[2016 Super Rugby] Stormers vs. Reds (Round 9) 23/04/2016

[TRF_heineken]

Venue: DHL Newlands
Time: 15:00 CAT (SA, GMT+2)

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[BLINK]Damian de Allende[/BLINK] (Gallo Images)

Stormers

15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Kobus van Wyk, 13 Johnny Kotze, [BLINK]12 Damian de Allende[/BLINK], 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Siya Kolisi, 6 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4 Rynhardt Elstadt, 3 Frans Malherbe (captain), 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Oli Kebble

Substitutes: 16 Mike Willemse, 17 JC Janse van Rensburg, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 JD Schickerling, 20 Schalk Burger, 21 Louis Schreuder, 22 Huw Jones, 23 Brandon Thomson


Reds

15 Karmichael Hunt, 14 Chris Feauai-Sautia, 13 Samu Kerevi, 12 Anthony Fainga'a, 11 Eto Nabuli, 10 Jake McIntyre, 9 Nick Frisby, 8 Curtis Browning, 7 Liam Gill, 6 Hendrik Tui, 5 Rob Simmons, 4 Ben Matwijow, 3 Greg Holmes, 2 Andrew Ready, 1 James Slipper (captain)

Substitutes: 16 Saia Fainga'a, 17 Sef Fa'agase, 18 Sam Talakai, 19 Cadeyrn Neville, 20 Michael Gunn, 21 James Tuttle, 22 Duncan Paia'aua, 23 Ayumu Goromaru​

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[TRF_stormer2010]

The Reds have picked it up recently but at home and angry I expect us to take it home.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

I updated the OP to show the line-ups (and sneak in a pic of Damian de Allende).

That's our best 15 injuries considered. I'm happy enough to be without De Jongh and Burger. Assuming De Allende is in reasonable shape we should gain a lot on the offense sans our 'golden oldies'. The Highlanders were caught napping but I don't think the Stormers will make the same mistake and come into this one thinking they've already won it especially after being robbed last week. Stormers by 8.

 

[saulan]

I updated the OP to show the line-ups (and sneak in a pic of Damian de Allende).

That's our best 15 injuries considered. I'm happy enough to be without De Jongh and Burger. Assuming De Allende is in reasonable shape we should gain a lot on the offense sans our 'golden oldies'. The Highlanders were caught napping but I don't think the Stormers will make the same mistake and come into this one thinking they've already won it especially after being robbed last week. Stormers by 8.

Decent team, the only thing I would change is actually having Schreuder starting. I don't know if anyone else has noticed, but the two matches he has played he has provided really fast service to the backline and I think he may be the Stormers best scrumhalf atm.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Decent team, the only thing I would change is actually having Schreuder starting. I don't know if anyone else has noticed, but the two matches he has played he has provided really fast service to the backline and I think he may be the Stormers best scrumhalf atm.

I tend to agree but its Groom's 50th though and TBF Groom has done well to lay the base in the previous games. I wonder if the roles were reversed if Groom wouldn't look the better of the two coming on later against tired travelers.

 

[SomeOke]

It will be interesting to see how we approach the game. This season we have had a tendency to play attacking rugby vs weaker opposition and tighten up in big games, I wonder what the reds would be considered? They certainly haven't been quite as bad as the log suggests, they've defended well in many of their games and only seemed to collapse against the Bulls last week (but Loftus has a way of sapping foreign team's will to play).

Our tight five is pretty good, I understand the inclusion of Elstad;, without Schalk or Eben we probably were missing a bit of grunt despite his habit of getting carded for stupid things.
I love our back three and it certainly implies a intent to attack but it's not very well balanced. In many ways we are playing with three "links", thrilled to see Kolisi back in the mix as I feel he has been hard done by of late, I would almost go so far as to say he would be the first name in any back row I selected.

In the grand scheme of things I feel this is a must win. The bulls may have the tougher fixtures ahead but if they can pull off two wins on tour (quite achievable vs the Force and a struggling Warratahs side) we will still be under a lot of pressure to win our conference.

Edit: Also Johnny Kotze is a useful ball carrier but really really needs to learn how to pass.

 

[Hulk Hogan]

Queensland Reds will smash the pansy Stormers and romp home with a 50+ points win.

 

[TobesHodges]

Queensland Reds will smash the pansy Stormers and romp home with a 50+ points win.

This

 

[saulan]

Poor game from the Stormers. Too many unforced errors. Just seemed to think this was going to be a walkover and were not focused enough. I though De Allende and Groom were probably the biggest culprits, De Allende with too much selfish play and aimless runs which went nowhere while Groom knocked it on with no pressure too many times. The Reds did well to come back into the game at half time, but I feel that they only really had two or three players that really stood out (Kerevi, Hunt and one of the wings). Ironically it was Schalk Burger who seemed to calm the team (who hasn't been performing well before this match). If we were playing against a better team today I think we would have been in a lot more trouble. That last try probably flattered us on the scoreboard.

Really hoping Du Plessis isn't properly injured. We can't move onto our fourth flyhalf of the season, although Thomson did do a good job when he came on. His kicking game seems quite solid but didn't really see much of his attacking play. What I must say is that I am impressed with the depth that we do seem to have in that position at the Stormers. They may be young, but they step up when they are forced to play.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Certainly the last try flattered us and it shouldn't even have been a try IMO as I'm pretty sure the last pass was forward. In any event I felt we were the better team and to a degree played to the Reds' strengths rather than our own but we certainly are a work in progress still despite getting some results. The good thing for me though is the intent even if the execution is lacking ATM. We've seen our approach hasn't gotten us anywhere in the past. No point in carrying on like we did under AC. Also hoping Du Plessis is well if only for consistency's sake.

 

[Hulk Hogan]

Well my predicition didn't work out