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Just some random thoughts from a supporter:
- Ending the season 11th, previous year 7th and before that 2nd and 1st a few times indicates a definate slide for the Cape team but
+ Ending the season 11th after propping up the log for half the season after a late run of good(ish) results should be seen as a positive and hopefully indicates that
+ the signing of experienced coach Gert Smal as director of rugby will be bearing further fruit
- even if Alister Coetzee seems set to stay but at least
+ he has a settled relationship with Smal due them both being assistant coaches under Jake White in SA's sucessful 2007 RWC campaign
- but will they bring the much needed game plan changes we need?
+ at least Smal has experience under Kidney at Leinster where they were playing a succesful brand of attack orientated rugby which should suit us
+ seeing as we have some good attacking players in JdV, Kolbe, De Allende and the speedy Senatla and even some of our forwards are handy in attack
in the forms of Etzebethm Carr, Ntubeni, Kolisi and Burger.
- but what is worrying is that we have seemed to struggle to effectively get away from route 1 rugby when the pressure is on
- mostly due to a lack of direction, talent and/or experience at the critial 9/10 or just plain lack of experience due to
- our squad being so young and
- not helped at all by the longest injury list possibly in pro sport?
+ but hopefully with a change in mind-set and play we'll see less attrition on our players
+ of whom (looking forward this time) the majority are very young and will (hopefully) only improve; all of Kitshoff, Ntubeni, Malherbe, Etzebeth, Botha, Carr, Kolisi, Senatla, De Allende, Kolbe and Taute born on or after 1991.
? so hopefully some good rugby to look out for if we manage to retain our young stars and possibly bring in some of SA's lost players 24+ years of age to add the necessary depth? Even some ex-Stormers (Brits, Bekker, Louw, Fourie etc..) to help JdV, Burger and Vermeulen carry the team in pressure games. Just 2, please? Off-season signings/losses will be telling.
? And please! A 9/10 combination worth something!!!!!!
- Ending the season 11th, previous year 7th and before that 2nd and 1st a few times indicates a definate slide for the Cape team but
+ Ending the season 11th after propping up the log for half the season after a late run of good(ish) results should be seen as a positive and hopefully indicates that
+ the signing of experienced coach Gert Smal as director of rugby will be bearing further fruit
- even if Alister Coetzee seems set to stay but at least
+ he has a settled relationship with Smal due them both being assistant coaches under Jake White in SA's sucessful 2007 RWC campaign
- but will they bring the much needed game plan changes we need?
+ at least Smal has experience under Kidney at Leinster where they were playing a succesful brand of attack orientated rugby which should suit us
+ seeing as we have some good attacking players in JdV, Kolbe, De Allende and the speedy Senatla and even some of our forwards are handy in attack
in the forms of Etzebethm Carr, Ntubeni, Kolisi and Burger.
- but what is worrying is that we have seemed to struggle to effectively get away from route 1 rugby when the pressure is on
- mostly due to a lack of direction, talent and/or experience at the critial 9/10 or just plain lack of experience due to
- our squad being so young and
- not helped at all by the longest injury list possibly in pro sport?
+ but hopefully with a change in mind-set and play we'll see less attrition on our players
+ of whom (looking forward this time) the majority are very young and will (hopefully) only improve; all of Kitshoff, Ntubeni, Malherbe, Etzebeth, Botha, Carr, Kolisi, Senatla, De Allende, Kolbe and Taute born on or after 1991.
? so hopefully some good rugby to look out for if we manage to retain our young stars and possibly bring in some of SA's lost players 24+ years of age to add the necessary depth? Even some ex-Stormers (Brits, Bekker, Louw, Fourie etc..) to help JdV, Burger and Vermeulen carry the team in pressure games. Just 2, please? Off-season signings/losses will be telling.
? And please! A 9/10 combination worth something!!!!!!
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