PB
Well said. The better team did win. I thought the Stormers had a great chance but the Brutes had that edge of experience in big matches. They were pretty damn impressive.
I thought that the Bulls would leak a few tries and then have trouble coming back against a (ahem) storming Stormers defence, but it was not to be.
Top game by FdP give or take the odd box kick that was too long but it would be interesting to watch the game again with him not present. We judge out own scrumhalf Will Genia highly, but FdP is still the benchmark. His kicking, and sniping in combination with his supports, is still superior to Genia's but I would judge the Aussie better than FdP at the same age. Watch this space on Will.
You must have been disappointed when M. Steyn started stacking up the points with penalties, as I was when the Tahs played the Stormers, and you must have felt death by a thousand cuts - or at least 4 or 5.
But well done to your boys for playing like they did this year. They have been the perennial underachievers in SA rugby just as the Tahs have been in Oz and the Canes (and Blues recently) in NZ.
We will all expect the Stormers to carry on in 2011 as they did in 2010. Unfortunately.
Thanks Oom Lee, ja we missed the cherry on the cake in 2010 but we have to start right now with the CC just around the corner.
Things that happened with the Stormers in 2010 that are positives.
1. The coaching staff has been brilliant in their debut year. A lot of credit have to go to Coetzee, Fleckie and specially Proudfoot. The two latter coaches made their mark in the Varsity Cup and they proved themself now on S14 level. Always know Rassie is brilliant but Coetzee and the other two with the defensive coach, big credit for what they done.
2. Schalk Burger has been brilliant not only as a player but leading his team. Thats the one that always had us on the backfoot. Luke Watson had a bigger impact within the team spirit disrubting factor then we ever would have thought.
3. The senior player acquisitions Habs & Mossie was great for the Stormers. This two plus the Bekker and Burger show was brilliant this year. Expecting Bekker to take his form onto international level this year.
4. A lot of youngster players getting better and use to S14 level. Probably cant think of one player not up his own ante on S14 level.
Now with the addition of Jean de Villiers in the CC and CJ van der Linde next years Super Rugby I cant see us lower our aims and hope we'll go the full Monty next time. The new S15 competition obvious a different kettle of fish we are use to and the journey will start in the 2010 CC season. Expecting a few Stormer players to make the Bok Squad and not available but it will be the perfect platform for players like Pieter Louw, Fourie, Anton van Zyl, Steenkamp, Pieter Myburgh, Lionel Cronje , Tim Whitehead to take their S14 level just that bit higher.
Interesting read , Heyneke Meyer the Brutes director of coaching have on the Stormers and the future
Sport24
Vodacom Super 14
Meyer: Stormers' future bright
2010-05-31 08:17Email | Print
Heyneke Meyer (File)
Stephen Nell
Soweto – The Stormers may have lost Saturday’s Super 14 final to the Bulls, but Heyneke Meyer is predicting a bright future for the team from Cape Town.
Meyer, who holds the position of executive: rugby coaching at the Blue Bulls and was an assistant coach at the Stormers earlier in his career, reminded the Stormers that the Bulls first had to suffer defeat in their semi-finals in 2005 and 2006 before finally being crowned champions in 2007.
“If you look at where the Stormers have been the past two years, they showed a lot of character to come back. Western Province’s junior structures are looking good,” Meyer told Sport24 after Saturday’s Super 14 final.
“It took us two losing semi-finals to learn our lessons after we had already won the Currie Cup a few times. We won the Super 14 for the first time in 2007 and it was a close one.”
Meyer believes the Bulls’ experience carried them through on Saturday. They led 16-0 after Francois Hougaard’s converted try in the 25th minute and three Morne Steyn penalties.
“People always say it comes down to which team is the hungrier, but that is a cliché. It’s about the team that can handle the pressure better. The Stormers played better rugby at times, but the Bulls are tactically experienced,” said Meyer.
“It was a matter of a very experienced side against one that is almost there. I believe the Stormers will go from strength to strength and will be a very tough team to beat going forward.”
Meyer knows he will have a big challenge on his hands when a number of the Bulls’ senior players retire or move to overseas clubs next year.
“It’s good to see WP as a major power in the game again. My big challenge will be when Victor and the guys finish. You can’t buy experience. That is what the Stormers will build in the next few years. Hopefully we still see a lot of north-south derbies, but it will be a challenge to keep the Bulls up there.”
As far as the Stormers are concerned, Meyer believes they should simply build on their Super 14 campaign.
“If they can build from here, especially in the Currie Cup, it’s just a matter of time before they win it. Most of their players are still young and they showed a lot of character in the final. You win finals with character. This Stormers team has a good future.”
