Stormers coach Rassie Erasmus believes his team is physically ready for the intensity of the super 14 and are determined to hit the ground running this year.
Ebrahim Moerat writes for Rugby 365 that the Stormers experienced a terrible start in the Super 14 last year, losing their opening three games before salvaging their campaign on the overseas leg and narrowly missing out on a semi-final berth.
The Cape franchise played two Super 14 pre-season matches this year, against Saracens and Boland, and they also had two controlled contact sessions against Maties and Ikeys respectively.
Erasmus is confident that the Stormers are now fully prepared for the rigours of the southern hemisphere showpiece and says they don’t want to get off to a slow start like they did in 2008.
“Maybe a lack of game-time was my mistake last year,” Erasmus told rugby365.com at the High Performance Centre in Bellville.
“For match fitness we only started to get there in game two or three last year. [But]I think we are more contact-fit than we were this time last year.
“We’ve had the two matches and another two controlled contact sessions, so I’m happy with that,” Erasmus said.
Erasmus also indicated that injured wing, Sireli Naqelevuki will only play against the Sharks if he’s fully recovered from a rib injury which he sustained against Boland.
While Stormers captain Jean de Villiers lamented the prospect of the big Fijian’s loss, he is happy with the depth in the squad and believes they have developed into a cohesive unit ahead of this year’s tournament.
“He’s obviously a big guy and a big loss for the team,” de Villiers said.
“But I think there’s more than enough depth in the squad…I also played Test rugby at wing,” he said jokingly.
“Last year we were a bunch of individuals with talent but I think we are now more of a unit that can really challenge and win the tournament.
“So we are looking forward to the challenge.”
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STORMERS!!!! 😀 😛
Just another hyped up Stormers thread.
@Loosehead (Comment 2) : 🙄 Yeah…empty and pointless…
@arrogant blackshark (Comment 3) : slowly lads 🙂
Notice to all my Stormer friends:
Our friendship has been temporarily suspended until Tuesday the 17th of February 2009.
Nothing personal.
@arrogant blackshark (Comment 5) :
Is that why you failed to reply to my email this morning?? 👿
@wpw (Comment 6) :
I did. We’re still friends on that side. 🙂
@arrogant blackshark (Comment 7) :
Well, I will be REALLY rubbing it in after we beat your sorry asses n Feb 14. 😈 😯
🙄 😆 😉 😀
I must it admit – its pretty cool that this is the first game, that way we can all go back to taking the piss out of the Bulls 😆
@wpw (Comment 6) :
😳 Didn’t realise there was a follow up…I’ve replied…
YNWA!
@Worcestershire Sauce (Comment 9) : Yeah…get this out of the way quickly and then gang up on the Bulls… 😉
@Worcestershire Sauce (Comment 9) : I, for one, have never stopped doing that.
@robdylan (Comment 12) :
Why would you stop breathing? 😯
@arrogant blackshark (Comment 13) : true 🙂
I actually have nothing major against the Stormers… i think they are incredibly arrogant, but I think all supporters are a little arrogant about their team. It’s a basic requirement, actually…
@robdylan (Comment 14) : That and a penchant for man products 😆
@robdylan (Comment 14) :
Most definitely…although I still believe that shying away from harmless banter before a game like this is a sign of disrespect for the teams and the players…and the history of the game… 😆
@arrogant blackshark (Comment 16) : Indeed. This is all good natured of course until you all sulk through Monday16 through wednsday 18 😆
@Worcestershire Sauce (Comment 17) : we will sulk for more than 3 days if we lose to the Stormers dude…
@robdylan (Comment 18) : We on the other hand would just revert to it doesn’t matter we building…
@Worcestershire Sauce (Comment 19) : ah yes. The Loffie Defence
Indeed.
@robdylan (Comment 20) : 3 years!!!
@robdylan (Comment 18) :
Oh yes…I should’ve inserted this to arrogant blackshark (Comment 5) :
“In the unlikely event that we lose the game – the aforementioned suspension will be extended to the 21st of February- right after the Lions game.”
😆
@PJLD (Comment 22) : 3 more years 🙂
@Worcestershire Sauce (Comment 19) :
What was our excuse when Fester was coach??? 🙄
@wpw (Comment 25) : Fester was the excuse
@PJLD (Comment 26) :
How’s your first day back at the old graaf?? 😀
@wpw (Comment 25) : the Bulls excuse – “our coach is a brain-dead moron”
@wpw (Comment 27) : Rustig 😎
@wpw (Comment 25) : He stole Rassies presentation 😯
@Worcestershire Sauce (Comment 30) :
How bout: He had dirty pictures of Rob Wagner. 😯
YNWA? You Never Wail(cry) Alone.
@wpw (Comment 31) : Yours sounds more plausible
@Salmonoid (Comment 32) :
shurrup!!! 👿
@Worcestershire Sauce (Comment 33) :
‘plausible’
Another big word!!! 🙄
@wpw (Comment 35) : Sorry i left my papsak at home this morning
@wpw (Comment 34) :
Touchy, and then next Saturday is still to come….
@wpw (Comment 34) : 😈
@PJLD (Comment 38) :
Bruised and broken they will be on Valentines day 2009 😈
@sharks 30 (Comment 40) : Talking about the Tjarks I assume. 😉
Next week this time, cant wait for the real rugby to stat. ❗
@PaarlBok (Comment 41) :
He he 😈
Hey this is taking to long i have serious withdrawal another whole week to wait 🙁