On Saturday the 26 March 2011 at Newlands the DHL Stormers raised their bat against the Western Force giving the Perth based team a 35 point hiding and in the process scored their first bonus point win in this years Super Rugby tournament, it also happened to be the first they had crossed the chalk more than once in the game.
The convincing win, while most welcome to the DHL Stormers faithful who have been force fed some dour rugby in the last 5 weeks has got the Cape media pulling out words that would put our learned Ms van Wyk to shame.
Messers Keohane and Nel have stopped just short of going posting articles containing phrases such as “oh my God oh my God, did you see them, they were like sooooo good” and “like wow, it was like the bestest ever in the whole world”
Please excuse me for being the one eyed supporter not gushing just yet, yes 6 tries were put passed The Force and it was pleasing to see the 6th coming at the end of the game meaning the DHL Stormers played until the final whistle but should the result not have been expected?
The DHL Stormers sit pretty at the top of the both the SA conference and the combined log while the Force are laying 4th in the Australian conference and languishing 13th overall, the bonus point win should in my opinion have been non negotiable in this case.
The Stormers travel to Durban this weekend to face the Sharks, a side who not too long ago bullied the WP squad in a Currie Cup final, a bullying that must certainly still have a few members of the squad sleeping with the nightlight on, on Saturday when the dust settles and one of Schalk Burger or Jean de Villiers is talking to Owen about how good it feels to come away with a win at the Shark tank only then will I allow myself to entertain thoughts of “yes, this team can kick on to something good this year” because then they would have showed me that the DHL Stormers as a team have conquered some big psychological demons.

I just never worry about the Stormers when they play the Sharks,close games but it just feels weird.
nicely put, Claytie… I reckon the Stormers CAN definitely do it in Durban this year, but they’re going to have to play a hell of a lot better than they have so far.
@robdylan (Comment 2) : More on that tomorrow 😉
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 3) :
I think the draw has been quite kind to the Stormers with them not leaving South Africa until Round 13.
But Round 13, 14, 15, and 16 will interesting last year they beat the Blues and Chiefs away, which will be interesting indicators to their relative strength again this year. I then think they have the Brumbies and Rebels, all will be interesting games.
They may have enough points on the board by then not to worry too much about these away fixtures. 😎
the most important thing in winning this competition for the Stormers is to win the SA Conference and get a home semi so out performing the Reds and Crusaders should be their team goal ! 😕
Can the do it ! 😕
I agree. 🙂
This weekend will answer a lot of questions about how good the Stormer’s are. Lets not forget that they did beat the Bulls at Loftus which is no easy task. The Sharks will have to be at their best this weekend and hopefully show the Stormer’s how the game is played.
Whoever wins the game surely places themselves in a very valuable position going forward and for the sharks may make the difference between leading the conference or starting to play catchup with the top of the log.
Nice read there Claytie and I agree 100%.
I cringed when I read Nel’s article. We havent won a trophy since 2001 and until we do actually win something they should just shut it.
As for this weekend’s match against the Sharks, there’s no way the Sharks will lose their 3rd game in a row!!
We can beat them if we play to our potential but I doubt it very much!! 🙄 😕
Lets be realistic here, this is going to be the best chance that the Stormers have of beating the Sharks at the tank in a along while, 2 flyhalves out and having just played a very bruising game on Sunday and the long and excessive travel over the last month all counting in the Cape sides favour.
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 3) :
The other day we were wondering about Fondse and the Stormers. He played in the VC game against Griquas. The Stormers pack had a torrid time and the lineouts were no better and to me Fondse did absolutely diddely squat to indicate that he wants to get back into the Stormers setup. Disapointing.
@Salmonoid (Comment 8) :
Two flyhalves out??
Lambie and ??
Is JLP injured?? 🙄 😯
@Salmonoid (Comment 9) : Thanks for pointing that out, I had no idea.He used to be a solid grafter and the talk within the camp is that when it comes to training and game time he has no sense of humour and goes at it hammer and tongs.
Disapointed to hear that appears to have left him.
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 4) : Yeah, i think the Stormers have had the most enviable draw of all the teams. One weeks’ extra conditioning with the first bye and then playing the two crappest teams first up. 🙂 But jokes aside, they produced when it counted against the Bulls and they kicked into gear against the Force. Good luck Claytie, I think it’s gonna be a great game.
Has anyone noticed that they hype around the Lions has mysteriously fizzled out? Even with their billionaire backer and John Mitchell they’re no better off than the Cheetahs. Although I wouldn’t mind poaching Waylon Murray back for Oom Stef.
@wpw (Comment 10) :
Apparently.
@CapeShark (Comment 13) : There are a few of those backs I wouldn’t mind seeing in a black and white jumper. 😉
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 11) :
Maybe the Sharks can help him get it back, now that Sykes is off. 😉
@Salmonoid (Comment 8) : IMO Meyer Bosman is a better flyhalf than JLP. We’ll probably see Bosman, Adi and Oupa as 10, 12 and 13 against the Stormers.
