sharkbok
Captain23,285 posts
sharkbokCaptain23,285 posts
18 Apr 2015, 21:14#2
It was generally a good weekend for SA Rugby. The only real contenders are the Stormers and Bulls at this stage.
The Bulls put the Golden Sharks out of their misery, and the Stormers their 2nd away win.
The Crusaders slipped, as did the table topping Hurricanes. The Hurricanes pack is starting to look suspect.
The table is looking more closely packed now. With so many derbies anything can happenExcept- Any idea of the Sharks being contenders is a fantasy.
DBDbDraad
Captain26,388 posts
DBDbDraadCaptain26,388 posts
18 Apr 2015, 21:55#3
It's the Stormers' to throw away. Bulk of their remaining games at home. Sharks and tha Bools to travel still. IMO, either the Lions or Stormers will top the SA conference....and from where I'm standing, I hope its the latter.
19 Apr 2015, 05:36#4
You wish shark blk lol. Canes pack went alright. Canes threw that game away more then lost it. They'll be alright just need to cut out those errors.
CLclevermike
Coach57,555 posts
CLclevermikeCoach57,555 posts
19 Apr 2015, 09:06#5
Luke
I have some problems as to the teams this year. Some - like those at present on the log from 11 to 15 I leave out of discussion of the carious teams because they are indeed no-hopers to get into the top 6 on the log.
The Hurricanes
They have a magnificent backline, but their forwards are at best average. That makes them suspect insofar as the campaign is concerned - it is not going to take them through the final stages of the campaign.
The Bulls
Something bothers me about this team. They should on paper be the strongest team in the SA Conference, but they have the worst props and the inclusion of Matfield is going to destroy their Tight 5 totally. In essence they are weak up front, despite on paper they should do better. I doubt very much whether that deficiency would show up as badly on tour in Australasia as it would show up in SA. So we will have to wait and see what happens.
The Brumbies
They have been miserable in the last two games and I think they are on the way down the log if they continue to under-perform. I think the Waratahs are goingt to beat them in their upcoming derby and int hat event they are going to go down to position 7 or 8 on the log. They still has to come to SA and that is not likely to be to their advantage either.
The Chiefs
I think the Chiefs may be title contenders - but they need to up their forwards display considerably. Potentially they have a top backline - but their Tight 5 is wobbly. Their performance on Saturday was not utterly convincing and two of their backline players were part of the problem - Cruden because of his injury and SB Williams because one never knows when he is playing and when he is on honeymoon. They won the game on Friday - not because they were so good - but rather because the Crusaders put up an abysmal performance.
Highlanders
I think the Highlanders may be title contenders - but they need to up their forwards display considerably. Potentially they have a very good backline - especially with Naholo, Fekitoa but their Tight 5 is not comprised of well-known players and consequently not the best around. A all-round good unit and I think they may be title contenders.
Stormers
Their performances this year varied from very good to abysmal. They have the ebst forward combination in the competition - but they have poor flyhalfs and other than De Allende and Van Wyk the rest of their backline is from a defense perspective especially is sub-par. They are likely to be the top SA team in the competition and if they have a home semi - itr could spell trouble for opponents.
Waratahs
I think that they would take over the top of the Australian Conference Log and is likely to end up in the top 3 overall log positions ahead of the Brumbies - who may be out of the Top 6 log positions as a result. Their win against the Hurricanes showed exactly why I have doubts about the chances of the Hurricanes in the competition - the latter term was indeed lucky to beat the Stormers with the active help of the referee.
Lions
A team without any big-name players who have thus far done remarkably well. The players play above their level of competence and it shows in the games where they play as a unit.
Sharks
Too many big-name players who under-perform and they need seriously some phasing out of geriatrics. The under-performing players like Francois Steyn and Bismarck du Plessis are serious problems for the team and their return may cause serious problems for the team when going on their overseas campaign. Can only go down further on the log.
Crusaders
Another team with a serious geriatrics problem and they are apparently going nowhere fast. They can still potentially feature in the top 6 on the log - but I have developed serious doubts about that. Losing 5 games of 9 played is a serious negative, since their wins in the main was against lower-rated teams and they become unstuck against stronger teams.
19 Apr 2015, 09:24#6
kinda disagree mike. Theirs a reason why theyve gone 7 in a row up till now. Their tight five has been very good. Their backrow awesome. They got monstered in this game in the tight. But dont critizise to much. After one loss I know you were waiting lol. They were a tad to adventorous and high risk. If not they would of wan. Canes have set up their campaign nicely. Well see watch this space.
CLclevermike
Coach57,555 posts
CLclevermikeCoach57,555 posts
19 Apr 2015, 09:41#7
Luke
I tried to be as objective as possible in what I wrote above. Lets face facts - the weak component of the Hurricanes is their Tight 5 and that is where they may become unstuck. If they reach the semi-final stage of the competition, that is likely to be their main problem.
I do not like a situation where scrums are in serious retreat as was the case in their game against the Stormers. That shows a serious deficiency and there is no signs that there is any improvement on that score in the Hurricanes team. That is the main reason why I doubt whether they will reach the Final in the competition.
DBDbDraad
Captain26,388 posts
DBDbDraadCaptain26,388 posts
19 Apr 2015, 11:00#8
Mike, most scrums were on the back foot against the Mighty Stormers!
CLclevermike
Coach57,555 posts
CLclevermikeCoach57,555 posts
19 Apr 2015, 11:07#9
Draad
I have sold my home in Tinley Manor Beach and aims to buy a house in Riversdale - my family is still living there. Am likely to go their next week to look for one. I left Riversdale at the end of 1960 and has not lived there since - but was borne and brought up there.
Since I will be moving there and probably get season tickets for Newlands - I will perforce have to support the Stormers and WP in future.
