Stormers coach Rassie Erasmus became prickly when the strength of his scrum, and particularly the tight five, was again called into question at the weekend reports Craig Ray for thetimes.co.za
Rassie goes on the defensive as critics rubbish the Cape team’s retreating pack
After labouring to a 27-24 win over the Reds at Newlands on Friday night, Erasmus was not about to accept unfair criticism about the power of the Stormers’ pack, which has been an ongoing theme this season.
It started with Saracens coach Eddie Jones and prop Cobus Visagie dismissing the Stormers pack as weak and one resorting to illegal scrumming to gain parity.
It continued in the build-up to the opening match of the Super 14 against the Sharks with former Bok props Balie Swart and Robbie Kempson both rubbishing the Stormers pack. Sharks coach John Plumtree also waded into the debate.
And with the Blues to come at Newlands this Saturday, Erasmus has grown tired of opponents questioning their credentials.
“I’m not sure what people mean when they say we’re struggling up front,” Erasmus said. “Do they mean our defence, because it’s not the scrums or lineouts which people keep referring to?
“We lost one lineout against the Reds and last week admittedly we only won 68 percent or our lineout ball, but the Sharks only won about 40 percent of their ball.
“Last week, we won all five scrums on our ball and the Sharks won 10 on their ball. Against the Reds, we won all our scrum ball as well.
“So I’m really not sure where all this comes from. I’m very happy with the way the tight five is performing so perhaps critics need to be more specific about what’s wrong when they question us.
“Last week, I didn’t argue with Plum [John Plumtree] because there was already big hype around it, yet we went pretty well in those areas of the game.”
Erasmus became more agitated when it was suggested that despite winning their ball, the Stormers scrum was under pressure because it had been forced backwards against the Reds.
“I disagree, and if you are knowledgeable enough to comment on scrums then you must know that all the tightheads are under pressure,” Erasmus said.
“In all the games the tightheads struggle when it’s a scrum on the right hand side of the field because the looseheads can walk around.
“So, maybe you should look at whether the Reds scrum or the Sharks scrum was under pressure in the same situation.”
The Stormers need to keep winning at home and with a battered Blues team arriving in Cape Town this week they are quietly confident.
The Blues were hammered 59-26 by the Bulls at the weekend and are already without several key players.
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Its a myth that the Stormers have a ‘light five’
😕
Interesting that rassie doesn’t mention how many FKs or PKs his scrum gave away compared to the other teams………
iv) Stormers vs Reds
Penalties conceded: 8
Stormers: 5
Reds: 3
Reasons for the penalties:
Stormers:
Tackle: 1 (Burger)
Scrum: 2 (Moller)
Offside: 1 (Grant)
Discipline: 1 (Grant – high tackle)
Reds:
Offside: 3 (Ioane, Barnes, Braid)
Scrums
Stormers: 11 (2 resets, 3 collapses, 1 free kick)
Reds: 13 (4 resets, 2 collapses, 1 lost, 2 free kicks)
Scrum: 2 (Moller)…
Hmmmm
and against the sharks?
@robdylan (Comment 5) :
Yes?
@molly (Comment 6) :
I can’t find those. The above are from 365 and for some reason i can’t find the stats for Rnd 1. 😡
I donno Ras…
I think a scrum should be a front foot platform for the attacking team…and as soon as your scrum moves backwards or your 8/9 is under pressure in clearing the ball….it is difficult for your backs to cross the advantage line…or score from there…
Is that not reason in saying your scrum is struggling?
But kudu’s to you for winning all your put-ins….that is if you did not consider free kicks or penalties given against your scrum on your put-in as that is considered a scrum lost…
@Hmmm (Comment 9) :
I think its a moot point as awarding penalties and FK’s at scrum time is so inconsistent to start off with.
I mean the Sharks were penalised first scrum against the Stormers!
And we all know the Sharks scrum is almighty and the Stormers crap.
@Morné (Comment 10) : fair comment. The Sharks are pretty good…
Set piece is not half the problem – cleaning out at ruck time is the big issue IMO
@robdylan (Comment 11) :
You know it! 🙂
@JT-www.rugby-innsbruck.at (Comment 12) :
Damn right.
But in all honesty Rassie is avoiding the issue. I sat in the same presser when this was said.
Sure a lot of technicalities does come into play as mentioned above, but there is no doubt the Stormers and specifically Moller (not Mujati) is kakking big time.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 8) : damn, thanks for trying, I’d really be interested to know.
