Before dealing with the said three teams I must say that -
* the Lions put up a most credible performance and that they thoroughly deserve their win;
* even though I expected the much weakened Cheetahs team to lose - they really did put up a very credible performance.
* the Sharks were extremely lucky to win against the force and they did win despite determined efforts by some of their players to ensure they lose;
The Stormers
This is no doubt the most disgusting performance in years by the Stormers. Before the game I warned that the team is fine - but the three midgets in the backline will let the team down. So lets look at what they produced:-
Some would scream this guy scored two tries - the problem is both of those were finishing off work done by others and any half-decent center would have scored them. The problem is with the sick-looking rest of the stats. I have never yet seen any player who in one match manage to lose ball possession SIX times and aside from that he gave away a penalty as well. That must be some kind of a record. Aside from the above - which directly led to the scoring of two tries against the Stormers, one has to look at the other negative - namely the fact that out of EIGHT tackle attempts he managed to make FIVE only - missing THREE tackles altogether. His missed tackle ratio was an alarming 37,5%.
Despite the two tries this guy contributed virtually most to the disgusting performance I referred to earlier.
This guy was pathetic - his first touch of the ball (a knock-on) put the Sharks under serious pressure and the end of that was inevitable - the first try of the Highlanders. Aside from that his contribution during the rest of the game was pathetic as well - just the fact that he made ONE tackle and missed ONE tackle indicates that he never should have been near the Stormers squad.
Even though Kolbe missed a tackle that directly let to a try for the Highlanders - the rest of his game was good enough to justify his inclusion in the team.
What should be done to improve matters
The answer is simple - get rid of the useless De Jongh and the worse Leyds. They have a number of very good players who will be much better at 13 and on the wing. There are Kotze and Jones to mention just two.
The Sharks
After watching the first half I was sorely tempted to switch off my TV or watch another programme. I have not for years seen such a game of no reading of the game at all. Lets look at the stats of Fracois Steyn and evaluate those:-
0/1014/8/1150001211/10/000/0
Before I look at the issue - much will be said about the pass to SJ Marais - when eh scored that try. It was a pass ending up rolling on the grass and the fact that the latter managed to pick it up is seriously to the credit of Marais - against a stronger team that pass will not have let to a try for the Sharks - most likely one for the opposition.
The backline saboteur was hard at work again. He handled the ball 33 times during the game. Of those -
* he kicked the ball away 14 times;
* he passed the ball 8 times; and
* he carried the ball 11 times.
I have never seen such a poor and aimless kicking display by a flyhalf. There was no plan about his kicking game - it just represented handovers in possession. The game was going nowhere - Steyn made absolutely sure of that. What was even more worrying was that the Sharks often enough lost territory as a result of the kicks.
What should be done to improve matters
Beating in mind his aimless and colourless display in the game - it is clear that Steyn is NO FLYHALF. Aside from his inability to read games and decide on ball play - his kicking at goal was 100% ineffective as well.
Steyn's total inability to make line breaks and the minimal number of tackles he beats put his center selection in as much doubt as his flyhalf selection. Although his tackle stats today looked better - he normally is a seriously deficient defender. Should never again play at flyhalf and the Sharks would be well-advised never to play him at 12 as well.
The Bulls
The Bulls put up a surprisingly good performance today. However, one has to credit the majority of the players for that performance - youngsters like Pollard, Kriel and Odendaal were excellent.
However , as good as they were so bad were other players in the team.
Matfield0/000/8/2001007/03/100/0
For long periods during the day he produced nothing at all. His Tight 5 contribution is zero-minus and much will be made of the fact that he took a line out ball on Crusaders throw-in. For the rest his contribution was one big zero.
Spies was pathetic - he is clumsy and could neither pick up balls after scrums nor catch balls kicked to him. His defense was an absolute nightmare and the penalties he gave away was pathetic. For long periods during the game he managed to be invisible.
Stegmann did squat all day long - he was pathetic.
What should be done about the Problems :
The best thing to do is to send Matfield on permanent retirement and to play the following players as loosies:-
* Arno Botha at 8;
* Handro Liebenberg at 7; and
* Lappies Labuschagne at 6.
For heavens sake they must replace the 105 kg physical-deficient lock and get decent strong enough replacement.
