The Vodacom Stormers players are in good physical shape and anxious to play their first game of the season.
That was the message from assistant coach Allister Coetzee this week. The Stormers play their first friendly of the season on Sunday 25 January at Newlands, when they tackle English Premier League side Saracens.
Coetzee, who experienced his first season with the Stormers last year when they narrowly missed out on a semifinal berth, said the coaching staff is very happy with the fitness and conditioning levels. “The guys are fit and they have started to make contact in training. They cannot wait to play a fully-fledged game.
“They have worked hard thus far and they must get credit for their commitment. The Springboks like Schalk Burger and Jean de Villiers slotted in nicely and everybody is keen to contribute and make a success of our campaign.”
Coetzee said the Western Province players and management team were very disappointed after failing to reach the semi-finals of the Currie Cup competition last year. There was a benefit though, as they could start preparing for the Super 14 much earlier.
“It was not ideal that our Currie Cup campaign came to a premature end because we wanted to be in the semis and the final. The positive thing about that situation was that we could go into a really good conditioning phase. We had a good five weeks of conditioning and a nice break and now we are back at work and things are going well.”
The coach said the Stormers had a good contact session against Maties last week and they will have another contact session against Ikeys.
Looking at playing personnel Coetzee said they were reasonably happy with the squad at their disposal. That is why they did not go on a huge shopping spree during the off-season. “There wasn’t much wrong last year – we missed the semis by one point so it wasn’t a case of wholesale changes in terms of personnel.
“We just want to build on last year’s performances. Duane Vermeulen is a fantastic player to have in your squad and Hilton Lobberts could mean a lot to this group. Paul Bosch was the outstanding player in last year’s Varsity Cup competition and we see a lot of potential in him.”
Coetzee admitted that lock is a position that could give them headaches but expressed confidence in the ability of veteran AJ Venter and newcomer Lobberts to step up to the mark if needed. Adriaan Fondse and Andries Bekker are the other locks in the squad.
“Maybe we are a bit thin as far as the lock position is concerned, but you will never have the great depth you want in every position. Fondse has proven himself last year and we will consider Hilton as four lock, while AJ would be the backup at five. He is experienced and will add value at lock.”
The former Eastern Province scrumhalf was not too perturbed about the injury to flyhalf Willem de Waal.
“He is unlucky, but Peter Grant is looking good on the training field and Joe Pietersen is showing the experience he gained at 10 last year and he is training with a lot of confidence. Willem will be ready before the start of the competition.”
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I’ll be saying my prayers for them.
Eish Joe at 10 is a mare i don’t wish to contemplate.
@Worcestershire Sauce (Comment 2) : Methoughts exacilty
We gonna beat the Sharks. They won’t know what hit them!!!
😎
@wpw (Comment 4) : Keep dreaming…
Both the Stormers and Sharks should make the semi’s if the LIONS and Cheeaths win more 2/3 more games vs Aus and NZ teams…ala 2007 when the Bulls and Sharks made it when the LIONS won 5 and Cheetahs 2/3…
@wpw (Comment 4) : Wee vroeg Vrydag middag getik ne
@Charlie (Comment 7) : 🙂
@blckshrk – PROTEAS (Comment 5) : @Charlie (Comment 7) : @robdylan (Comment 8) :
Wees maar lekker windgat. Lets just wait and see….
Who are the LIONS playing warm-up games against???
@Hmmm (Comment 10) : The Bulls. ‘A double header’.
@wpw (Comment 9) : SHARKS FOREVER!!!
Have a lekker weekend…see u Monday!!!
Do the LIONS players even know who they playing warm-up games against…
Stormers, all talk, no results.
@wpw (Comment 4) :
Well they are playing at Newlands – anything but a win should be concerning.
@McLovin (Comment 11) :
What does that mean?
@Hmmm (Comment 10) : They playing against quite a few SA provincial teams before the three tests against the Boks.
Oh you meant the Lions from Coca Cola Park! 🙄
I thought you meant the British Lions…
The LIONS have 4 local derbies in a row…that is rough…the games against the SA sides are always the toughest and hadest….
@Hmmm (Comment 16) : Seems they are playing two matches back to back. Not sure how it will work. Probably to give the whole squad a run out.
@Hmmm (Comment 16) : LIONS:
Saturday, January 24: v Bulls (double header) – Johannesburg, 18.00 & 20.00
@wpw (Comment 17) :
Nope the real LIONS…not the European excuse… LoL
@Loosehead (Comment 14) : 🙂
@McLovin (Comment 20) :
I was wondering about that myself…I know a double header means back-to-back but was wondering how the same two side can play a double header…
But I guess it is as you said…to try out combinations I guess…
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=6&click_id=18&art_id=vn20090116064704574C759902
Does this article seem strange to anyone or am i being over sensitive?
