Stormers 2011

[PaarlBok]

Hey PB, thanks for all the inside info on the Stormers, wonder though if you can recruit a fan or two from each of other Saffies teams to here to provide the same with their own teams to help us with our fantasy/tipping competitions?

Of course, in return, these lucky fans' lives will be much enriched by the outstanding efforts of the scribes we have on here...

By the way I have a sneaky feeling that Cheetahs might spring a surprise on the Sharks this weekend...

We have very good Saffers on the Board already but I'll start a thread on the SA derbies as soon as the teams get announce, only missing it because the Stormers have a bye in round 1.

 

[Blue]

Tiaan's loss is huge but I always thought Callie Visagie should have been there in the first place
Sport24

I would thought if they look outside WP and Boland they would look at the SA hookers available first. Hannes Franklin from the Kings probably the best one around outside S15 squads.

Paarl while I share your enthusiasm for the youngsters, a physically imposing hooker is a prerequisite to doing well in the tournament. Ot at least a very excperienced one.

They should get Brits. Why not? In April their season is over up North.

 

[whatty]

They should get Brits. Why not? In April their season is over up North.

We can only dream...

 

[PaarlBok]

Paarl while I share your enthusiasm for the youngsters, a physically imposing hooker is a prerequisite to doing well in the tournament. Ot at least a very excperienced one.

They should get Brits. Why not? In April their season is over up North.

Tiaan will be back around the same time.

 

[Blue]

Tiaan will be back around the same time.

Oh I thought he is gone for the year. I suppose you can get by until then

 

[PaarlBok]

Oh I thought he is gone for the year. I suppose you can get by until then

Nope 9 weeks.

Stormers site

Tiaan did not tear his cruciate ligaments which would have meant a 9 month layoff, but did damage medial ligaments in his knee. He is expected to be out for 8-9 weeks.

I am happy with Fourietjie, our Energise Bunny. He played most CC games anyway and sure is ready for S15 rugby.

 

[Blue]

Nope 9 weeks.

Stormers site


I am happy with Fourietjie, our Energise Bunny. He played most CC games anyway and sure is ready for S15 rugby.

I see Grant is not back until week 4 or so?

Who woll play ten? Sounds like they were all pretty poor. Your coaches made a big mistake not blooding your young tens in the cc. They still sound very green. I reckon it's going to bite you. And I don't think you can expect Grant to be at Super Rugby sharpness when he gets back. It will take him a few weeks. He was your standout last year and looks like it will take 7 or 8 weeks probably before he will hit his straps.

Deos it worry you?

I am not as confident that you will win the SA groups anymore. These two problems open it up again I reckon.

Fourie is a great "last twenty minute hooker". I don't rate him against a big pack. He'll get monstered when there's no space to run.

 

[PaarlBok]

I see Grant is not back until week 4 or so?

Who woll play ten? Sounds like they were all pretty poor. Your coaches made a big mistake not blooding your young tens in the cc. They still sound very green. I reckon it's going to bite you. And I don't think you can expect Grant to be at Super Rugby sharpness when he gets back. It will take him a few weeks. He was your standout last year and looks like it will take 7 or 8 weeks probably before he will hit his straps.

Deos it worry you?

I am not as confident that you will win the SA groups anymore. These two problems open it up again I reckon.

Fourie is a great "last twenty minute hooker". I don't rate him against a big pack. He'll get monstered when there's no space to run.

Well I want Grant in 10 but if he aint here Cronje and Watts have to step up the plate. Watts surely impress me in the warmup against the Sharks and a good attacking 10. He look the goodsa with Duvenhage in 9 who gave him pill to manouvre and with some experience on his outside he will be perfect. Problem is his place kicking and they'll have to pick Cronje in 15 in tandem with him. Maybe starts with Cronje and bring Watts on later as impact player the best option.

Sport 24 on our fatties situation

Teenagers to play for Stormers
2011-02-15 22:40Email | Print

Steven Kirsthoff (Gallo Images)

Stephen Nell

Cape Town – Teenage props Steven Kitshoff and Frans Malherbe could be in the running to make the Stormers squad ahead of more experienced campaigners for their Super Rugby kick-off against the Lions on 26 February.

