Stormers the enigma of South Africa - Super Rugby 2018 Preview
SUPER RUGBY PREVIEW 2018: In the second instalment of our 15-part build-up to the season starting with the South African conference we look at the Stormers.
The Stormers are truly the ‘enigma’ of South African rugby.
If the Sharks are the most successful team never to have won Super Rugby, the Stormers are the most promising outfit never to have reached their full potential.
Just one Final in 25 years of Super Rugby (including the Super 10) suggests the team with the most talent-laden feeder zone in the country, has not lived up to its promises.
“Next year is our year,” has become a staple response from the cacophonous Cape Town fans.
One of the most apt descriptions – courtesy of reader DanGP – is that they are sold off the menu as the “finest Cape vintage”, but often turn out to be no more than a “papsak”.
* For the uninformed: Papsak, directly translated, means ‘flat bag’ and is a description of the silver foiled bag inside a box of wine – simply put, a cheap vintage.
There is no doubt the enormous amount of talent that emanates from the Western Cape and particularly the massively competitive school system.
However, that talent has yet to be converted into championship team outside of domestic competitions like the Currie Cup.
That is why we ask the question again: ‘Will 2018 be the year of the Stormers?’
The Stormers’ Director of Rugby, Gert Smal, said they are “excited” about the depth of talent they have at their disposal.
“It is important that we keep on moving forward in terms of our results, playing style and composure in all areas,” Smal said.
They certainly did not receive any favours from the organisers when the draw was made.
More Super Rugby 2018 Previews
The Stormers start at home, against the Jaguares, before they set off on a murderous Australasia tour – which sees them face the Waratahs (in Sydney), the Crusaders (Christchurch) and Highlanders (Dunedin).
Not even the home game against the under-performing Jaguares is a given.
It will require a special effort not to start with four successive defeats.
To come back from that will be tough, but if any team can do it, is it the Stormers.
Injuries could be another massive downer for the Western Cape franchise.
Having already lost a number of senior players – like Juan de Jongh (moved to Wasps), Rynhardt Elstadt (Toulouse), Huw Jones (Glasgow), Oliver Kebble (Glasgow) and Cheslin Kolbe (Toulouse) – they will also be without the services of key Springboks like Frans Malherbe and Eben Etzebeth for a substantial part of the season.
The departure of Rob du Preez to the Sharks also leaves them a bit thin ay flyhalf.
It prompted them to call up Griquas journeyman George Whitehead to help cover the No.10 jersey. However, young Damian Willemse is the man expect to run the show at flyhalf.
They do have the talent, but do they have the will?
2018 Predictions
South African Conference Placing: Third
Player of the Year: Steven Kitshoff
Rookie of the Year: Juarno Augustus
Super Rugby Placing: Seventh
History
Best finish: Runners-up in 2010
Worst finish: Eleventh in 1996, 2006 and 2014
Squad movements
In: Sergeal Petersen (Cheetahs), Raymond Rhule (Cheetahs), Johannes Engelbrecht (Shuttles), Joshua Stander (Bulls), Neetling Fouche (Bulls), George Whitehead (Griquas).
Out: Bjorn Basson (Oyonnax), Kurt Coleman (Kings), Juan de Jongh (Wasps), Rob du Preez (Sharks), Rynhardt Elstadt (Toulouse), Huw Jones (Glasgow), Oliver Kebble (Glasgow), Cheslin Kolbe (Toulouse), Godlen Masimla (Kings), Brandon Thompson (Glasgow), Frans van Wyk (Bulls), Shaun Treeby (released).
Squad (provisional squad): JC Janse van Rensburg, Steven Kitshoff, Wilco Louw, Frans Malherbe, Caylib Oosthuizen, Alistair Vermaak, Bongi Mbonambi, Dean Muir, Ramone Samuels, Chad Solomon, Jan de Klerk, Johan du Toit, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Eben Etzebeth, John Schickerling, Chris van Zyl, Eduard Zandberg, Juarno Augustus, Nizaam Carr, Jaco Coetzee, Stephan de Wit, Siya Kolisi, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Kobus van Dyk, Cobus Wiese, Dewaldt Duvenage, Justin Phillips, Jano Vermaak, Jean-Luc du Plessis, Damian Willemse, Damian de Allende, Daniël du Plessis, Dan Kriel, Dillyn Leyds, Khanyo Ngcukana, Seabelo Senatla, Sarel Marais, EW Viljoen, Sergeal Petersen, Raymond Rhule, Johannes Engelbrecht, Joshua Stander, Neetling Fouche, George Whitehead.
By Jan de Koning
@king365ed
@rugby365com
Comments on RugbyPass
Bar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
9 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
35 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
35 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
35 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
35 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
35 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
35 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
35 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
18 Go to comments