If the Stormers somehow fail to either secure a home Super 14 semi-final or they fall out of the top four altogether, and it is just a log point that denies them, the defeats to the Brumbies and Western Force will be revisited by the critics.
Gavin Rich writes in the Cape Argus that in both those games, the Stormers lost close ones in the final five minutes.
In the Brumbies match it was less about losing it as committing suicide, for the pass that was intercepted for George Smith’s winning try should never have happened at that stage and in that part of the field.
Indeed, if you asked me if there is one area where the Stormers could be vulnerable as they go into a four-match sequence against mainly fellow semi-final contenders that will make or break their season, it is that they don’t boast experience of winning close games.
Yesterday some of the Reds players spoke about how their recent narrow win over the Chiefs in Hamilton had given them confidence to come through the tense final minutes against the Bulls.
The Bulls have frequently had to dig deep to win the close ones.
The Stormers don’t have that sort of experience to fall back on.
That they don’t is probably not their fault, for apart from the two games mentioned, they have simply just been too dominant in most of their games.
And anyone who wants to argue that point should just take cognisance of this freaky but highly impressive fact of the Stormers season as it stands right now – in not one match that the Stormers have won, have they allowed the opposition to get a bonus point.
That means that they have beaten every opponent by at least eight points, and of course the Blues last week were the only team that has managed to score more than two tries against them.
If you look at those facts you come to the conclusion that the Stormers shouldn’t be falling short. The figures say they are good enough to go all the way this year.
But if perchance they do fall short, for this last month is going to be frenetic as the top teams play one another, there is perhaps another factor apart from those two narrow losses which may come up in the post-mortem.
It is something that I will refer to as the South African derby factor.
It was spotlighted in a different context this week by Sharks coach John Plumtree as his team prepared for last night’s match against the Lions.
This column is being written before the game, and it might well be that you are reading this in the knowledge that the Sharks gave the Lions a good thumping and wrapped up the four-try bonus point before half-time.
Yet Plumtree was not thinking of bonus points during the week, all he wanted to do was win against the Lions, even if it was just by one point.
I don’t blame him, for SA Super 14 history is littered with instances where poor local teams became world beaters on the night they played their neigbhours.
Last year the Sharks were knocked out of contention by the Cheetahs.
As Plumtree says, derbies are somehow always different to the other games in the Super 14 – they are more physical, particularly among the forwards, the underdogs somehow manage to get themselves up for the game.
What it means is the top South African teams find it a lot harder to pick up full points against the likes of the Cheetahs and Lions than the overseas teams do.
The Hurricanes did lose to the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein early in the competition, but what are the Cheetahs and Lions at this stage of the season to the top overseas teams if not walking bonus points?
The Lions did deny the Brumbies a bonus point in one of their early tour games, but otherwise, when it comes to the top overseas teams, the ones in contention for semi-final spots, it has been a case of open gates – “come and take your five log points”.
It had to happen when the Crusaders played the Cheetahs in Christchurch yesterday. There was almost no point in turning on the television to watch the game. It was the same the previous week in Canberra when the Brumbies were the benefactors, and when the Lions played the Crusaders and the Waratahs.
The way the Stormers are playing this season you would say they should have picked up four try bonuses against the Lions and Cheetahs with their eyes closed.
That they didn’t, came down to that peculiar South African trend of bringing the testosterone to the game against your neighbour but not against foreigners.
Tweet
in not one match that the Stormers have won, have they allowed the opposition to get a bonus point.
Impressive stuff!!!!!!!!!
and it might well be that you are reading this in the knowledge that the Sharks gave the Lions a good thumping and wrapped up the four-try bonus point before half-time.
Uhhhhhh no unfortunately. 😳
Sharks v Bulls, Sharks v Stormers and Stormers v Bulls. Exciting stuff 😛
@JarsonX (Comment 3) :
😎 Everyone is going to call us the cheetahs soon. 😉
Can we have a Superbru Pool for Sharksworld please ❓ 💡
@KSA Shark © (Comment 4) : party crashers
@JarsonX (Comment 5) :
For which tournament? the Derbies? 😈
@KSA Shark © (Comment 7) : 😳 the T20 World Cup
@KSA Shark © (Comment 7) : check out me honours
😛
@JarsonX (Comment 8) :
You can set one up if you want? Or do you want me to?
It is very simple. We have no issue if you want to use the SW name.
How long before Fantasy League is updated?
