The Stormers experienced their best Super 14 season last year since 1999 , narrowly missing out on a semi final berth, ending in fifth spot.
With Erasmus at the helm, the Cape franchise has made a resurgence last year by playing an attractive brand of rugby.
While they may have lacked cohesion in the past, after having lots of talent in their stocks, Erasmus has been able to mold the Cape outfit into an impressive unit in a very short time.
The Stormers have highlighted a bad start in 2008 as the main reason why they came up short at the tale-end of the competition. To rectify this Erasmus has put a lot more emphasis on the pre-season so that they can hit the ground running with an eye on those early home games in particular.
While they have relied on individual performances to get them through in the past the ability of the Stormers to produce brilliant team performances will place them among the front runners in this year’s competition.
Strengths: They have great attacking options in the midfield and very good depth among the loose forwards.
Weakness: With Ross Skeate’s departure the Stormers have not managed to find a suitable replacement and this could cause problems at line-out time. There’s hardly any experienced back-up locks with Andries Bekker being the only specialist in this department.
Noteworthy signings: Duane Vermeulen (Cheetahs), Hilton Lobberts (Bulls), Percy Montgomery (France).
Noteworthy losses: Robbie Diack (Ulster), Ross Skeate (Toulon), Tiaan Liebenberg (Toulon), Eddie Andrews (retirement)
Coach: Rassie Erasmus has been a breath of fresh air at the Stormers having built a winning culture during the latter stages of last year’s tournament. After making a great impact on the domestic scene he has finally announced his arrival on the international stage.
Captain: Jean de Villiers excelled in the his leadership role last year and turned in his most impressive season culminating in the SA Rugby Player of the Year award. After playing almost every game for the Stormers and Springboks in 2008, his activity will have to be carefully managed in this year’s tournament.
Player(s) to watch: The much publicised arrival of Duane Vermeulen should be very interesting as well as the role Luke Watson has to play after the troubles of 2008. As always Schalk Burger’s presence will be instrumental to the Stormers’ cause.
2008 Position: 5th
Best finish: 2nd in 1999
Worst finish: 11th in 1996 and 2006. (That was worse in 1996 when there were only 12 teams.)
Home Venue: Newlands, Cape Town (capacity 50 000)
2009 Prediction: On the basis of last year’s form the Stormers do have what it takes to go all the way in 2009.
Stormers squad – provisional: Gio Aplon, Andries Becker, Gcobani Bobo, Schalk Brits, Schalk Burger, Tonderai Chavhanga, Bolla Conradie, Jean de Villiers, Schalk Ferreira, Adriaan Fondse, Conrad Hoffman, Wylie Human, Juan Harris, Peter Grant, Conrad Jantjes, Ricky Januarie, Francois Louw, Pieter Louw, Justin Melck, JD Moller, Brian Mujati, Pieter Myburgh, Sireli Naqelevuki, Morgan Newman, Hanyani Shimangi, Francois van der Merwe, Janro van Niekerk, Luke Watson, Percy Montgomery
Schedule:
Saturday 14 February v Sharks, home
Friday 20 February v Reds, home
Saturday 28 February v Blues, home
Saturday 7 March v Bulls, away
Saturday 14 March v Lions, home
Saturday 28 March v Crusaders, away
Saturday 4 April v Waratahs, away
Saturday 11 April v Brumbies, away
Saturday 18 April v Hurricanes, away
Friday 24 April v Highlanders, away
Saturday 2 May v Chiefs, home
Saturday 9 May v Western Force, home
Saturday 16 May v Cheetahs, away
Courtesy of Rugby 365
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2009 Prediction: On the basis of last year’s form the Stormers do have what it takes to go all the way in 2009.
😯
My WORD!!!!!!!!! That IS a HHHUUUGGGEEE Call. 😯 😯 😯 😯
@KSA Shark © (Comment 1) : They also reckon the Canes will fall at the final hurdle – lose in the final. But then they also reckon the Sharks & Saders will make the final. And now they say the Stormers will go all the way?
So the Stormers will have to play 3 finals this year?
Gio Aplon in the nprovisional squad?Not true.
