Sharks, Stormers show class
One round down, ‘just’ 13 more to go… Read rugby365 columnist Robbie Fleck’s exclusive and hard-hitting views on the 2009 Super 14.
Jeesh, what a weekend, if that was Round One, I would hate to see how exciting the remainder of the 2009 Super 14 will be!
The tournament has certainly started on a high – remember the muddled start to the ELV-infested 2008 Super 14?! – and after a big build-up, I don’t think many people would have been too disappointed with the first weekend’s action.
For me, it’s pretty clear who the favourites are this year and which teams will go all the way.
Some of these big teams – like the Crusaders – have lost some big players and coaches, yet they are still performing, which augurs well for certain sides and, unfortunately, not so well for the rest of the teams. The Crusaders have just built up such an incredible brand over the years, it’s little wonder they’re still contenders without the likes of Dan Carter and coach Robbie Deans in the mix.
Looking back at the first week and, in particular, at the South African sides, the undoubted match of Round One was the Stormers-Sharks match at Newlands.
I know some people abused me for picking the Stormers (how about my call of the Waratahs over the Hurricanes?!), but in the end there was little in it, with the Sharks just edging the home side out 20-15.
The big thing for me was that the class of Rassie Erasmus and John Plumtree as coaches stood out once again, with two well-drilled sides going hammer and tongs at each other for 80 minutes. It was a physical match, yet some guys still ran some impressive angles out there.
New Sharks backs coach Chris Boyd (he hails from New Zealand) has clearly already had a nice influence on the Sharks backline and I thought Adi Jacobs was a real threat on attack with his neat angles and great little off-loads.
The real heroes though in the Sharks side were forwards John Smit, Johann Muller, Jean Deysel and Ryan Kankowski. They were immense and gave the likes of Jacobs the opportunities to do damage with ball in hand.
The big thing about the Sharks is that this current squad has been together for some time now. Plumtree worked alongside Dick Muir before taking over as head coach and most of these players have played together for quite a while now.
Each player knows his role and even though they went down 10-0 against the Stormers, they were very mature in their execution and never looked flustered. In a way, it was a very ‘Crusaders-like’ performance, which proves just how mature this Sharks team is.
Fans and pundits alike have pointed to Jean de Villiers’s injury as the reason why the Stormers lost, but I do not agree. Jean was injured making a last-ditch tackle and by then the momentum had already moved to the Sharks, who shortly before half-time had begun to take control of proceedings.
All is certainly not lost for the Stormers, whose pack I thought was very good and physical on the day. The tight five and the loosies stood toe-to-toe with the Sharks, but their backs did not hunt together like a unit. Individually nobody disgraced themselves, but they did not combine as well as their opponents on the day.
Elsewhere, in the other SA games, I must say I quite enjoyed the Lions-Cheetahs match on Friday evening.
I like the Lions’ approach; they play a flat gameplan and it produces an exciting brand of rugby – a bit like our UCT side in the Varsity Cup – but they need to work on their defence, as they very nearly lost to an inferior Cheetahs outfit because they are quite prone to the counter-attack, given their risky attacking game.
I will, however, support the Lions this season in every match they play – except against the Stormers! Sure, they will lose a few more than they’ll win, but they will be narrow losses. Loffie Eloff has built this side over the past few seasons, hopefully he can reap some rewards in 2009.
The Cheetahs, meanwhile… well, what can one say about them?
Sadly, they just lack the depth to make a proper impact this season and they will come close to propping up the Super 14 table. It really pains me to say it, because Naka Drotské is a fine coach and I love the Cheetahs’ expansive approach. But the Super 14 is a tough competition and the margins of error are small.
The last SA team in action last weekend – and by no means the least! – was, of course, the Bulls.
What can one say about them, except that it was a typical Bulls performance, but not quite their best performance.
The Reds took them on out wide and threatened them, especially that little speedster Digby Ioane, and even though it’s early days in the Super 14, this is not the same Bulls team that won the title in 2007.
They are not the same side without Heyneke Meyer in charge and I cannot see them finishing in the top four – even though they do have the playing personnel, I can’t see them winning enough big matches to make the semifinals in 2009.
Alright then, enough about last week, here are my predictions for Round Two:
HURRICANES v HIGHLANDERS:
Friday, February 20 – 8.35am
Oddly, the ‘Canes have opted to bench both of their All Blacks centres, Ma’a Nonu and Conrad Smith… The Highlanders, meanwhile, are without that young prop Jamie Mackintosh and inspirational scrumhalf Jimmy Cowan, who they will miss a lot for many reasons.
Fleckie’s prediction: The Highlanders are the weakest Kiwi Super 14 franchise and I cannot see them beating the ‘Canes on their own turf. Hurricanes to win.
WARATAHS v CHIEFS:
Friday, February 20 – 10.40am
This should be a cracker! The Chiefs, I guess, could easily have beaten the Crusaders last week, but they let themselves down at the last minute. The Waratahs, as they proved last week, are a superb team and they won’t lose many games in Sydney this year.
Fleckie’s prediction: ‘Tahs to win a high-scoring match.
FORCE v CHEETHAS:
Friday, February 20 – 12.45pm
As I said earlier, the Cheetahs will struggle away from home – starting with this weekend after a long trip from Bloemfontein to Perth. The Force still seem to have some off-field troubles, but they’re a good side and were not that bad in their loss to the Blues last week.
Fleckie’s prediction: Only one winner here – the Force.
STORMERS v REDS:
Friday, February 20 – 7.10pm
The Stormers, after their good performance against the Sharks, can only get better as the Super 14 progresses. The Reds, as well as they did against the Bulls, won’t be able to cope with the Stormers’ new-found physicality.
Fleckie’s prediction: The Stormers, if all goes according to plan, should be out of sight by half-time. Stormers to win. Easily.
BRUMBIES v CRUSADERS:
Saturday, February 21 – 10.40am
The undoubted game of the weekend! The Brumbies, as I wrote last week, will be a force this year. They have a good new coach and they will, of course, rely heavily on their two world-class players, George Smith and Stirling Mortlock.
Fleckie’s prediction: One step too far for this Crusaders team – especially away from home. The Brumbies to sneak in here.
BULLS v BLUES:
Saturday, February 21 – 5pm
The Bulls will miss Victor Matfield. A lot. This fixture won’t produce too many thrills and spills, in fact, I’d go as far as saying this will be the weekend’s most boring match.
Fleckie’s prediction: Expect a big battle up front, with the Bulls forwards squeezing the life out of the Blues and the boot of Morné Steyn seeing the home side to victory.
SHARKS v LIONS:
Saturday, February 21 – 7.10pm
This will also be a great match; the Sharks are a classy outfit and I am loving the Lions’ approach this season.
Fleckie’s prediction: I am expecting tries from both sides, but the Sharks’ class will shine through in the end – especially at home.
Catch you next week,
Robbie Fleck
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