Wicus Blaauw, JC Kritzinger and JD Moller were all part of the Western Province squad that conducted a coaching clinic at Schotsche Kloof Primary School in the Bo Kaap on Tuesday.

Kritzinger has only just recovered from a knee injury and is expected to be called up as a versatile prop option by the Stormers once he is match-fit.

In the meantime it should not come as a surprise to see one of Kitshoff or Malherbe utilised as a substitute against the Lions at Newlands. Both are 19 years old.

Kitshoff is then likely to be the favourite as he is a loosehead prop. The expectation is that the Stormers will start with Brok Harris at tighthead and CJ van der Linde as loosehead. Van der Linde has vast experience of playing tighthead and will be able to slot in there if the situation demands.

But Stormers forwards coach Matt Proudfoot cautioned that a final decision had not been taken on the props that will play against the Lions. Blaauw’s presence in the WP squad therefore does not necessarily mean that he’s out of favour at the Stormers.

“Wicus is a good player and JC is returning from an injury. Realistically there are six props that are likely to feature for the Stormers this year,” said Proudfoot.

Here he is probably referring to Van der Linde, Harris, Kritzinger, Blaauw, Kitshoff and Malherbe.

WP’s Vodacom Cup campaign also starts on 26 February in a curtain-raiser at Newlands. It will therefore be interesting to see how the props are utilised at the Stormers and WP. There will also be close co-operation between the Stormers and WP coaches.

“It’s still early days and we have not made a final decision on team selection. There may still be developments. We’ll also analyse the Lions’ game against the Bulls before we pick a side,” said Proudfoot.

While the numerous prop options have to be welcomed, the situation is looking a little desperate at hooker in the wake of the knee injury suffered by Tiaan Liebenberg.

Deon Fourie is now the first choice, but the question is whether the Stormers will be prepared to enter the competition with youngster Siyabonga Ntubeni as his understudy.

“We had a lengthy discussion about it today and feel comfortable knowing that Callie Visagie (Maties captain) is in the province. We’re also looking at what is available outside WP,” said Proudfoot.

Visagie, however, has academic commitments and therefore has not signed a contract with WP for this season.

 

[PaarlBok]

Stormers squad of 35 have been finalised. Rassie decided to go the home grown route and a lot of youngsters included.
15 Jantjes , Lionel Cronje, Gio Aplon
Wings Hanaba, Gio Aplon, Danie Poolman(U21)
13 Jac Fourie, JdJ
12 Jean de Villiers, Tim Whitehead, Johann Sadie (U21)
10 Peter Grant, Elgar Watts, Lionel Cronje, Gary van Aswegen (U21)
9 Dewaldt Duvenhage, Ricky Januarie
8 Duane Vermeulen, Kolisi Siyamthanda (U19)
7 Francois Louw, Pieter Louw, Rynhardt Elstadt
6 Schalk Burger, Nick Koster (U21)
Locks: Andries Bekker, Adriaan Fondse, Anton van Zyl, de kock Steenkamp
3 CJ van der Linde, Brok Harris, Frans Malherbe (U19)
2 Tiaan Liebenberg, Deon Fourie, Siyabonga Ntubeni (U19)
1 Wicus Blaauw, JC Kritzinger, Steven Kitshoff (U18 )

(where they play in 2010)

Kallie Visagie decided swotting is his priority this year and will only play for Maties, Hats off to him.

Sport24

Studies come before Stormers
2011-02-17 22:32Email | Print

Callie Visagie (Gallo Images)



Stephen Nell

Cape Town – His studies will be prioritised over the Stormers.

That was the response from Maties captain Callie Visagie on Thursday when he was asked about his availability to provide depth at hooker for the Stormers.

Tiaan Liebenberg injured knee ligaments in last weekend’s training match against Boland and the Stormers believe his recovery will take up to 9 weeks.

That leaves Deon Fourie and last year’s Western Province under-19 star Siyabonga Ntubeni as the only fit hookers in the Stormers squad.

They have hinted in Visagie’s direction when asked about the issue, but also said that they could consider options outside the province.

Visagie wants to complete his honours degree in accounting and is therefore not contracted at WP.