I think if we can win our first game we will have loads of confidence for the rest of the season.
Rassie has done a fine job and I am confident that we can do much better than last year. 😎
@PJLD (Comment 3) :
Is he with WP or the Bok Sevens???
@wpw (Comment 5) : Sevens
@McLovin (Comment 2) : good luck to them. 3 finals with no props. I wish them well.
ja and never mind the crap schedule they have
I’ll be keeping my expectations low and that way they can’t really disappoint. Works every year.
@robdylan (Comment 7) : And a light five 😯
@Charlie (Comment 10) : seriously – it’s a joke to even suggest they can make the semis with that draw and with no backup at tighthead or lock!
@robdylan (Comment 11) :
Brok Harris??? 🙄
Come on Rob. You know he is better than Jannie and Smit put together!!!
@wpw (Comment 12) : I hear he is a most competent baritone, true… John can hardly hold a tune at all and Jannie is far more suited to moving pianos than playing them.
@robdylan (Comment 13) : smartass!!! 👿
@wpw (Comment 14) : he he. That’s why you love me
@robdylan (Comment 7) : I made all my serious & reasoned comments about the Stormers a week or so ago. I am now fast moving over to the rabid, one-eyed fanatic supporter mode.
@McLovin (Comment 16) :
Please don’t log into the site next week then. 😛
@McLovin (Comment 16) : I feel i should join you
@KSA Shark © (Comment 17) : What’s happening next week?
@KSA Shark © (Comment 17) : I shall however maintain my decorum. As is my nature. 😉
@PJLD (Comment 18) : You can start by changing your log prediction… 😉
Luckily its the first game of the season – after that we can enjoy peace on the site again.
@McLovin (Comment 19) :
Nothing in particular, but if you have progressed from “serious and reasoned” a week or so ago, to “rabid, one-eyed fanatic” this week, then I am afraid next week might see you in “FJ!!!! ELN!!!!” mode. 😛
@McLovin (Comment 21) : Bout time somebody mentioned that
If the Stormers win the 2009 Super 14 I will post a full-frontal nude picture of myself on this website
@robdylan (Comment 25) : Mother of gawd!
@McLovin (Comment 21) :
PJLD:
Blues,
Waratahs,
Sharks,
Crusaders,
Force,
Bulls,
Hurricanes,
Stormers, 😯 😯
Brumbies,
Chiefs,
Highlanders,
Reds,
Lions,
Cheetahs.
He is already a raving lunatic, but it seems he is raving about my team instead of his.
@robdylan (Comment 25) :
Dude!!!!!!!!!!! 😯 😯
That will be the first official comment posted on Stormersworld. 😆
@PJLD (Comment 26) : that’s right… it’s there, in black and white. No going back on it.
Be careful what you wish for
Force,
Bulls,
Hurricanes,
Stormers, 😯 😯
Brumbies,
HAHA
@KSA Shark © (Comment 28) : that will probably be the logo for stormersworld!
@robdylan (Comment 29) :
You know how much I will be rooting for a Stormers win now?
@robdylan (Comment 31) :
Captain Stormtrooper has a ring about it. 😆
@MorneN (Comment 32) :
Remember, South Africa won the world cup, against all odds without a decent coach (apparently), captain (apparently), props (over the hill Os and overrated CJ – apparently), etc. etc.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 23) : Nah, you won’t be so lucky. 😉 Fortunately/Unfortunately I don’t take things seriously enough to reach “FJ!!!! ELN!!!!” mode. 😀
Oh my gawd!
And Morne has just come out of the closet…
#
@robdylan (Comment 29) :
You know how much I will be rooting for a Stormers win now?
Comment 32, posted at 27.01.09 14:19:55 by MorneN Reply Edit
@robdylan (Comment 25) : For how long?
@PJLD (Comment 24) : Skande. 😈
@McLovin (Comment 37) : how long do you want it to be? 🙂
@McLovin (Comment 37) :
Sheez you found the loophole quickly. 😉
@wpw (Comment 36) :
I will post that on a number of online puclications…
Where the F is this thread going to? 😯
@PJLD (Comment 42) :
Gutter.