@CapeShark (Comment 13) : Yeah, I was thinking the same thing yesterday.
Even Keo is starting to have a go at Mitch
Is ANYONE NOT trying to make the Stormers the underdogs for this fixture? 🙂
@KSA Shark © (Comment 19) : Coetzee’s cunning ploy to lure us into a false sense of security. He does it every time. Doubt the Sharks will feel too ‘windgat’ after playing the Crusaders.
@rhineshark (Comment 17) : Don’t we have anyone else at 13, someone, anyone??? 😥 When the ball goes wide in the Crusaders backline it’s trytime, when the ball goes wide in our backline the move stagnates and breaks down. Why?? Because the outside centre is not up to speed!
@CapeShark (Comment 21) :
Dont you DARE criticize Oom Stef.
He is a scholar and a gentlemen and a great captain!!
Just ask KSA Shark! 😈 😉
I’m worried bout adi vs the stormers centre combo..
@CapeShark (Comment 21) : During that first half on Sunday I was thinking why does it take us 10 phases to make 50 meters, but the Crusaders make 100 meters in 2?
I don’t think it has anything to do with Stefan being too slow. The difference is that they don’t just blindly attack anywhere like we do from quick phase ball, but actively create situations where their backline runners can have a go against our forwards. Everyone knows that is what you’re supposed to achieve, but it only works if there is good communication and option-taking, which doesn’t always seem to be the case with us.
We rely on going at it with our bashers and setting up phase after phase, which is a very energy-inefficient way to do things and doesn’t only make the opposition tired, but us as well. And it doesn’t always work, because more often than not passes are forced or we try things in the faces of defenders that only work when the receiving player is in space.
And we’re not even talking of our inability to create space from set phases, like the Crusaders did in the first half against us. Their secret seems to be that they hang quite deep on attack, which not only forces the defense to move up, but creates space if even one defender is a little quick off the mark, since it means the ball-carrier can take the tackle and off-load in behind the defense.
They did this twice in a row and by the third time we were so confused and focused on Carter and SBW that they could do the simple 10-9-13 move for the Dagg try, which also wasn’t really Stefan’s fault: http://rugbydump.blogspot.com/2011/03/crusaders-show-their-class-at.html
Great one
it shows you, you win one loose one just don’t think for one moment that the Sharks team is going to give this one away easly
we want it as much as you stormers do and our field is one hand we have on our side
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 4) : well for one i am glad our tour is over for now and we can work on all wins from now on and get that dame cup tht should of been ours 2007
On the news of one Lambie’s injury last week a certain KSA gave me grief when I said this will be the start of some losses for the Sharks in games they should win.
It is the reason I backed the Saders last weekend, and its the reason I am backing the Stormers this coming Saturday.
@Morné (Comment 27) : big call.. Lambie has an obvious influemce on the side, but the sharks have gone 13 games unbeaten at the tank.. i think playing at Mr. Price kings park will be the difference between the two sides
@Morné (Comment 27) : Dude I gave yougrief becasue you said we would lose a string of games.
One is hardly a string and believe me it won’t be two after this weekend.
Has it been confirmed that marius joubert will join us? And when?
@Crock (Comment 30) : Yes… Currie cup
@mikey, cool, thanks!
🙄 @mikey (Comment 31) : eish mikey it looks like ur Avatar is been squashed
@chaz (Comment 33) : surely not…. i was so excited to watch him play
@mikey (Comment 28) :
Lambie is your Dan Carter, thats how highly I rate his influence.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 29) :
Let’s chat after Saturday then…
@Morné (Comment 35) :
now that is a new way of seening lambie maybe Ice will love him as much as Ice love DC and as much as we love Lambie
@Morné (Comment 35) :
and if we win what then are you going to take ur words back then and say Sharksss
and have a beer with the win 😆
@Morné (Comment 35) : lambie is no carter, let’s not get carried away now. 🙄
@chaz (Comment 37) :
I will come in personally and eat my words!
@Megatron (Comment 38) :
I said he was as influential to the Sharks as Carter is to the Crusaders, there is a difference if you are willing to see it.
@Morné (Comment 39) : would you say o’connor is the force’s carter or cooper is the reds’ carter?
@Megatron (Comment 40) :
No, simply talented players.
Perhaps the following will explain it better…
For the Force, Sharpe is the influential player.
For the Stormers, JDV
For the Bulls, FDP…
Difference is, losing an influential player, affects the whole team from 1 to 22, losing a talented player, means you need to replace him with another.
@Megatron (Comment 38) : No, at the moment he isn’t. But in time Lambie will outstrip Carter on every level. Injury and acts of God notwithstanding.
@mikey (Comment 28) : Agree. Psychologically a powerful hurdle to overcome, that one. Can only hope that Pat is doing OK and the finger is healing well. Will be hard for him to sit it out this weekend…
@SharonvanWyk (Comment 43) : that is called fortelling the future…you must be a sangoma.. 😉