Great to see Eben Etzebeth starting for the Stormers, this kid is the real deal. He is in some really good young company at the Stormers when it comes to the engine room.
Etzebeth 20, 2.03m and 120kg
Elstadt 21, 1.98m and 118kg
Quin Roux 21, 1.98m and 125kg
Kirchoff 19, 120kg (loosehead)
Malherbe 20, 124kg (tighthead)
JC Kritzinger 22, 118kg (prop)
I've yet to se any of these guys play so I'll keep an eye out for them
Blauw is also in the 120kg and Bekker is 120Kg. Then Vermulen is 114 kg and Schalk 110 kg.
Hence if you play Elstadt at 7 and Etzebeth at lock I calculated we could field a 932 kg pack. A lot bigger than the Bok pack.
Now that is what I have been saying all along - we can field a formidable pack and bring on the a faster loosie and hooker in the second half when opponents have been softened up. Our young props should be better again this season and Carstens is also there to menotor and lend a hand.
Those writing off the Stormers and talking about them tumbling down the leaderboard could be left with very red faces. Only way that could happen is a disproportionate level of injuries and too many bulle type refs etc shafting us.
Watch Etzebeth tomorrow - I have been banging on about this guy for some time now. He was by far our best Bok U20 last year. For a big guy, he gets all over the park, high work rate, aggressive and loves to go on the charge. Best young lock I have seen in years. If he does not become a Bok, I'll eat a brick
Beeno - I was talking about the young brigade. Bekker is 122kg. Its not all about the size of the pack, yes beef is important but no point in playing a lock at 7 for the sake of beef. The Stormers need to get the balance right in the forwards. For a start Schalk should be at 7 and Vermeulen at 8. They need to find a true openside and Kolisi and Carr look their best bets
Elstadt has played seven so its nothing new. I would like to see an opposing side living with that sort of pack. Unstoppable near the opposition line winning the collisions and driving the opposition back relentlessly. Sucking the opposition loosies etc. Its worth a try. Easy to tweak the pack thereafter to get it faster.
Bekker/ The Jorrie Muller of locks? Don't make me laugh! This clown is one of the papest players I have ever seen. Regularly dumped by flyweights ans constantly ruining backline play with his big clumpy hands. It's a mute point anyway as he'll be injured after 20 minutes and only return in the last five games! LOL
"Bekker/ The Jorrie Muller of locks? Don't make me laugh! This clown is one of the papest players I have ever seen. Regularly dumped by flyweights ans constantly ruining backline play with his big clumpy hands. It's a mute point anyway as he'll be injured after 20 minutes and only return in the last five games! LOL"
Your'e on good form today. You obviously missed a couple of games in 2010. Ja, i know he had his fair share of injuries, but the rest of your opinion is even more kak as you make him out to be.I gather your'e not to fond of the Stormers. Thats OK by me, at least you are man enough to acknowledge some of their players. Thanx for that at least.
My views on Bekker are substantially researched. Yes, he had very good games in 2009 and 2010 for the Stormers. I even stated myself that he was not much unlike Olivier in that he was the form lock those years in that competition. Unlike Olivier though, Bekker is not a very hardy person, and it shows even in Super rugby. Like Olivier he has never been able to aqcuit himself at test level. Bekker made his debut in 2008 in the first Welsh test; since that time he has failed to make an impact in six appearances against New Zealand, five against Australia, the two Lions tests, and against the home unions. For someone so heavily praised this is unacceptable. Olivier has not escaped criticism and neither should Bekker.
Regarding the Stormers? I definitely want to make it clear that I am not one of those heavily entrenched in provincialism. I can even be scathing in my assessment of the Cheetahs. There are many players for the Stormers that I do like; it's more a case of the way the Stormers, like the sharks, are being very poorly managed. That's where my criticism really stems from. Players like Bekker and Grant are just overrated nonentities. Nothing personal, just calling it out.
Complete bullshit, Bekker is an awesome player. Last year prior to his injury he was in the form of his life - easily the best lock playing the game at the time
Although I'm a Sharks fan I cannot for the life of me see how nearly all pundits ad journo's see the Sharks winning the conference.(hopefully i'm wrong LOL). I reckon the Stormers have a good enough team to be therabouts again this year.
Well said Dave and of course you are right. Bekker was the 2010 SA Super 14 player of the year. His form continued into 2011 but he was overplayed and got injured.
