[2017 Super Rugby] Round 6: Stormers vs. Cheetahs (01/04/2017)

[TRF_heineken]

Venue: DHL Newlands
Time: 15:05 CAT (SA, GMT+2)​

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

The Cheetahs are a banana peel for us and I expect this year more so than previous years especially with our best having been rested for two weeks and our rest coming back from Singapore.

But this is a non-negotiable win with our roster heading forward reading like an EA Poe short story;

· Sat 8 April – DHL Stormers v Chiefs – DHL Newlands
· Sat 15 April – DHL Stormers v Emirates Lions – DHL Newlands
· Sat 22 April – Crusaders v DHL Stormers – Christchurch
· Friday 28 April – Highlanders v DHL Stormers – NZ venue TBC
· Fri 5 May – Hurricanes v DHL Stormers – NZ venue TBC

Chiefs and Lions at home is about as good as it gets for us. Pity we don't get 3 NZ at home but a 3 week NZ tour. Suppose we can't complain with the draw we had last year. Here's hoping for 2/5 but first off the Cheetahs. Hope the team isn't looking past the Cheetahs like I am!!

 

[TRF_heineken]

The Cheetahs are a banana peel for us and I expect this year more so than previous years especially with our best having been rested for two weeks and our rest coming back from Singapore.

But this is a non-negotiable win with our roster heading forward reading like an EA Poe short story;

· Sat 8 April – DHL Stormers v Chiefs – DHL Newlands
· Sat 15 April – DHL Stormers v Emirates Lions – DHL Newlands
· Sat 22 April – Crusaders v DHL Stormers – Christchurch
· Friday 28 April – Highlanders v DHL Stormers – NZ venue TBC
· Fri 5 May – Hurricanes v DHL Stormers – NZ venue TBC

Chiefs and Lions at home is about as good as it gets for us. Pity we don't get 3 NZ at home but a 3 week NZ tour. Suppose we can't complain with the draw we had last year. Here's hoping for 2/5 but first off the Cheetahs. Hope the team isn't looking past the Cheetahs like I am!!

Damn, that's a tough few fixtures coming up for you guys. And yeah, this game could be the catalyst for your entire season, if you lose and then a trend could develop. Both teams have also been severely hit with injuries too.

 

[Makos]

· Sat 8 April – DHL Stormers v Chiefs – DHL Newlands
· Sat 15 April – DHL Stormers v Emirates Lions – DHL Newlands
· Sat 22 April – Crusaders v DHL Stormers – Christchurch
· Friday 28 April – Highlanders v DHL Stormers – NZ venue TBC
· Fri 5 May – Hurricanes v DHL Stormers – NZ venue TBC

Wow. That is quite possibly the toughest fixture run I've seen in Super Rugby.

That's one of the problems with not playing the NZ teams one year I guess, you pay for it the next.

Which 2 are you hoping to win?

 

[saulan]

Wow. That is quite possibly the toughest fixture run I've seen in Super Rugby.

That's one of the problems with not playing the NZ teams one year I guess, you pay for it the next.

Which 2 are you hoping to win?

I would say our three targets out of that would be Chiefs at home, Lions at home and Highlanders away. Lions and Chiefs because we are playing at home, hoping for the hometown crowd to have an influence. We always slip up against the Crusaders so I don't have much hope in that and the Canes are a team performing really well at the moment. The Highlanders are not performing at their best and we have been competitive with them more than most in the past.

I would say best options are Lions, Highlanders.

 

[SomeOke]

5/5 EZ

In all seriousness though I'd just like us to continue to play good rugby, we just need to have the courage to stick to our guns. I don't want to see us lose a few games and then revert to our old style (which has happened before).

Also RdP at 12!

 

[Cruz_del_Sur]

Reminds me of our 2016 fixture. Stormers and chiefs at home followed by touring NZ. We lost all 5. Realistically i recon you can win 1-2 of those five. Good luck!

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Damn, that's a tough few fixtures coming up for you guys. And yeah, this game could be the catalyst for your entire season, if you lose and then a trend could develop. Both teams have also been severely hit with injuries too.

I'm concerned about the team getting to gel before that horror run of games, there is as you mentioned the mental aspect of it and keeping the momentum going and then at the end of the day those log points AND the Cheetahs are direct competitors for the Africa conference 1 spot. If we can dent them here we are that much closer to securing the spot. This is very important as I'm backing the Bulls to start winning games but that might just be my naivety.

Wow. That is quite possibly the toughest fixture run I've seen in Super Rugby.

That's one of the problems with not playing the NZ teams one year I guess, you pay for it the next.

Which 2 are you hoping to win?

