S14: SA Derbies

[PaarlBok]

Picking the Cheetahs. The Sharks look clueless.

Pretty much spot on. Finally the Tin Ears sort out their defense and they play like we know they can. A very good win for them and should give them the confidense now to start knocking the others over.

Dont look like the Lions or Tjarks are going to help the others, so we'll just have to rely on the Tin Ears.

 

[PaarlBok]

This weekend we'll have the Tin Ears on Newlands against the Stormers. Both teams flying high at the moment and expecting the team with the better defense to win this one. Heinrich Brussouw obvious a big loss for any team but thats where it ends. The Tin Ears have real depth in the loosies and they wont feel it to much. They will be fresh from their break.

Dont think the Stormers will change to much, only Lionel Cronje on the bench after his fighting after saturdays game and being cited for the match internally. Coetzee spoiled with choise in either Genl Willem (who know the Tin Ears inside out) or the Galpil youngster Conrad Hoffman who is a specialist 9 but playing for Maties and WP Vodacom in the 10 position.

Looking forward to this one and it will be a tough one like usual.

 

[PaarlBok]

OK so Flekkie did the surprise thing to pick a Ikey soutie in 12 for the important game against the Tin Ears. Rusty obvious will be over the moon to see one of his Grey PE boytjies get to this level (maybe for him in the wrong team). Myself havent saw Whitehead playing and had to go dig to get some information on him.

Varsitycup.co.za

UCT produce another Super player

Ikeys ace Tim Whitehead will make his Super 14 debut for the Stormers this weekend - the latest Varsity Cup player to make the step up to the toughest provincial tournament in the southern hemisphere.

Whitehead will follow in the footsteps of Ikey Tigers teammates, lock Martin Muller and utility back Tiger Bax, both of whom made their Super 14 debuts last year - straight from the Varsity Cup.

The 21-year-old was first discovered by UCT head coach John Dobson, in 2007, before Stormers backline coach Robbie Fleck - during his stint as the Ikeys' assistant coach - took him under his wing.

He is comfortable at inside and outside centre, but Fleck believes his future lies in the No.12 shirt - where his creativity and running lines can do more damage closer to the scrum.

"Tim has been training with us this week. He is a special player who has a lot of time on the ball, and he has good distribution skills," Fleck told the Cape Times newspaper.

"He would be a perfect fit for us in terms of the way we want to play the game. He was part of the Currie Cup squad, so he is familiar with our systems.

"It is a big step up for Tim. But he is a good player in the Will Greenwood mould. He is tall and has a high work-rate, while he also runs good lines," added the former Bok centre, who was Dobson's UCT assistant coach during the 2008 and 2009 Varsity Cup tournaments.

Whilst Whitehead will join UCT mates Muller and Bax as recent Stormers representatives come Saturday; Stellenbosch stars De Kock Steenkamp, Juan de Jongh and Joe Pietersen - all of whom are regulars in the Stormers squad - have also played Varsity Cup rugby in the past.

Ironically, the elbow injury suffered by the selfsame De Jongh - the first-ever Varsity Cup Springbok - has opened the door for Whitehead's Super Rugby debut, whilst a strong performance against the Cheetahs, at Newlands, on Saturday could also see Whitehead secure a plane ticket to Australasia for the Stormers' upcoming four-match tour.

"He's [Whitehead] played a lot of Varsity Cup rugby and has already played three Vodacom Cup games this season," explained Stormers boss Allister Coetzee, after announcing his starting XV on Wednesday.

"He featured in pre-season matches against Stellenbosch and Boland. Tim's a class player with a lot of time on the ball, and given the injuries we've had at No.12, we need someone like him coming through."

The Stormers team: 15 Joe Pietersen, 14 Gio Aplon, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Tim Whitehead, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Peter Grant, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Francois Louw, 6 Schalk Burger (captain), 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Anton van Zyl, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 Wicus Blaauw.
Replacements: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 JC Kritzinger, 18 De Kock Steenkamp, 19 Pieter Louw, 20 Ricky Januarie, 21 Willem de Waal, 22 Sireli Naqelevuki.

Kick-off: 5.05pm

Myself had a chat last week with the old WP , Boland & Matie midfielder Stokkies Hanekom, whose son also plays now for WP Vodacom & Maties Varsity Cup and his kid is still out injured. He is Johann Sadie's roomie on Stellenbosch and Johann also out injured and just maybe it give this Ikey his big change. Stokkies small kid plays with my kiddie cricket.

Anyway I have full confidense in Flekkie and Proudfoot and is sure this young soutie will give it his best shot on saturday.

 

[PaarlBok]

Hard , physical match won by the Stormers. Unbelievable to see the youngster Whitehead making a very good debut for the Stormers and making it difficult lekker for Coetzee and the Stormers wisemen. Morgan Newman and Adriaan Fondse back from injury and played for WP Vodacom last weekend and this weekend. The Cheetahs also not shy in this match and put up very good defensive performances. They look ready for the Reds this weekend.

 

[PaarlBok]

Time to relive this thread. Important clash for the semi contenders Sharks vs Stormers.

The Stormers could not have ask for a tougher last sprint in the marathon. They delt pretty efficient with the Saders last friday and myself was hoping the Brutes tooking the Sharks out and so they did. The Sharks will now change their aims to start immediately to get their CC players and combos in action, something the Stormers did exactly a year ago and dropped all their Bokke.

Muller gone (he is heading north) Deysel, Botes and Smit doubtfull. The Stormers will have Joe Pietersen back and all depending on Habana. Joe will start at least from the bench and if Habana dont make it he'll start either on the wing or 15, both he and Aplon can play both positions.

