Ex Sport 24
Cape Town - Former Western Province coach Alan Zondagh and former Springbok centre Brendan Venter are of the view that the Stormers attack should improve.Zondagh, also a former consultant to the Springboks, is worried that the Stormers will lack that much needed attacking element in an important game, while Venter feels they can be more clinical on attack.
Zondagh told Die Burger it is possible to be successful on the attacking front without neglecting a solid defensive system.
"They don't need to give up their superb defence. The foundation and structure are already there. However, they could add an attacking dimension in order to be more effective when the opportunity arises.
"The main aim is still to win. But I'm worried that the Stormers will find themselves needing such a dimension in a key game and then won't be geared for it," said Zondagh. (Totally agree)
Zondagh, who was a scrumhalf in his playing days, doesn't like the fact that they constantly keep the ball amongst the forwards while attacking. "It's the safe option, but leads to nothing. Nothing happens to the defence. I feel a team is more dangerous if the ball regularly reaches the flyhalf so he can make a decision. It's not like the ball can't be moved back to the forwards."
He also feels the Capetonians should pay more attention to counter attacks. "The value of turnover ball is often emphasised because it's viewed as a try scoring opportunity."
And with dangerous backs like Juan de Jongh, Bryan Habana, Gio Aplon and Jean de Villiers, it's advice that coach Allister Coetzee and his coaching team should surely take note of.
Venter, the current technical director of English club Saracens, says Coetzee's game plan is spot on but the players lack the finishing touch when it comes to scoring.
"It's merely a case of the Stormers not being clinical enough when they get in their opponents' half. It's got nothing to do with their game plan. The plan is working brilliantly," said Venter.
He also feels that Schalk Burger and Duane Vermeulens absence is proving costly. "The loose trio from last year were Schalk, Duane and Francois Louw. They are big guys that can carry the ball. The youngsters don't have that physical strength." Well clearly Beeno and Venter ( a top rugby brain) are on the same page here. Elstadt is fine but he needs to be joined by Sa Player of the year Burger (who ou sapster trashes revealing his abject ignorance!) and the world class Duane Vermuelen - the new Bok number 8 once fit. It is amazing to think we have oaks like Coetzee and Fleckie who know zip about bacline coaching running the show when we should be making every effort t ograb hold of a class act like Venter.
Being a gentlemen is not the only quality to being a top coach - you need brains and rugby acumen. Venter puts anything we now have, after Rassie's lamatable departure ala Mallet, in the shade. Give Venter a month or so with our backline and watch the difference. I have nothing against Allister as a man but he is a quota appointment as he clearly flopped with the Boks. So Rassie goes and we end up with him!!!! That happened because our guys running the show down here ought all to be fired for gross incompetence - the top brass are our essential problem.
