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Despite the imminent arrival of Springbok stalwart Bryan Habana, along with the much improved form of a Gio Aplon and the all-round ability of burly Frikkie Welsh, Fijian flyer Sireli Naqelevuki remains in the picture as a Stormers wing.
Jan de Koning reports for rugby365.com:
In fact Stormers head coach Rassie Erasmus admitted he has a “soft spot” for the Fijian, who cost Western Province dearly when a head-high tackle – the result of a lazy, stiff arm – handed Springbok star Morné Steyn and opportunity to win the Currie Cup semifinal for the Blue Bulls last Saturday.
Steyn duly obliged and slotted a penalty from near 50 metres, at an angle, to see the Bulls advance to face the Cheetahs in the Currie Cup Final, while WP will be watching from the sidelines.
It wasn’t Naqelevuki’s only blunder this year, while his poor work rate and generally disappointing form has seen him become ‘persona non grata’ in Cape Town.
However, Erasmus feels the Fijian could be part of a very exciting backline in the Super 14 next year.
The Stormers, barring any catastrophic injuries, will be able to field a very impressive backline – with Springbok Conrad Jantjes and Joe Pietersen as fullbacks; Habana, Aplon, Nick Koster and Naqelevuki the wing choices; Welsh and Dylan des Fountain as utility backs at centre and wing; Springbok Jaque Fourie, Juan de Jongh, Morgan Newman and Paul Bosch at centre; Willem de Waal, Peter Grant and Lionel Cronjé at flyhalf; with Dewaldt Duvenhage, Enrico Januarie, Bolla Conradie and Conrad Hoffmann as scrumhalf choices.
In such a cluster of players, it would have been expected that an out-of-form wing would drop down the pecking order.
However, he remains in Erasmus’s plans.
“Yes,” Erasmus said, when asked if Naqelevuki was still in the picture for next year’s Super 14.
“I have a real soft spot for Sireli and this last year was just a terrible run for him,” the Stormers mentor said, adding: “Some unfortunate things had happened to him.
“A high tackle is unforgivable, which he did [last] Saturday [to hand the semifinal win to the Bulls]. But nobody knows it better than him.
“We also can’t ignore the six previous infringements that were also three points each time.
“I just think the whole Cape Town set-up, and the intenseness of the people and the fans – it is incredible to work here. It is wonderful how people get involved in the game.
“However, sometimes it can also be a bit tough to perform under that [those circumstances].
“Sireli’s contract is till next year May, and of course he will be involved, but he will have to prove that he is worthy of getting into the starting XV or the matchday 22, like any other player making mistakes on the field. He will have to rectify that.”
Erasmus was also very excited about the role Habana can play.
The Bok wing will join up with the Cape franchise once his obligations with the national team is over.
First he will attempt to win the Currie Cup with the Blue Bulls, when they play the Free State Cheetahs at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on October 31.
Then it is off on the year-end tour with the Boks, before a much-needed break.
However, from January he should be on Stormers duty.
Erasmus said Habana could flourish in the Cape Town set-up, where a player is either a hero or a zero.
“I know him [Habana] very well – I coached him when I was at the Boks – and the guy is an absolute professional,” Erasmus said.
“He doesn’t let anything go to his head, he always works hard. In this province he is the cherry on top and if we get Jaque Fourie – how they can help [players like] Juan de Jongh, Joe Pietersen and Gio Aplon.
“It is starting to become an exciting backline if we select it right – a guy like Juan de Jongh won’t be on the field with just a bunch of youngsters around him.
“It will be a Habana, maybe a Jaque Fourie, a Conrad Jantjes – it is starting to look okay at the backs.”
I’m looking forward to seeing this Lionel Cronje chap!!
How did the news of his move to WP go unnoticed on this site??
@wpw (Comment 1) : This is Sharksworld not Planet WP…
@Charlie (Comment 2) : Thank you for reminding him Charlie! These CT guys can be so forgetfull
GGGGRRRRRRRRRRRR
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 3) :
Only when its suits them though, they arent letting Sir Eli forget his indiscretion, but have happily erased the previous six offences from their memory (as Rassie rightly points out)
Maybe they are just xenophobic.
@wpw (Comment 4) :
NO, NO, Wessie…read again…Not LIONSWORLD either…
@Salmonoid (Comment 5) :
Maybe you are just taking over TT’s mantle as Sharksworld’s ‘Chief Stirrer’
@GI Ice (Bulletproof) (Comment 6) :
hehehehe
Jy’s nogal skerp vanoggend!!