@JarsonX (Comment 9) :
on my way
@KSA Shark © (Comment 10) : I can do it, all I need is some mentioning here 😛
@JarsonX (Comment 11) :
Not sure. Rob runs that i do the LMS. i got the easy job 😉 Less chance of me stuffing something up. 😆
the Stormers are doing well, lost only 2 games, just destroyed the Chiefs. Is it necessary to try & find fault with them 🙄
@rekinek (Comment 15) : Yip 😉
@JarsonX (Comment 9) :
DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMN You have enough honours now. 😎
But I must say………….when i was looking for your name on the S14 pool to click on it I had to pass quite a few girls’ names on the way down to yours. The most notable of which was kette two spots above you. 😛 😉
@rekinek (Comment 15) :
You mean other than their obvious shortcomings. 😉
Let’s start putting pressure on Rob to change the site logo for the week before and after the Finals if the Stormers make the final.
(He is going to be very impressed with me for suggesting that) 😳
@JarsonX (Comment 13) :
Will put it up and also once you have it sorted we will mail the current players in our other pools with invites.
@JarsonX (Comment 13) :
Post your poolcode here when you are done and i’ll start getting it sorted.
Superbru T20 World Cup
Poolname : Sharksworld
Poolcode : dripgird
Join up now, 1st game is the 30 April 2010
@KSA Shark © (Comment 17) : 😳 I dont wanna talk about it 😳
@KSA Shark © (Comment 18) : you are not well , please lay down immediately – i’m sure it will pass quickly.
@JarsonX (Comment 21) : @KSA Shark © (Comment 19) : 😎
@KSA Shark © (Comment 17) : I stopped looking for yours at around 70, where are you 😉
@JarsonX (Comment 21) :
I have sent to the Varsity cup Sharksworld players. Will get Rob to send to the S14 pool as soon as I can.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 26) : thanx 😎
@JarsonX (Comment 25) :
I retired injured. My brain left me.
89. 😳 😳 😳
Local derby schmarby. If they don’t make it then they’re not good enough. Simple as that. Doesn’t matter whether they lost to Crusaders in Christchurch or Cheetahs at Newlands.
KSA Shark
You’re as much a closet Stormers supporter as i am a closet Shark.
@wpw (Comment 30) :
I support anyone but the Bulls.
Coastal sides rule!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@KSA Shark © (Comment 31) : We are on the Coast…. 😆
Surely Stormers fans haven’t just realised they have 4 hard games left ! 😥 😳 😥
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 33) : They’re all hard games. Week 1 through to the end. 😈
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 33) : Join us. We have cookies. 😉
@McLovin (Comment 34) :
Not ALL of them are hard games. Remember we beat the Highlanders 33-0.
That was a stroll in the park imho. 😈 😉
morning morning 😆 😉
@JarsonX (Comment 5)
@rekinek (Comment 15) : stormers are having a great game and having fun must say they are hungry for a S14 win but like all other games they play to get to the top 4 and loose in the semi but if sharks can’t make it me going for the stormers 😳 😉
@JarsonX (Comment 16) : if for some reason the stormers do make it to the semi’s aren’t you going to cheer them up or are you going for the Bulls or Troll team 😳
@wpw (Comment 36) : Stroll in the park indeed. 😈
@JarsonX (Comment 8) : @KSA Shark © (Comment 19) : @JarsonX (Comment 21) : can me join 😳 🙁
@rekinek (Comment 23) : i think its all about the stress from the game on sat 😳 😉
@KSA Shark © (Comment 31) : 😆 😛 😉
Morning Chaz!!
@wpw (Comment 45) : made my LMS pick yesterday and went will the Chiefs 😆
Stormers were also denied a bonus point win by the Lions.
@Chaz (Comment 46) :
I need to make mine now. 🙄
@Chaz (Comment 46) :
OK. Done! 😎
I was tempted to go with the Lions but I thought that would be a HUGE mistake!!
There’s no way they will beat the Bulls at Loftus!!
11 players left in the game WITH their lifelines!! 🙄
@wpw (Comment 49) : no way 🙂 but wonders do seem to pop up
@wpw (Comment 50) : I just fell out this weekend, im gutted
@provincejoulekkading (Comment 52) :
WHAT?? 😈
Who did you choose?? 🙄
I see you chose the Force. 😕
@provincejoulekkading (Comment 52) : 😯 force oh my
this article is useless! Some of the things it suggests are stupid…the Reds lost their first game of the season against the Tahs in the 90th minute, then as the article suggests the won their game against the Chiefs by hanging on, then they lost to the sharks by 2 points and this weekend the closed out the game with the Bulle on the late charge….now how does gavin rich come to the conclusion that the Reds are far more adept than the Stormers at winning tight games?