Our derbies is a tough lot but I feel confident that the Stormers defense and backline will have way to much fire power for the Sharks. Also expecting maybe more Stormers then Sharks supporters in the Tank, usually our coastal souties support both teams.

 

[PaarlBok]

Habana out

Stormers – 15 Gio Aplon, 14 Sireli Naqelevuki, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Juan de Jongh, 11 Tim Whitehead, 10 Peter Grant, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Francois Louw, 6 Schalk Burger (c), 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Adriaan Fondse, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 JD Moller.
Subs: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Eusebio Guinazu, 18 Anton van Zyl, 19 Pieter Louw, 20 Ricky Januarie, 21 Willem de Waal, 22 Joe Pietersen.

 

[Wazimba2K]

What the hell is a South African Derby thread doing here? :angryfire:

 

[Nusadan]

What the hell is a South African Derby thread doing here? :angryfire:

And what is a Brumbies fan doing here? :angryfire:

 

[PaarlBok]

Sharks – 15 Patrick Lambie, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Stefan Terblanche, 12 Riaan Swanepoel, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Ruan Pienaar, 9 Rory Kockott, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Jean Deysel, , 5 Alistair Hargreaves, 4 Steven Sykes, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 John Smit (c), 1 Beast Mtawarira.
Subs: 16 Craig Burden, 17 Pat Cilliers, 18 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 19 Keegan Daniel, 20 Jacques Botes 21 Andy Goode, 22 Andries Strauss.

Bliksemse Tjarks, now they left out the Pom snail when we needed him the most.

Going to be a cracker this game.

 

[Blue]

Sharks – 15 Patrick Lambie, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Stefan Terblanche, 12 Riaan Swanepoel, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Ruan Pienaar, 9 Rory Kockott, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Jean Deysel, , 5 Alistair Hargreaves, 4 Steven Sykes, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 John Smit (c), 1 Beast Mtawarira.
Subs: 16 Craig Burden, 17 Pat Cilliers, 18 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 19 Keegan Daniel, 20 Jacques Botes 21 Andy Goode, 22 Andries Strauss.

Bliksemse Tjarks, now they left out the Pom snail when we needed him the most.

Going to be a cracker this game.

Two big ball carriers. No openside. Interesting. They could get thenselves a brand new one ripped at the breakdown.

 

[PaarlBok]

Break downs and that backline. We may struggle scrumtime tho. Hope we spin it Boet, wide it should go.

 

[PaarlBok]

Since Whatsomaycallhim dont want us to talk SA Derbies just one thing, well played Sharks. this match have all the brutal ingredients with plenty big hits and just showed what the CC means to us.

The Stormers have a mountain to climb to get in the semis now, I,ll be fortunate to watch the last roll of the dice live. Brutes are going to be a tough tough stone to crack!

 

[Biffo]

Since Whatsomaycallhim dont want us to talk SA Derbies just one thing, well played Sharks. this match have all the brutal ingredients with plenty big hits and just showed what the CC means to us.

The Stormers have a mountain to climb to get in the semis now, I,ll be fortunate to watch the last roll of the dice live. Brutes are going to be a tough tough stone to crack!

"Whatsomaycallhim" :lmao:

Big day next Saturday, Mate. Have a great day and good luck to your blokes.

 

[the gambler]

Enjoy the day PB, it will no doubt be a cracker and I think the desperation and home crowd will be enough. Ideally I would ask them to draw sneak into 3rd place and get to travel to Sydney to play the Tahs. That would be a semi I would like to watch.

 

[Nusadan]

Since Whatsomaycallhim dont want us to talk SA Derbies just one thing, well played Sharks. this match have all the brutal ingredients with plenty big hits and just showed what the CC means to us.

The Stormers have a mountain to climb to get in the semis now, I,ll be fortunate to watch the last roll of the dice live. Brutes are going to be a tough tough stone to crack!

Having Rory Kockott back in the starting line up for the Sharks has made hell alot of difference to them...had that been done earlier, if not at the start, the play off picture would be vastly different!

 

[the gambler]

Is it not what they had at the start, when they lost their first few before he was benched??

 

[PaarlBok]

Ja myself could not believe why plums struggled with the Pom Snail now for way to long, I wasnt a Cocky fan but he sure prove me wrong last night, ditto Deysel.

Hey and Dickenson had a great game with the whistle , another one that converted me.

For the Stormers I though Flo was big, Schalkie wont show a middle finger again after last night, hope he,ll be ready for the big one, we,r lost without him.

 

[PaarlBok]

Gambler I dont care where we play as long as the Stormers make it, even the south pole or Soweto sounds sweet.

 

[the gambler]

But a home semi would greatly increase your chances of making the final. Plus you would get to go yourself wouldnt you? Travelling to Australia would be a much more difficult task.

 

[rustycruiser]

The lazy fat shit (aka Naqelevuki) cost Western Province a spot in the Currie Cup semi finals less than 6 months ago. Amazing that he has potentially done the same thing in the Super 14 for the Stormers. Western Province/Stormers wouldn't be in this situation if they hadn't botched the management of Mathew Turner. I think his loss to England was a gross mistake, and entirely the fault of the WP management. A star at UCT and in the Varsity Cup, the fact that they chose his backup in the UCT team over him for the WP U21 team was a big fuck you to him. No wonder he went north to Bristol, and England capped him via their 7s team as soon as they could. He is gonna be a great wing.