TBH I'd prefer us playing NZ sides ahead of Aussie ones. And its the toughest run of 5 matches I can remember as well. I know the Highlanders aren't high up on the log right now but I still have them as a top 5 team and I do rate all 5 teams ahead of us. I expect 1/5. Am hoping for 2/5 or with a bit of luck but I can't see us get so lucky. I see our chances as best against the Lions, Highlanders and oddly the Crusaders. We've traditionally struggled against the Chiefs and Crusaders but I see us at full strength being able to at least get parity with the Crusaders pack which I feel goes a long way. The Chiefs and 'Canes I can't see us beating. I'm hoping we catch the Highlanders on a bad day... yeah, I feel we have a shot at 3 of those on a good day but am hoping for 2, expecting 1 but wouldn't be surprised to see us go from 5/5 to 5/10.

5/5 EZ

In all seriousness though I'd just like us to continue to play good rugby, we just need to have the courage to stick to our guns. I don't want to see us lose a few games and then revert to our old style (which has happened before).

Also RdP at 12!

Amen, brotther!

RdP at 12 for me too. I've said it before. At least while De Allende is out or out of form. We're only behind the Hurricanes and Lions in terms of tries per game even though it has to be said our opposition has been of a poorer standard than other teams have faced. We can't complain. We've had a good run to build up a head of steam and despite injuries should be able to put forward a good (and rested) team going into this run of matches.

Still feel we need a proper fetcher (shouldn't have let Chris Cloete go) and we should work on on shape in defense. Especially out wide. Drop Basson! Kitshoff is coming back next year, hopefully we can lure a world class open side as well like Louw or even Marcel Coetzee who still has many miles to go and needs two more caps for the Bokke before he can play overseas and still be selected (currently on 28 caps) so has to come back if he wants to earn those two caps and play test rugby.

- - - Updated - - -

So our contracted Bokke can't play more than 5 games in a row..

Does this mean we rest them for another week against the Cheetahs and play them for the tough 5 in a row until the next bye or do we rotate? Its only Etzebeth and PSdT right? With the others injured I mean.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Senatla and Elstadt out but Marais, Vermaak, Carr and Kolbe available again.

I would rest the pair of Etzebeth and PsDT (also Malherbe doesn't look 100% to me) again in order to have them available for all 5 our tough matches coming up so would like to see;

1 Kebble
2 Mbonambi
3 Louw
4 Kleyn
5 Shickerling
6 Notshe
7 Kolisi
8 Carr
9 J Vermaak
10 Is JL du Plessis available?
11 Lleyds
12 R du Preez
13 EW Viljoen
14 Kolbe
15 SP Marais

 

[SomeOke]

Senatla and Elstadt out but Marais, Vermaak, Carr and Kolbe available again.

I would rest the pair of Etzebeth and PsDT (also Malherbe doesn't look 100% to me) again in order to have them available for all 5 our tough matches coming up so would like to see;

1 Kebble
2 Mbonambi
3 Louw
4 Kleyn
5 Shickerling
6 Notshe
7 Kolisi
8 Carr
9 J Vermaak
10 Is JL du Plessis available?
11 Lleyds
12 R du Preez
13 EW Viljoen
14 Kolbe
15 SP Marais

Rest Eben and PstD again? I'm not so sure about that, our set piece was noticeably worse without them. I'd rather just bank the points vs the Cheetahs than try to kill ourselves getting the same points in NZ.
I'm no coach but I'd rather rest all our players in two scenarios 1) We're almost certain to win even with a second strong side 2) We're almost certain to lose it even with a full string squad. By that logic I would look at the Hurricanes in Wellington as our next big "rest" game.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Rest Eben and PstD again? I'm not so sure about that, our set piece was noticeably worse without them. I'd rather just bank the points vs the Cheetahs than try to kill ourselves getting the same points in NZ.
I'm no coach but I'd rather rest all our players in two scenarios 1) We're almost certain to win even with a second strong side 2) We're almost certain to lose it even with a full string squad. By that logic I would look at the Hurricanes in Wellington as our next big "rest" game.

I tend to agree that the Hurricanes game is probably beyond us. Think they have to much penetration for us to contain. That said I really do feel we have enough to take on the Cheetahs at home without them. The Cheetahs don't have the best lie-out either and our lack of dominance against the Sunwolves scrum isn't anything to worry about IMO; we had the upper hand still even if we couldn't force the issue (I actually think we should have been awarded a scrum penalty early on which we didn't get) and the Sunwolves do have a 100% success rate at scrum.

I know its a stretch but I am of the opinion we should be targeting ALL the NZ sides and not stand back. Big ask but what type of mentality is it to go into a match with the idea of losing? That type of thing eats at the collective psyche of a team IMO. Pull no punches and go for the Hurricanes I say. Who knows, with a bit of luck and catching them on a bad day we might even sneak a win.

 

[TRF_heineken]

I tend to agree that the Hurricanes game is probably beyond us. Think they have to much penetration for us to contain. That said I really do feel we have enough to take on the Cheetahs at home without them. The Cheetahs don't have the best lie-out either and our lack of dominance against the Sunwolves scrum isn't anything to worry about IMO; we had the upper hand still even if we couldn't force the issue (I actually think we should have been awarded a scrum penalty early on which we didn't get) and the Sunwolves do have a 100% success rate at scrum.