“I decided last year to leave provincial rugby to concentrate on my studies this year. My studies are the priority this year. The Varsity Cup is offering me good exposure and does not clash with my studies.”

Visagie has to write a big test every second Saturday and his studies therefore clash with Super Rugby.

When asked whether he feared he may regret the decision at a later stage, he said that he did not pass last year because he had focused on rugby.

Liebenberg will be available for the Stormers before the tournament has run its course, which is a further reason why it does not make sense for Visagie to sacrifice his studies for a few games.

Visagie’s agent has already informed WP of the situation.

Meanwhile, Stormers director of coaching Rassie Erasmus has confirmed that they will now stick with the hookers in the squad. Fourie now has a great opportunity to get a run of games and show what he’s made of.

His ball skills are particularly good and the only question is whether his throwing at the lineouts will be as accurate as that of Liebenberg.

Meanwhile, the Stormers have announced a squad of 35 for the tournament.

Ntubeni is one of three players in the squad that still represented WP at under-19 level last year. The other two are loose forward Siya Kolisi and tighthead prop Frans Malherbe.

Steven Kitshoff, who was still at school last year and this month only celebrated his 19th birthday, made the squad as loosehead prop.

The omission of wing JJ Engelbrecht is a bit of a shock, though players in the Vodacom Cup squad should not necessarily view it as a negative. It was emphasised over the past week that there will be close co-operation with the Stormers.

“Will a player struggling with his form improve if I put him on the bench? He’s only going to improve by playing in the Vodacom Cup. I think it will be of major value to us,” said Stormers coach Allister Coetzee.

He picked four flyhalves in Peter Grant, Gary van Aswegen, Lionel Cronjé and Elgar Watts.

Rising young stars such as centre Johann Sadie, wing Danie Poolman, loose forward Nick Koster and utility forward Rynhardt Elstadt are all there.

 

[Lee Grant]

I'm predicting that the Stormers will be undefeated in Rd. 1

 

[Moono75]

nice first up effort from the stormers. Loved their committment hahhahahaha.

 

[Blue]

nice first up effort from the stormers. Loved their committment hahhahahaha.

What are you talking about? They sucked.

Paarl. Your team sucked in round one. They didn't even play rugby. Pussies. Soft mountain goats. Skinny soy latte sipping upturned collar cnuts.

 

[PaarlBok]

Eddie Jones team beat Grants lot , so he'll be back on saturday. Blou shame we did not earn a bonus point a a nothing match. Bliksems.

 

[Blue]

Eddie Jones team beat Grants lot , so he'll be back on saturday. Blou shame we did not earn a bonus point a a nothing match. Bliksems.

Still can't score tries

 

[PaarlBok]

Tim Lanes boy in WP colours

WPs Vodacom team for saturdays clash vs the Lions. We'll have a double clash against them on Newlands and worth a watch. Eight 20 year olds and younger in the match 22. Love the look of the backline, some excellent talent for the future.

Marcel Brache (23); Bom Samaai (25), Johann Sadie (22), Tim Whitehead (22), JJ Engelbrecht (22); Sam Lane (20), Louis Schreuder (20); Nick Koster (22), Siya Kolisi (19), Ruan Kitshoff (25), Reniel Hugo (20), Hilton Lobberts (24), JD Moller © (28), Sidney Tobias (21), Baba Blaauw (24). Reserwes: JC Kritzinger (23), Albe de Swardt (20), Quinn Roux (20), Wimpie van der Walt (20), Yaya Hartzenberg (20), Nic Groom (21), Kurt Coleman (21). (Ages)

 

[whatty]

, some excellent talent for the future.

Great but I want it NOW and with that inexperience I see that as a problem for this year.

 

[PaarlBok]

Great but I want it NOW and with that inexperience I see that as a problem for this year.

Boet we have quite a core of experiense players in the team. Jantjes, Habs, Mossie, Jean, Grant, Pie Vreter, Schalkie, Bekker, Liebenberg, CJ vd Linde have been around for some time now. The S15 is a marathon and we need to blood these talented youngsters. They need to get the right mix.

 

[PaarlBok]

Look who is the star player for the Lions, Josh Strauss, a born and bred Bolander, not used by the Stormers and a huge talent.