@wpw (Comment 8) :
As opposed to???on other days??
@wpw (Comment 7) :
No one can come close to TT’s straighttalk.
good morning all, great day isnt it?
@willa (Comment 11) : In CT yes,yes it is.
@willa (Comment 11) :
…maybe 4 yu…what time do you T off?
It IS a great day, yes!
“intenseness” isn’t a word.
@GI Ice (Bulletproof) (Comment 9) :
Ok, I have to admit, jys altyd skerp!!!
@robdylan (Comment 14) : ya, noticed that one as well, at least rassie has “humbleness” as well
@robdylan (Comment 14) :
Intencity? (It’s Rassie, ne?? Bloemfontein….? afrikaans…???)
@wpw (Comment 15) :
Wat wil jy he?
@provincejoulekkading (Comment 12) :
Dude, its vrek cold in CT!!
@GI Ice (Bulletproof) (Comment 13) : i tee off at one, just found out im getting a new car next month, and when i got to work this morning a box of wine was waiting for me,ahhh its gonna be a good day
@willa (Comment 19) :
Some guys have all the luck…
@robdylan (Comment 14) : @war1 (Comment 16) :
I will be sure to let Frikkie Erasmus know!!
*cough* LAWYERS LETTER!! *cough* *cough*
@GI Ice (Bulletproof) (Comment 20) : would not say all the luck, just a streak
@willa (Comment 19) :
How can u “find out” ur getting a car? Unless its a present
?
I’d love to find out that I am winning the lotto tomorrow..
@willa (Comment 19) : after a short (very!) consideration I think I want yuour job.
it’s gonna to be a long friday here and nothing to look forward to tomorrow.
@wpw (Comment 21) :
the only “soft spot” Rassie has when it comes to this useless sack of sh*t is the one between his ears.
@robdylan (Comment 26) :
@wpw (Comment 1) : Wes He is a top rate Flyhalf Told Rob ages ago about him went to the best school in the Country, same as Dickie and I, Queens College and played some awesome rugger last year for the free sate and SA under 21 he is a good one
How Naka la Wookie can still be in the plans after this year is beyond me….his career at WP has been a litany of errors, and aside from one or two games he has been poor in general. He cost a semi last year when he dropped the ball over the tryline against Boland and potentially costs us a Final this year by gifting the f*ckwads….i mean Bulls a passage to the final’s.
Send the man home.
Last night on B&A, Timmy Goodwin fro GLRU made a comment about poachers who take all the good players like Jean Deysel…now, to my knowledge (and I could be wrong) – was it not a case of us spotting talent , which they did not, as they hardly ever played him?? Now THAT is sour grapes – cannot help if you cannot see the big picture!
@Whindy (Comment 28) :
I saw a few highlights of him when he played for SA U21′s but thats about it.
He scored a decent try and made a few as well…
@GI Ice (Bulletproof) (Comment 30) : Ignore anything the Lions say, honestly if you cannot even contract your staff probably you deserve to be replaced by the Southern Kings as far as i am concerned.
@Worcestershire Sauce (Comment 29) :
I agree Sauce – yes – averyone can be “off” – but like you say – costing you major games, he should have been on the plane – coz how can Rassie be sure he will get his “form” back anyway..maybe his contract states that he HAS to play unless injured??
@Worcestershire Sauce (Comment 29) : let him stay, i dont mind, he can lose some more crucial games for wp next yr,
@GI Ice (Bulletproof) (Comment 30) :
I agree Ice.
The Lions are still stuck in the 80′s before the game went pro!!
If a player is offered a better package and more opportunities to play then surely he has a right to leave.
@war1 (Comment 34) : Gee thanks
I often see Sireli at Tyger Valley centre
@wpw (Comment 35) : @Worcestershire Sauce (Comment 32) : Gents I look forward to making you eat your words when the lions stuff you in the super 14 next year. Dick will produce wait and see!!
@Worcestershire Sauce (Comment 29) : @GI Ice (Bulletproof) (Comment 33) :
I reckon its about here that Morne is gonna enter and tell us that they played bad and its not Naka La Wookies fault..
@war1 (Comment 34) :
@Whindy (Comment 38) :
Ah, ok then. So your goal is to once again beat the Stormers and you would have had a successful season.
Judging by the way the players celebrated after beating WP, it seems to be your annual goal!!