Niiiiice
@robdylan (Comment 39) : I see this is heading south at a rapid pace…… 😈 😆
@robdylan (Comment 39) : 😯
In that vain.
A flight attendant was stationed at the departure gate to check tickets.
As a man approached, she extended her hand for the ticket and he opened his trench coat and flashed her.
Without blinking an eyelid she said,
‘Sir, I need to see your ticket not your stub.’
@McLovin (Comment 45) :
What did we expect from a Stormers thread.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 46) :
Same thing happened to PJLD at Newlands on Sunday.
@MorneN (Comment 48) :
😆 😆
@KSA Shark © (Comment 47) : hehehe..
@MorneN (Comment 48) : Stop making up stories like you were sober enough to remember.
This man can’t keep his light beer. 🙄
@PJLD (Comment 51) :
I was last sober when I was 15.
And for shits I cannot remember what happened from age 1 to 15.
@MorneN (Comment 52) : Wasted years anyway.
@PJLD (Comment 53) :
Thats my view too, my AA councillor is trying to convince me otherwise though.
@MorneN (Comment 54) : What do they know, damned quitters!
@PJLD (Comment 55) :
Well this one was assigned to me at school already – you would think they would learn with time.
Some things you can’t change.
@PJLD (Comment 55) :
Persistent buggers though, cant fault them for effort.
Okay one just for the boy racers out there.
The policeman got out of his car and approached the boy racer he stopped for speeding.
‘I’ve been waiting for you all day,’ the bobby said.
The kid replied, ‘Yes, well I got here as fast as I could.’
When the policeman finally stopped laughing, he sent the kid on his way without a ticket.
😀 By the way, wheres the after party for the Reds and Blues games gonna be?Going home while just warming up sucks?
@PJLD (Comment 60) :
Can organise something
Sweeet
Anycase I am out, half day for me.
Okay and these two parting shots as i leave for home.
A lorry driver was driving along on a country road.
A sign came up that read ‘ Low Bridge Ahead.’
Before he realised it, the bridge was directly ahead and he got stuck under it.
Cars are backed up for miles.
Finally, a police car comes up.
The policeman got out of his car and walked to the lorry’s cab
And said to the driver,
‘Got stuck, eh?’
The lorry driver said, ‘No, I was delivering this bridge and ran out of petrol!’
=======================================================================
It was mealtime during a flight on a British Airways plane:
‘Would you like dinner?’ the flight attendant asked the man seated in the front row.
‘What are my choices?’ the man asked.
‘Yes or no,’ she replied.
@PJLD (Comment 62) :
Will ask Bobo where they are going. Hook up
@MorneN (Comment 63) : Bastard guy!
@MorneN (Comment 65) : That will be vet!
@MorneN (Comment 65) :
you such a show off!!! 👿
And just liek that things go quiet
@KSA Shark © (Comment 1) :
I agree…I don’t think they do….
@PJLD (Comment 60) : I’ll find you a lekker after party for the Sharks game… you can g hang out with the winning team and its supporters
However a semi spot a def possibility…
Only concerns are…
Scrummeging and Line-out…
They have not great scrummers (unless they gel as a unit) and Bekker’s best attribute is his general play…
@robdylan (Comment 70) : I plan to. No way im rolling with the losers to that hokkie next to Claremont station!
Why oh why would they have their club at a taxi rank, naai ekse ❗
@PJLD (Comment 73) :
LoL
@Charlie (Comment 10) :
LoL
That is a good one….
😯 😯 😯 Noteworthy losses : Eddie Andrews 🙄
@Pokkel (Comment 76) : I didn’t want to say anything.
Off course no doubt the Stormers can go all the way. Compare their state at this stage to 2008 and you’ll recidnise a lot of improving. Last year this stage senior players like Jantjes, BoBo, Grant, Januarie, Francois Louw, Bekker, Mujatsi was nowhere and only Schalk & Jean top Boks. But we know predictions is difficult and the perfect place to go one better in 2009 is that start. If we make the semis this time sure anything is possible and the Stormers on song can beat anyone at any place.