I know its a stretch but I am of the opinion we should be targeting ALL the NZ sides and not stand back. Big ask but what type of mentality is it to go into a match with the idea of losing? That type of thing eats at the collective psyche of a team IMO. Pull no punches and go for the Hurricanes I say. Who knows, with a bit of luck and catching them on a bad day we might even sneak a win.

It's a delicate balancing act Fleckie has. I would be hesitant to rest both your Bok-locks for the Cheetahs game. Maybe rest one of them and the other one the next match, and then have them both back for the crunch games.

But it doesn't help you look at your opposition with an already defeatist outlook. I would specifically target the Hurricanes match, as you face them directly after their bye.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

I guess we'll have to see and no matter what he does there isn't a wrong or a right apart from what the results are at the end and then we can either call him a genius or an idiot. That's the life of a coach.

I'n just glad we are playing NZ sides again. Glad the format is changing again to avoid only playing Aussie sides again next year. And we are in a good position looking ahead. We have young and balanced pack and Fleck seems to be learning on the job and now also a good and young set of backs. If we can keep the team together we have a lot to look forward to (I hope).

 

[TRF_heineken]

I guess we'll have to see and no matter what he does there isn't a wrong or a right apart from what the results are at the end and then we can either call him a genius or an idiot. That's the life of a coach.

I'n just glad we are playing NZ sides again. Glad the format is changing again to avoid only playing Aussie sides again next year. And we are in a good position looking ahead. We have young and balanced pack and Fleck seems to be learning on the job and now also a good and young set of backs. If we can keep the team together we have a lot to look forward to (I hope).

The only bad thing about the format changing again is that the SA teams will have longer tours to AUS and NZ like in the past.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

The only bad thing about the format changing again is that the SA teams will have longer tours to AUS and NZ like in the past.

The current format is way worse for SA sides than in the past though. In the past we had 4 game tours to Aus/NZ. Just this year the Stormers for instance have already had to go to Singapore and back, to Argentina and back and will still have to have a 3 week tour of NZ. Way worse travel wise IMO. That said I don't know how they are going to structure it nw and it doesn't sound like losing Argentina or Japan is an option so we are in all likelyhood going to see even worse travel schedules.

Personally I am with Brendan Venter but I can't see the Pro12 sides being interested in SA joinin.

 

[TRF_heineken]

The current format is way worse for SA sides than in the past though. In the past we had 4 game tours to Aus/NZ. Just this year the Stormers for instance have already had to go to Singapore and back, to Argentina and back and will still have to have a 3 week tour of NZ. Way worse travel wise IMO. That said I don't know how they are going to structure it nw and it doesn't sound like losing Argentina or Japan is an option so we are in all likelyhood going to see even worse travel schedules.

Personally I am with Brendan Venter but I can't see the Pro12 sides being interested in SA joinin.

Yeah, you guys have it tough. Whereas the Bulls have it a bit easier. They are now in NZ for 2 weeks, then in Singapore on their way back. Plus no travelling to Argentina, so they basically only have 3 weeks on tour.

But your schedule is the worst case scenario of all of them, and yet it's still just 5 weeks, which was usually the norm on the old structure...

Anyway, back to this match.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

sSo we've put forward probably as strong a line up as we can manage currently. I'm not complaining. A bird in the hand and all that. Lets hope for a BP (probably a bit optimistic) as we need all the points we ca get.

15 SP Marais, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 EW Viljoen, 12 Dan du Plessis, 11 Dillyn Leyds, 10 Robert du Preez, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Siya Kolisi (captain), 6 Cobus Wiese, 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4 Eben Etzebeth (vice captain), 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Replacements: 16 Ramone Samuels, 17 Cayulib Oosthuizen, 18 Oli Kebble, 19 Chris van Zyl, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Dewaldt Duvenage, 22 Kurt Coleman, 23 Dan Kriel.


Read more: http://www.superxv.com/wiese-starts-stormers-cheetahs/#ixzz4cown9wPW

 

[Cruz_del_Sur]

Anyone can confirm this is on skysports 4? Checked their schedule and it looks like it but when i go to that channel i see some guys wearing weird pants hitting a ball with a metal stick. Bizarre i tell you.

 

[unrated]

SP Marais has been an absolute skillful beast today. Can't believe sharks just let him go have always rated him .
dissapointed that the cheetahs has disappeared in this game but credit has to be given to the Stormers with a very good game.

Smart move from these supporters wearing stormtrooper attire supporting the stormers

 

[saulan]

Very happy with that performance from the Stormers. We played like a New Zealand team, which gives me a lot more confidence going into our tough lineup of fixtures. Offloads from everywhere and players looking for support at all times was good to see. I know the opposition didn't really pitch up, but still some great individual performances, especially from SP Marais and Notshe. Notshe's tries didn't take much from him, but he was always there in support for the opportunity. Marais is playing like a completely different player than his spells at the bulls and the sharks, definitely cannot underestimate the impact frenetic has had on the skill set of our players. Looking forward to the challenge of a New Zealand team next week.