The Altitude factor in Super 14 final

[Ripper612]

Hey guys, i whats your opinion about the altitude factor?

The stormers is playing the bulls this weekend, and i might be wrong but think soweto is about 1000m above sea level?

I cant understand why dont the stormers go to the highveld earlier in the week. I mean they are going to be too tired the last 20 mins to do anything which opens the door for the bulls snatch it. With ease.

 

[Ripper612]

I have now read an article on the internet that says that altitude have an effect only from 1500m and up. And pretoria is 1350m.

Is it just a coinsidence that the bulls always manage to win the game late in the second halve? I think not.

 

[Moses]

I suspect it's as much the jetlag factor, as well as the Bulls and Boks being pretty bloody good! We haven't had much luck at sea level against them either....

 

[Ruggo]

I think it is the great vocal crowd they attract. Crusaders do it in Chritchurch without altitude. I think the Reds and Crusaders put the jet lag theory to bed this year. I wonder if the altitude thing is more of a mental barrier.

 

[rustycruiser]

South Africans are very slow to adapt. It is only recently (post 2005) that our fitness levels have approached NZ teams. Saffa teams used to run out of steam. Now they can play the full 80. But instead of getting the credit for the long hours the boys spend in the gym, the credit goes to the altitude.

 

[PaarlBok]

Wont have any effect on the Stormers. More to do with which team will try and dominate the speed of the game. Stormers will have to hit the Brutes with a bang and let them try and play catch up rugby. If they dont they'll have a long afternoon.

 

[Ripper612]

But that is the problem, yes it make sense to try and make a good start, then the bulls have to play catch up and the pace would've taken a lot off steam out of them. But you cant do this, because of the altitude you will suffer aswell. Think earlier the season, waratahs vs bulls. Waratahs made the perfect start, cant ask for better, but still came up well short. Even tho it was the second week in SA. Coming from newlands means they where not accustumed to altitude.

I read that it takes a athlete about 7 - 10 days to adopt to about 75% to new higher altitude. If this is the case, i ask myself how is it possible..to beat them if they even pitch up 75% to their potential? The visiting team, unless from the highveld, will always be limited.

I really bothers me the fact that teams cant find an effective way to counter them. And ive seen good teams try a lot of different tactics. From kikking everything, running everything, try to copycat the bulls self, it just doesnt work.

 

[PaarlBok]

Ripper the Stormers will be diffirent. They know those Brutes just toooooo well. We need to rack up two or three quickfire tries to settle the nerves and keep them under pressure with our defense. Thats the only way, we wont get there with anything else.