More of the same?
So we're off in the 2007 Super 14. We're all wondering whether the SA teams will finally compete again and praying that we'll have a team to cheer to a final win.
Do our teams have the same level of desire and ambition?
Well, with the exception of a fine effort from the Sharks pack, it could be more of the same.
I didn't see the Lions match on Friday. I'm told that despite another change in coach, Tim Lane's cry is still unanswered: the coach has still not received 15 guys who can tackle. Let's hope things change. Most people would like to see Loffie Eloff achieve some success.
Onto the local derbies. Much elation should accompany the Sharks win. They have possibly the best SA draw ever. Beating the Bulls is more than a home win - it shows they can gain ascendency in the tight phases and if one thing this weekend has proved for the umpteenth time that its very difficult to win if you can't mix it up with the big boys.
Sadly, the handling dished up by the Bulls and the Sharks was putrid. Let's be honest - rugby is a game often played in pouring rain and Durban humidity might be awful, but it's not a downpour. You'd be forgiven for having thought so when considering 39 unforced errors. That's got to change if either of these two teams are going to go all the way this year.
I must say, despite the claims of forthcoming "total rugby" from the Bulls, I battled to see the signs. It's looked like the same brand to me. And with that brand, the team seems clueless whenever their intimidatory, physical style fails to knock over their opponents.
I thought there was a lack of standout players on both sides, but kudos to the Sharks pack. They laid the platform well.
The opposite can be said for the Stormers light five. Yes, the jokes are well-placed. The Stormers lesson was most authoritatively given by Professor Ollie le Roux. I may not know much about front-row play, but even I could see the working over Ollie gave Eddie Andrews and Brock Harris. He played the ref well and had Andrews alternatively pinged for scrumming inwards and losing the bind. Camera work showed Ollie's role.
Despite the absence of Barend Pieterse, the Free State team looked good in the lineouts, and with the lack of go-forward, the much vaunted Stormers loose trio lacked any platform to build on. Clearly the backs were to suffer far more of the same, and Brent Russell would have suffered from the same static ball that Naas Olivier received. Both the Stormers and the Cheetahs should be applauded for their defence - it was resolute and attrition resulted in the Cheetahs points.
An exception is Jean de Villiers. He was awful in every aspect. He rushed off his line on defence, and generally walked around looking for an opportunity to score a runaway try. On one occasion he had the mark on Philip Burger and gave up immediately the flyer received the ball. Gio Aplon made the try-saving cover tackle.
The jury will be out on the "left-right" experiment with Luke Watson and Schalk Burger. I still have a suspicion that Schalk's true position is eighth man. I'd like to see Joe van Niekerk on the blind, Schalk at the back and Luke on the open side. I think you allow each to exploit the strengths to the full.
Of course I'm biased, but there must be some Cheetahs supporters who'd also like to knee-cap Philip Burger. His theatrics after a late brush from Schalk Burger ended abruptly on the award of a yellow card. We don't need soccer performances on a rugby field. He tends to milk the ref, the crowd and the opposition at every opportunity. He must have had some big friends at school...
Will the Cheetahs be able to beat the best? It will depend on whether they can play the total game. They have the ingredients - a strong tight-five, good defence, good tactics, under-sung loosies and a promising backline. Even Marius Joubert could come good for them. I wonder if they lack a dominating flyhalf? I'd prefer to see Meyer Bosman given an extended run there. We'll have to see.
Do our teams have the same level of desire and ambition?
Well, with the exception of a fine effort from the Sharks pack, it could be more of the same.
I didn't see the Lions match on Friday. I'm told that despite another change in coach, Tim Lane's cry is still unanswered: the coach has still not received 15 guys who can tackle. Let's hope things change. Most people would like to see Loffie Eloff achieve some success.
Onto the local derbies. Much elation should accompany the Sharks win. They have possibly the best SA draw ever. Beating the Bulls is more than a home win - it shows they can gain ascendency in the tight phases and if one thing this weekend has proved for the umpteenth time that its very difficult to win if you can't mix it up with the big boys.
Sadly, the handling dished up by the Bulls and the Sharks was putrid. Let's be honest - rugby is a game often played in pouring rain and Durban humidity might be awful, but it's not a downpour. You'd be forgiven for having thought so when considering 39 unforced errors. That's got to change if either of these two teams are going to go all the way this year.
I must say, despite the claims of forthcoming "total rugby" from the Bulls, I battled to see the signs. It's looked like the same brand to me. And with that brand, the team seems clueless whenever their intimidatory, physical style fails to knock over their opponents.
I thought there was a lack of standout players on both sides, but kudos to the Sharks pack. They laid the platform well.
The opposite can be said for the Stormers light five. Yes, the jokes are well-placed. The Stormers lesson was most authoritatively given by Professor Ollie le Roux. I may not know much about front-row play, but even I could see the working over Ollie gave Eddie Andrews and Brock Harris. He played the ref well and had Andrews alternatively pinged for scrumming inwards and losing the bind. Camera work showed Ollie's role.
Despite the absence of Barend Pieterse, the Free State team looked good in the lineouts, and with the lack of go-forward, the much vaunted Stormers loose trio lacked any platform to build on. Clearly the backs were to suffer far more of the same, and Brent Russell would have suffered from the same static ball that Naas Olivier received. Both the Stormers and the Cheetahs should be applauded for their defence - it was resolute and attrition resulted in the Cheetahs points.
An exception is Jean de Villiers. He was awful in every aspect. He rushed off his line on defence, and generally walked around looking for an opportunity to score a runaway try. On one occasion he had the mark on Philip Burger and gave up immediately the flyer received the ball. Gio Aplon made the try-saving cover tackle.
The jury will be out on the "left-right" experiment with Luke Watson and Schalk Burger. I still have a suspicion that Schalk's true position is eighth man. I'd like to see Joe van Niekerk on the blind, Schalk at the back and Luke on the open side. I think you allow each to exploit the strengths to the full.
Of course I'm biased, but there must be some Cheetahs supporters who'd also like to knee-cap Philip Burger. His theatrics after a late brush from Schalk Burger ended abruptly on the award of a yellow card. We don't need soccer performances on a rugby field. He tends to milk the ref, the crowd and the opposition at every opportunity. He must have had some big friends at school...
Will the Cheetahs be able to beat the best? It will depend on whether they can play the total game. They have the ingredients - a strong tight-five, good defence, good tactics, under-sung loosies and a promising backline. Even Marius Joubert could come good for them. I wonder if they lack a dominating flyhalf? I'd prefer to see Meyer Bosman given an extended run there. We'll have to see.
posted at 10:57 PM
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