed what's going on there? not so sure if i agree he should be allowed to play but imagine the impact he can make coming off the bench after 50/60 minutes.

I'm hearing he is only there as a loose forward and not allowed to play hooker. Under the same ruling which allowed the Waratah's to call up Elvis for their play-off.

 

[REDinCPT]

that's right, he's not allowed to pack down at hooker. i'd imagine they'll bring him on for koster at some stage.

 

[Bullrush]

Look like quite a usefull Stormers match 22. Cant go wrong with 5 Paarl Gim Boys in your team, hope they show some real guts on saturday. Only see Brits now in the side, WTF?

Looks like the Crusaders aren't too happy about Brits too:

The Stormers have been warned - they face major sanctions if strict conditions around their controversial call-up of Schalk Brits for Sunday's Super Rugby semifinal are not adhered to.

The South African side has whistled up the UK-based hooker to fill the void in their loose forward mix for Sunday morning's (3.05am NZT) clash against the Crusaders at Newlands. They have lost Duane Vermeulen, Pieter Louw and Siya Kolisi to injury, and satisfied the ruling body that they did not have sufficient available cover within their wider squad.

Brits has been named on the bench after the Stormers were successful in gaining an exemption from Sanzar to include the Saracens No 2 in their squad despite not fulfilling eligibility criteria under competition regulations.

However the Stormers have been told that Brits has been cleared only on the basis that he is a loose forward cover and that they still had to include two specialist hookers in their squad.

Sanzar chief executive Greg Peters confirmed for Fairfax Media that assurances had been sought and received from the Stormers that they would abide by the conditions of Brits' dispensation, and that any move contrary to the spirit of the agreement would meet with serious consequences.

"We have written undertakings from their CEO, and have written to them stating that these are the conditions with which we're granting it. If they were not to adhere to these conditions we would certainly be taking it up with them," said Peters.

The Crusaders have not been happy that the Stormers were allowed to bring in a player of Brits' standing for a game like this. The tough hooker does have strong links to the region but has been aligned with Saracens since 2009.

"There's nothing that we can do about it," coach Todd Blackadder told media in South Africa. "They've got a dispensation. There can't be any loose forwards left in the Cape to go into the team.

'They're bringing in a marquee player at the business end of the season, but I think that loophole will be closed... Sanzar has to look at it.

"Most of the teams have had to deal with injuries, and they've all coped."

If Brits were to find his way into his specialist hooker position at a crucial stage of the match, then you could imagine the Crusaders would be even more angered.

However Peters repeated his assertion that the South Africans could face major repercussions if they strayed outside the terms of the dispensation.

"We would refer on to a judicial officer to make that decision," said Peters of any sanctions that could arise.

It's understood Sanzar penalties for such a breach could range from a fine to default of the match.

"We're taking their CEO and their team at their word that they will adhere to these conditions," added the Sydney-based Peters.

Current regulations are that for a player to be eligible for finals matches he must have played or been a substitute for no fewer than four regular season games.

But Sanzar retains the right to grant dispensations when no suitable players are available within squads and had done so for a handful of cases prior to Brits, the most notable being Frederic Michalak for the Sharks.

Peters conceded that the eligibility regulation would come under the microscope at season's end.

"It's entirely likely we might put some added parameters around it," added Peters. "We're working with a rule that's been around for a number of years now, and it just happens to have got a bit more focus this year. Now's the time to have a look at it."

However he emphasised that in the case of Brits it was not Sanzar's job to weigh the merits of the player brought in to cover for injuries.

"We don't believe we should get into the subjective argument about who they're applying for," said Peters. "It's about whether they have a need and then declaring the player eligible if we satisfy ourselves there are enough injuries in that position."

Meanwhile Peters said he was not overly concerned by the poor crowd numbers that had become the norm in New Zealand over the second half of the competition.

He said the impact of the Christchurch earthquake, wintry weather, the looming World Cup and some on-field shortcomings had all added up to empty seats at grounds.

"I think we need to look at this year in isolation, take a deep breath and say 'let's build into 2012 with some excitement off the back of the World Cup and look at the situation then'."

 

[PaarlBok]

indeed what's going on there? not so sure if i agree he should be allowed to play but imagine the impact he can make coming off the bench after 50/60 minutes. there were some reports of jfourie and duvenage having to sit out training sessions due to injury but i think it's mind games.

got your ticket for the game?

Nah I will watch at home tomorrow after this week. had a hectic week of sport and kuier. When you support Boland you know you are in for a hiding off the field aswell.

 

[PaarlBok]

The Brits pick dont make any sense at all. They can slot Elstadt in flank if necessarry and bring on some extra tall timber. Pretty sure if Brits make a differense we are going to see a lot of spite from the Kiwis. The weather look perfect at the moment and hope it wont influense the game.