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
Ben Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
19 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
7 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
19 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
9 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
9 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
28 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
19 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
28 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
19 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
88 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
4 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
9 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
19 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
14 Go to comments