@molly (Comment 14) :
Murphy says I have just found it. 😎
Round 1
vi) Stormers vs Sharks
Penalties conceded: 15
Stormers: 7
Sharks: 8
Reasons for the penalties:
Stormers:
Tackle: 2 (Bekker, Bobo)
Offside: 1 (Bekker)
Scrum: 1 (Mujati*)
Discipline: 3 (Vermeulen – high tackle; Fondse – foul play; De Villiers – deliberate knock on)
Sharks:
Tackle: 1 (Steyn)
Offside: 3 (Deysel 2, Kockott)
Scrum: 1 (J du Plessis)
Discipline: 3 (Sykes – deliberate knock-on; Sykes – high tackle; Botes – high)
Free kicks conceded
Stormers: 11 (7 tackles, a maul, 2 scrums, 1 +10)
Sharks: 10 (8 tackles, 1 mark, 1 +10)
@KSA Shark © (Comment 16) :
All of that suggests they are pretty much on par.
Scrums
Stormers: 7 (1 reset)
Sharks: 7 (2 free kicks, 1penalty)
Okay just so that everyone reads this correctly
on the scrum stat:
Scrums
Stormers: 7 (1 reset)
Sharks: 7 (2 free kicks, 1penalty)
That means we GOT 2 free kicks we were not penalised. That ties in with the Free kicks conceded stat that indicates we didn’t concede any at the scrums where the Stormers conceded 2.
So in Summary
In the Stormers v Sharks game
The Stormers were penalised 3 times (1 x PK and 2 x FK)
The Sharks were penalised 1 time (1 x PK)
@Morné (Comment 18) :
@KSA Shark © (Comment 21) :
So the Stormers commited 75% of the scrum infringements and the Sharks 25%. 😉
Don’t you just love numbers? 😉 😛
@KSA Shark © (Comment 22) :
And the Sharks are crooks by going off-side 3 times 75% to the 1 25% of the Stormers which clearly indicates the Sharks cannot wish to win a game by playing the game legally within the laws!
BTW, what were those two free kicks for? Collapsing? Binding? Early Engage? Pants not tight enough for Lawrence?
@Morné (Comment 23) :
Not sure, but the reference to pants has just jogged my memory.
Did anyone see Kockott give Vermaak about 10 pats on the arse at the scrum the other night? 😯 😯 kette almost bliksemed of the coach next to me she was so shocked. 😆
@KSA Shark © (Comment 24) :
Okay I have decided I do not want to know what jogs your memory in future! 🙂
‘almost bliksemed of the coach’ 😯
What was she doing on ‘the coach’ in the first place? 😆
@McLovin (Comment 26) :
😳
SEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!! I TOLD you I am a Dutchman. 😆 That should be “couch” and it should also be “off” not “of”. 😳 😳
But then again I do refer to myself as “coach” from time to time. 😛
@McLovin (Comment 26) :
Yes I though KSA was a ref… 😆
@KSA Shark © (Comment 27) : I see, ‘coach’.
Rory is a saucy little chap…
Don’t you just love the beard?
@Morné (Comment 28) :
Well some players moan that we should stop coaching and just penalise players. 😉
@KSA Shark © (Comment 31) :
Just who are the ‘players’ you are referring to here?
So is anyone having pancakes today? 🙄
@McLovin (Comment 33) :
I only make brilliant flops.. 😕 …but my daughter still likes it a lot!! (kids are so polite at a young age nowadays… 😆 )
@McLovin (Comment 33) : oh drat. It start tomorrow, doesn’t it?
@Ice (you can leave your hat on!) (Comment 34) : Often ‘flops’ taste the best.
@robdylan (Comment 35) : Only today. But you can have some tomorrow as well if you want.
@robdylan (Comment 35) : oh wait.. you mean lent?
@Morné (Comment 10) :
LoL
@robdylan (Comment 35) :
Okay – I am obvioulsy on the wrong track of pancakes… 😳 no clue as to what yous means… 😕
@Ice (you can leave your hat on!) (Comment 40) : no – I meant Lent
@Ice (you can leave your hat on!) (Comment 40) :
It’s Shrove Tuesday… 40 days before Easter and people traditionally have pancakes today.
@McLovin (Comment 33) :
You by anychance on my FB?? 😯
By the way Ice… you look good in a… erm… hat. Really suits you…
@Ice (you can leave your hat on!) (Comment 40) : It’s international pancake day today.
Only learnt about the ‘other’ meaning recently myself.
@VinChainSaw (Comment 42) :
Thanks…really?? Ah, well – not to old to learn something new I guess…and I guess I am not a traditional Easter person then.. 😕 😆
@Ice (you can leave your hat on!) (Comment 43) : Facebook? Nope not me, I’m not on FB.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 24) :
Yeh and it was like he just carried on and on…I think after the first touch he enjoyed the feel of Vermaak butt too much and could not get himself to stop…. 😆
I love hot cross buns. 😎
The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the iniquities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he who in the name of charity and goodwill shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness, for he is truly his brother’s keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know my name is the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee.