The Local Lions will play as two teamsin two back to back matches. A red team and a White team against the Bulls.
Kick-off is at 18:00 SA time on the 24th
@billy (Comment 24) : Seems fine to me. But I’m not known for my sensitivity. 🙂
@KSA Shark © (Comment 25) : The Bulls only taking one team? Probably their b team.
@Hmmm (Comment 23) :
From the GLRU.
Auto & General Super 14 Lions Warm-Up Matches
Monday, 12 January 2009
After several long months of no rugby, and not seeing the Lions in action, it is again time…
The Vodacom Super 14 is just a few weeks away, but for those who cannot wait that long to see the Auto & General Super 14 Lions in action, two warm up matches will be taking place on Saturday, 24 January 2009.
The Auto & General Super 14 Lions currently have a training squad of 40 players, and each of them will be given the chance to prove their worth in the warm up matches. The players will be divided into two teams – a red team and a white team, and they will be facing two Bulls teams.
The first match between the red Lions team and the Bulls will kick off at 6:00pm and the second match which will see the white Lions team against the Bulls will start at 8:00pm.
The matches will be taking place on Saturday, 24 January 2009 at the Wits University Rugby Fields. Entrance is just R20 per person and children under 12 will be free of charge. Refreshments will be available.
Lions Pride Members are urged to keep an eye on the website for information on a meet and greet function with the players on the day.
For more information call 011 402 2960 or keep an eye on the site for any updates
@billy (Comment 24) : Im not the sensitive type either but lets just let iol keep their article.
@McLovin (Comment 27) :
OUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!
But clever. 😛
@KSA Shark © (Comment 28) : I see. Bulls will also have two teams. Blou span & blou span. 😉 Heaven knows they are blou bef*k that lot.
@billy (Comment 24) :
Any part in particular making you feel uneasy?
@KSA Shark © (Comment 30) : I’m hoping my jibes will spur them on to some wins against the foreigners. 😉
@McLovin (Comment 31) :
Lig Blou en donker blou. 😀
@KSA Shark © (Comment 28) :
Kool thanks….
@McLovin (Comment 31) :
LoL
5pm Friday and everyone runs for the door? 😉
Gees…it seems on KEO these days the racists are black hating white…
How things have changed but yet is still the same (only different colours)….LoL
@McLovin (Comment 31) :
“HEAVEN knows” – And I suppose one of the colours will be SKY blue. 😛
@Hmmm (Comment 38) :
@KSA Shark © (Comment 34) :
LoL
The LIONS just need to tackle blou…
Does anyone have the names of teh squad of 40 for the LIONS…when I click on the S14 team on the LIONS site I get nothing???????????????????
@Hmmm (Comment 42) :
Have you tried Walter’s site?
@KSA Shark © (Comment 39) : 🙄 😀
@KSA Shark © (Comment 37) : If only I could. 👿
@McLovin (Comment 44) :
it’s the end of the week, I am scraping the bottom of the barrel for material. 😉
@McLovin (Comment 45) :
It’s only 15:21 for you know right? 😳
@McLovin (Comment 45) :
Run or find the door? LoL
@Hmmm (Comment 48) :
@KSA Shark © (Comment 43) :
Nope…
Will try it quick
@KSA Shark © (Comment 46) : Still better than aome of the blou themes they come up with.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 47) : Yip. 😥
@Hmmm (Comment 48) :
@Hmmm (Comment 42) :
I hope this is not what we come to expect from the LIONS this year…on and off the field….when are they gonna get things right!??!
While some of you are starting your weekend I am just finishing mine.
Back to work at 7:30 tomorrow morning.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 53) : Bummer. Apparently KSA & Oman are the only gulf states to still have the Thursday-Friday weekend instead of Friday Saturday. 😕
@KSA Shark © (Comment 43) :
His squad still has JacoP/JacovS/Reyno Benjamin etc….so nope…seems we do not know who is the 40 players playing next week…
Maybe they only throwing all the names in a hat and doing the draw next week….
@McLovin (Comment 54) :
Yip that is correct.
I can’t wait for these guys to catch up with the others.
That’d mean the S14 matches are played over BOTH my weekend days. 😎 😎
Ok….I gotta rush off….
Geez and there isn’t even any Guinness Premiership this weekend either. 😥
@KSA Shark © (Comment 56) : Just read something interesting. Do you guys use the Islamic (Hijrah) calendar?
hijri even…
@KSA Shark © (Comment 58) : But plenty of Heineken cup. 😎
@Hmmm (Comment 57) : Adios.
@Hmmm (Comment 57) :
cheers
@McLovin (Comment 61) :
Ah i forgot about that.
I am so focused on thet Sharks v Stormers match