@wpw (Comment 40) : Hey Wes does not say much for weepee they seem to do it every year, one of the few pleasures of being a Lions Supporter, at least we saved you the embarresment of being kicked out of the currie cup by the cheetahs.
ha-ha
@Whindy (Comment 41) :
@GI Ice (Bulletproof) (Comment 30) : hahaha, if deysel was given opportunities at the lions, he would not have left the lions, that may have been an underhand comment bout LL and WA
@wpw (Comment 40) :
I agree, wes, they must really be shit if they measure their succes against WP!!
@GI Ice (Bulletproof) (Comment 44) : Hey, I used to like you!!
@GI Ice (Bulletproof) (Comment 44) :
HEY!!
Anyway, we beat you guys twice this season so there!!!
@Whindy (Comment 45) :
@wpw (Comment 46) :
Now you see – THAT (The Sharks) are a team you measure your success to…You had two very good games..
@GI Ice (Bulletproof) (Comment 47) :
hehehehe
Eis – I really like this song from David Guetta and Akon..Sexy Chick
At least Highveld plays it regularly…so ny next week you are so gatvol that you get a new favourite…thats the problem with todays music – it has no lasting effect…
Okay – sorry – back to rugby..
@GI Ice (Bulletproof) (Comment 49) : he he you are clearly listening to the “clean” version, the original version is not not called sexy -chick-
@GI Ice (Bulletproof) (Comment 49) : Okay so let me get this right, you live in Joburg, born in the free state and support the sharks, now that is confused if ever I saw it!!
@Whindy (Comment 51) : ice is multi-faceted
How the hell?? Soft spot for Sireli…blows my mind
Only thing he’ll ever be good in is playing somekind of look alike for David Hasselhoff…cant believe he’s actually got some kind of contract and best of all still until May ’10!! Me to got soft spot for him…soft spot in sandpit somewhere far far away from any kind of gamr involving a rugby ball!!
@war1 (Comment 50) :
Yip…They Clean one!
@Whindy (Comment 51) :
I was born in Western Tvl (North West) grew up in North West (diff town) contrary to popular belief my hometown is in NW – the Vaal (Pokkel and War – I am a mean pap-gooier!
) is the border to FS…Studied in PTA, Lived on the East Rand, Then Natal and now JHB..
Started supporting Natal because of James Small and has not looked back!
Obviously Rassie has a soft spot for Sir Eli, I would too if I had to personally take 10 days off every year and personally go and traipse from one Polynesian island paradise to the next trying to track down his contracted player and then personally escort him back to Cape Town.
@Whindy (Comment 51) :
Oh and ALL of my personalities support the sharks..
@war1 (Comment 52) :
And can multi task.
@Salmonoid (Comment 57) : if women are so good al multitasking, why can’t they have s*x and a headache at the same time?
That sounds like a question for our resident docter.
@robdylan (Comment 58) :
Pfffft! I layed that gem in your hands yesterday…
Sorry if any of you are having a problem…
@Salmonoid (Comment 59) :
Dok Ice?
Soft spot in his brain….
@McLovin (Comment 61) : More like a blackspot in his brain…or black-out spot
@GI Ice (Bulletproof) (Comment 60) :
Thats who I was thinking of, prof.
We are a bucnh of professionals on this site!!
Cheers everyone! Have a super weekend!
@McLovin (Comment 61) : where ya bin? Pig flu?
@robdylan (Comment 65) : Hope not. Been a week now.
But fairly normal for me. Get flu at least once a year.
@GI Ice (Bulletproof) (Comment 56) : Ice Very brave to admit you are a mealie boer by birthnever thought I would hear anybody publicly admit that, at least you did actualy live in Natal, so you are able to claim some shark heritage, the people I stugle with are those that lived in Pretoria there whole lives and support the Sharks, only joking Rob!!
Struggle
@Whindy (Comment 67) : you would probably struggle with me as well
@Whindy (Comment 67) : lived in Dundee for 7 years
nice try, though
@robdylan (Comment 70) : okay Well at least you do have a connection
Now about admitting to living in Dundee 
@rekinek (retreat -ing) (Comment 69) : Not sure I would even attempt it.ha-ha
@robdylan (Comment 70) : see what it had done to you
@rekinek (retreat -ing) (Comment 69) : please tell me you at least have some attachment apart from “KYDAARING” every Dec
@Whindy (Comment 74) : what is Kydaaring
i am guessing is it this annual exodus of joburgers to the sea 
i am usually not participating
@rekinek (retreat -ing) (Comment 75) : when the freestaters went to durban and their Kids used to say “kyk daar PA” hence them becoming “KYDAARS” There was a very good joke that went with this, but I cant remember the punchline, so I will not attempt it!!