@McLovin (Comment 49) :
X marks the spot…
@VinChainSaw (Comment 50) : Samuel L Jackson?
@VinChainSaw (Comment 44) :
Thanks..i guess.. 😳
@VinChainSaw (Comment 51) : Indeed it does. 😉
@McLovin (Comment 47) :
oh okay…someone (living in UK) just mentioned that he wants pancakes..5 minutes before you posted your comment…weird..
@Ice (you can leave your hat on!) (Comment 55) : Spooky…. 🙂
@Ice (you can leave your hat on!) (Comment 53) :
You can leave it on if that makes you feel any better… 🙂
@McLovin (Comment 56) :
and here I thought i can maybe open up my own PI shop! 😉
@KSA Shark © (Comment 20) :
So factually Rassie is not far off…but I still stick to the fact that a team putting into the scrum should have go forward ball….
@Ice (you can leave your hat on!) (Comment 58) :
I’d get fat if I owned a PI shop… 😛
Jannie ‘n regte boer seun is opgewonde want hy vat vir Sherryl die engelse girl uit vir Pizza.
Jannie staan die hele dag en oefen sy tenses en sinne “She is” “They are” etc.
Die aand tel Jannie vir Sherryl op en is heavy gestress, hy trek daar weg en kom by ‘n stopstraat. Hy kyk links en soos
hy wil regs kyk vra hy vir Sherryl:
“Is your kant clean”
@VinChainSaw (Comment 42) : where I come from you have marinated herrings and a party:-)
@VinChainSaw (Comment 60) :
🙄 as in Private investigator… 😆
@rekinek (Comment 62) :
Marinated in syrup?
@Ice (you can leave your hat on!) (Comment 63) :
Lol. Thoguht as much but couldnt help a silly comment.
@rekinek (Comment 62) :
I cant remember the last time I had Herring. The party is another story maar nou ja.
When I have pancakes it’s always the same – strawberry yoghurt, lemon juice and cinnamon and sugar. Unbelievable.
@rekinek (Comment 62) : P?czki Day?
@rekinek (Comment 62) : Vodka?
Are you speaking code again McLovin?
@KSA Shark © (Comment 16) : Thanks!!! Sorry for the late reply, got swamped for a bit.
So the light 5 is a myth, nice to know.
Anyhoo, tooteloo. The world is falling apart again today so best do my part to keep it all together.
@rekinek (Comment 62) : or is it ?ledzik?
@VinChainSaw (Comment 69) : Some of my polish characters not working too well… 🙄
Things to do…cheers all!! 😀
@VinChainSaw (Comment 71) : @Ice (you can leave your hat on!) (Comment 74) : Cheerio…
@VinChainSaw (Comment 71) : it is? Again?
@McLovin (Comment 67) : That was last Thursday 😉
@McLovin (Comment 73) : I do not even try to do Polish characters. It is indeed sledzik today. How do you know?
@rekinek (Comment 78) : Aunty Google told me.
@McLovin (Comment 79) :
you guys polishing up your language skills? 🙂
I got a few Polski characters working with me.
Some are good, others not so good…
Jeez it appears Rassie seems to think that a scrum ball won going backwards so you start with your ball way behind the advantage line as a scrum won…..
me thinks he is enjoying cape towns herbals to much
@robdylan (Comment 81) :
Some stats on Stormers games….
Stormers/Sharks
2 Tries 2
1 from 2 Conversion goals 2 from 2
1 from 1 Penalty goals 2 from 6
66.7% Kick at goal success 50.0%
0 Dropped goals 0
Kick/pass/run
31 Kicks from hand 33
105 Passes 120
70 Runs 91
405 Metres run with ball 426
Attacking
4 Clean breaks 5
18 Defenders beaten 11
6 Offloads 16
55 from 60 (91.67%) Rucks won 59 from 66 (89.39%)
13 Turnovers conceded 14
Defensive
124 Tackles 99
12 Missed tackles 17
91.18% Tackling success rate 85.34%
Set pieces
6 won, 1 lost Scrums on own feed 10 won, 1 lost
85.7% Scrum success rate 90.9%
11 won, 5 lost Lineouts on own throw 3 won, 2 lost
68.8% Lineout success rate 60.0%
Discipline
19 Penalties conceded 18
0/0 Yellow/red cards 0/0
Stormers / Reds
3 Tries 4
3 from 3 Conversion goals 2 from 4
2 from 2 Penalty goals 0 from 1
100.0% Kick at goal success 40.0%
0 (1 missed) Dropped goals 0
Kick/pass/run
35 Kicks from hand 32
124 Passes 158
96 Runs 120
537 Metres run with ball 597
Attacking
9 Clean breaks 9
15 Defenders beaten 29
13 Offloads 13
54 from 60 (90.00%) Rucks won 72 from 80 (90.00%)
27 Turnovers conceded 23
Defensive
154 Tackles 134
29 Missed tackles 15
84.15% Tackling success rate 89.93%
Set pieces
11 won, 0 lost Scrums on own feed 10 won, 2 lost
100.0% Scrum success rate 83.3%
9 won, 1 lost Lineouts on own throw 10 won, 5 lost
90.0% Lineout success rate 66.7%
Discipline
12 Penalties conceded 12
0/0 Yellow/red cards 0/0
Stormers seem to be good in the rucks and doing enough to at least retain their ball in the set pieces…
I do believe that you need go-forward ball from set-pieces and if they don’t step up in that area they might just fall short on a few occasions from getting a try bonus point…or even the dif from a win or lose….
