PaarlBok
Rod McCall (65)
Thats a chant I heard so often watching any sport when the team are on the backfoot from their supporters. The dirty part of team sport but surely the most important part of team sports like soccer/hockey/test cricket and specially rugby.
Maybe I am a tad biased being a Stormers/WeePee/Bokke supporter but surely I am on the right side of the ledger here. I have watched the Stormers/WeePee in the last few years growing in this specialised part of the game. Always thought its a must for any midfielder to be a good defender , its a quality or skill some have and others dont but I have changed my view in this regard.
Nienabers defensive magic have grown through the Stormers/WP teams and the dividends is there to be seen. After watching this weekends round of rugby I saw this very clearly, defense isnt just a players effort, its a team effort and a specialise structure within a team. A team like the Lions simply have no defensive structure and the players simply dont defend. The Cheetahs is an excellent attacking team and probably the best in the SA Conferense but to drop a lead of 30-9 and lose the match is simply unforgiven. Leaving holes as big as the Indian Ocean in midfield shows there is something terribly wrong. Watching the Stormers doing their magic is simply awesome. Its not just about keeping the line, or rush up on the defense, its about defending players knocking the attacker back in the tackle and keeping the pressure. No team can play backfoot rugby and once the make a mistake its turnover and fat pay time. Its a mental thing for both teams. If your defense is on top, it bite the opposition, They start folding because they realise the other team dont mind playing without possesion and they start doubt their own attacking abilities and in the end it show on the score sheet.
Nienabers stats since he joined WeePee/Stormers:
SUPERUGBY:
2009 Stormers played 13 matches scored 28 tries and 29 tries against and ended 10th on S14 log.
2010 Stormers played 13 matches scored 36 tries and 17 tries against and ended 2nd on S14 log. (The closest with tries against was Crusaders with 24)
2011 Stormers played 16 matches scored 33 tries and 18 tries against and ended 2nd on S14 log. (The closest with tries against was Tahs with 21)
2012 Stormers played 9 matches scored 16 and 9 against them. Chiefs also have 9 against them and then its the Clan with 15.
VODACOM:
2010 WP played 7 scored 18 and 15 against them
2011 WP played 8 scored 40 and 12 against them.
2012 WP played 7 scored 24 and 11 against them. They are unbeaten and the Sharks the closest with 14 tries against them.
The Stormers team had a lot of injuries during their 4 tour matches but the great thing defensive wise it made no differense. I would have thought leaders in the team like JdV, Vermeulen, Bekker absence will pack them back but the youngsters have just step in and did their job.
I am looking forward to the Brutes tour, they'll need to defend like they did on Newlands otherwise they will struggle.
Maybe I am a tad biased being a Stormers/WeePee/Bokke supporter but surely I am on the right side of the ledger here. I have watched the Stormers/WeePee in the last few years growing in this specialised part of the game. Always thought its a must for any midfielder to be a good defender , its a quality or skill some have and others dont but I have changed my view in this regard.
Nienabers defensive magic have grown through the Stormers/WP teams and the dividends is there to be seen. After watching this weekends round of rugby I saw this very clearly, defense isnt just a players effort, its a team effort and a specialise structure within a team. A team like the Lions simply have no defensive structure and the players simply dont defend. The Cheetahs is an excellent attacking team and probably the best in the SA Conferense but to drop a lead of 30-9 and lose the match is simply unforgiven. Leaving holes as big as the Indian Ocean in midfield shows there is something terribly wrong. Watching the Stormers doing their magic is simply awesome. Its not just about keeping the line, or rush up on the defense, its about defending players knocking the attacker back in the tackle and keeping the pressure. No team can play backfoot rugby and once the make a mistake its turnover and fat pay time. Its a mental thing for both teams. If your defense is on top, it bite the opposition, They start folding because they realise the other team dont mind playing without possesion and they start doubt their own attacking abilities and in the end it show on the score sheet.
Nienabers stats since he joined WeePee/Stormers:
SUPERUGBY:
2009 Stormers played 13 matches scored 28 tries and 29 tries against and ended 10th on S14 log.
2010 Stormers played 13 matches scored 36 tries and 17 tries against and ended 2nd on S14 log. (The closest with tries against was Crusaders with 24)
2011 Stormers played 16 matches scored 33 tries and 18 tries against and ended 2nd on S14 log. (The closest with tries against was Tahs with 21)
2012 Stormers played 9 matches scored 16 and 9 against them. Chiefs also have 9 against them and then its the Clan with 15.
VODACOM:
2010 WP played 7 scored 18 and 15 against them
2011 WP played 8 scored 40 and 12 against them.
2012 WP played 7 scored 24 and 11 against them. They are unbeaten and the Sharks the closest with 14 tries against them.
The Stormers team had a lot of injuries during their 4 tour matches but the great thing defensive wise it made no differense. I would have thought leaders in the team like JdV, Vermeulen, Bekker absence will pack them back but the youngsters have just step in and did their job.
I am looking forward to the Brutes tour, they'll need to defend like they did on Newlands otherwise they will struggle.