Maybe the Stormers should purposefully take defensive naps in their games like the Sharks to allow their opposition to come back at them so that Gavin Rich can be convinced that they can close out tight games 🙄
@Megatron (Comment 56) : 😯 oh my, Megatron is back and an 👿 😈 troll as ever
Now me Megatron write a post and lets see if you can up your think or are you going into hiding again 😆
@Megatron (Comment 56) :
I have it on good authority that the only reason why the Sharks take “defensive naps” is to give you some hope and (false) joy over weekends.
@Salmonoid (Comment 58) : 😆 😆
Damn I’m so glad the Sharks got “lucky” this weekend. 😉
@Farlington (Comment 60) : you can say that again but gee it was a good game from both sides
I think the Sharks could cause a few shock results and upset the Stormers and Bulls.
I hope we can beat you guys though!!
As for the Bulls, you have my blessing to by all means THRASH them!!!
@wpw (Comment 62) : 👿 👿 👿 nope me friend
😉
you must be carefull we don’t out run the lot of you 🙄 win the bulls etc and take the S14 cup for ourselves eeeeaaaahhhh
But maybe just to late but one can dream can’t she 🙄 😉
@wpw (Comment 62) : I don’t want to sound like a naysayer, but I doubt The Sharks has what it takes to beat the Stormers. Funny enough, I don’t feel the same about the Bulls vs Sharks game. 😕
@Megatron (Comment 56) : I agree it’s a stupid way to think. So Mega many games do you think the Saders will win in SA?
@Pokkel (Comment 65) : eish, it’s hard pokkles…cos my backline is still a bit of an issue for me, if carter is having a blinder, they come to the party but with his recent dismal form, all those kids fold very quickly…so i’m not over-confident about them but the should be close games with all the teams we will be playing…
@Salmonoid (Comment 58) : yeah right! You were probably near cardiac arrest on saturday as the lions were on ur 5m line, now you’re grootbek this morning…the sharks can’t even convincingly beat the lions who haven’t won a game the WHOLE year!
Was that the Sharks 2nd bonus point this year or what?
@wpw (Comment 53) : I had to at some point.
@Megatron (Comment 67) : 5th bonus point…4 of them for losing by 7 or less 😳
@Megatron (Comment 67) : I was near a heart attack but I think the Lions probably played their best game of the season so far against the Sharks and the Sharks butchered about 4 tries. It’s never easy being a Sharks supporter. 🙄
@Megatron (Comment 67) :
You know what is sad or for lack of a better word ‘pathetic’ is a South African (like yourself) supporting a New Zealand side.
You probably support the Saders cos of their many victories in the S14 or like most young Man Utd supporters who started when they started winning in the 90’s.
Do you even support the Boks or are you an All Black supporter??
@Pokkel (Comment 69) : i meant bonus points for scroing tries! Jeepus 🙄
@wpw (Comment 71) : pathetic, schmathetic!!! Get over yourself and your “patriotism” issues. As if rugby in this country is being played & administered along fair lines and practises! It is none of you business why i support the Crusaders, worry yourself about your team and banter about rugby which i will gladly discuss with you…otherwise fallback with your supposed judgemental attitude! 😈
@Megatron (Comment 72) : Ja ek weet man 😆
@wpw (Comment 71) : i guess an AB and if a SA well its a shame 😳
@Pokkel (Comment 74) : 😉
@Megatron (Comment 67) :
You damn right I nearly had a heart attack, what did you have 😉 , but like I said its about the Sharks brightening up your life on weekends.
@Salmonoid (Comment 77) : i was having irish whiskey @ the time laughing my @ss off…i quite enjoyed the game & ribbing the freaked-out sharks supporters i was watching with hahaha 😀
@wpw (Comment 30) : but your closet doors open more often and we can see this skeleton very clearly
@Salmonoid (Comment 77) :
@Megatron (Comment 78) : didn’t have time for the heart attack 🙂 . i was sitting next to a friend who is a snoiL supporter so had to chirp back all the time 😉
@rekinek (Comment 79) :
HEY!! 😈 😉
I can’t think of anything and I’m not going to embarras myself by pleading the 5th again!! 😆
@wpw (Comment 81) :
“don’t talk to me talk to my lawyer” 😆
@Megatron (Comment 66) : I don’t think you need to lose too much sleep over Carter’s form….his goal kicking has been well below par….but then again a few have. But his defensive work and kicking out of hand have been top notch.
Looking forward to seeing him kick at Loftus he loves it up there.
Carter is one of the few players in the world that can pin a side down.
Saders scrum looks fantastic and a real weapon come the final rounds.
May just be the factor that takes you the whole way.
Signed Very Jealous Highlander