Compare that to the NZ teams…
Crusaders / Chiefs
3 Tries 2
2 from 3 Conversion goals 0 from 2
0 from 2 Penalty goals 1 from 1
40.0% Kick at goal success 33.3%
0 Dropped goals 0
Kick/pass/run
30 Kicks from hand 28
118 Passes 88
108 Runs 98
610 Metres run with ball 523
Attacking
9 Clean breaks 8
8 Defenders beaten 15
4 Offloads 10
54 from 60 (90.00%) Rucks won 51 from 58 (87.93%)
27 Turnovers conceded 24
Defensive
117 Tackles 95
14 Missed tackles 8
89.31% Tackling success rate 92.23%
Set pieces
11 won, 2 lost Scrums on own feed 12 won, 4 lost
84.6% Scrum success rate 75.0%
10 won, 1 lost Lineouts on own throw 3 won, 2 lost
90.9% Lineout success rate 60.0%
Discipline
12 Penalties conceded 13
0/0 Yellow/red cards 0/0
Seem like the NZ teams are better at winning there overall set-pieces / winning rucks similar / and general they seem to defend better…and I just think those few percentages ball won (1/2 times) and the few more tackles made could be the dif between a win and lose against the NZ sides….
So I would suggest the SA teams start working on that and stop trying to convince themselves that we look good…
We have the potential to have 3 sides in the semi…but that could be a possible 1 if we do not up our game…
The Bulls seem to be the only SA team to get there set pieces right…
Bulls Blues
7 Tries 4
6 from 7 Conversion goals 3 from 4
3 from 3 Penalty goals 0 from 0
90.0% Kick at goal success 75.0%
1 Dropped goals 0
Kick/pass/run
42 Kicks from hand 28
94 Passes 159
83 Runs 129
507 Metres run with ball 990
Attacking
10 Clean breaks 13
15 Defenders beaten 24
1 Offloads 14
53 from 54 (98.15%) Rucks won 69 from 74 (93.24%)
9 Turnovers conceded 20
Defensive
148 Tackles 93
24 Missed tackles 15
86.05% Tackling success rate 86.11%
Set pieces
4 won, 0 lost Scrums on own feed 9 won, 2 lost
100.0% Scrum success rate 81.8%
7 won, 1 lost Lineouts on own throw 8 won, 2 lost
87.5% Lineout success rate 80.0%
Discipline
12 Penalties conceded 16
1/0 Yellow/red cards 0/0
I watch the Stormers scrum closely in the two rounds so far and is happy. Look I aint a fatty but surely JD had a smallies TH and those penalties , free kicks could have gone both ways.
Thought the Lions had a strong scrum but after round 2 they struggle more then ours.
More worried about the lineouts and cleanouts at ruck time. Fondse was good against the Sharks but for some reason disappear against the Reds.
I think we need to throw the Bank at Heinke VD Merwe.
We need a loosehead who attacks his opponent and not someone like JD who has been average for some time now.
Added to this we need a hooker who can actually do the basics right (scrum, lineout, tackle) instead of hanging around in the backline.
@wpw (Comment 92) : Did you watch Maties in the Varsity Cup? Thought both Adriaanse & Rossouw had a good one against the Pukke who is strong in the scrums. Wish Rassie will give Fourie more change for the Stormers. Surely the kind of energize bunny you need vs the Blues.
@PaarlBok (Comment 93) :
No I didn’t get to watch your favourite Varsity team… lol
I agree wrt Fourie, a much better at hooker option than Brits.
Well I will be defnitely on Newlands this weeekend, the first time this year and they better produce big time. 💡