Highlanders

JayStarr says...

@ ruckingkiwi: I'm not the one talking smack - you just can't read...

"As the Stormers showed us last year and against the Highlanders" refered to changing from a mauling approach to a plan B... Against the Highlanders last week you could see the Stormers trying to maul at the beginning, but they realised the Highlanders had plans to disrupt it, so they stopped and reverted to another approach. Last year quite a few teams took the approach the Crusaders took with the Bulls last week by not engaging with the Stormers at the line-outs - so they couldn't legally set up a maul. And by doing that they took one of their main attacking weapons out of the game. But last year - and against the Highlanders - the Stormers easily reverted to a different approach when this was the case.

THAT is what I was talking about.

As for what they showed us last year: "not a lot"? Uhm, they were 2nd on the log for the vast majority of the tournament and made the semi-finals. That after they made the finals the year before... And both seasons they had the best defense in the comp. So they've showed us plenty - you just haven't been paying attention.

Neither the Bulls nor the Crusaders became championship teams in one or two seasons... You have to be a blind fool to look at the Stormers and not realise they're a champion team in the making. And if you don't agree, let's see how they do on Saturday...

Also - do you really want to throw the "choking" tag around..? If that's what the Stormers did the last two seasons, what has the Crusaders been doing for the last three seasons..?

No, I'm not stupid enough to suggest that the Crusaders "choked"... I'm just pointing out how stupid you are for suggested the Stormers did.

If you don't like what I'm saying, disagree in a sensible manner - don't revert to schoolyard spitefulness.

Posted 17:32 12th April 2012

kahui says...

Crusaders will take this one

Posted 10:17 11th April 2012

bloemboy says...

I will stick my neck out on this one and say Stormers by 10. The Stormers looked very tired in the last 15 minutes last week, but they had just travelled. they have had another week of acclimatization and travel rest, while the crusaders have had to fly to and from SA very recently. Crusaders will try out wide and Stormers will score on the counter. Stormers in turn are going to give it to the big boys to go up the middle. Crusaders will run out of puff in the last 10

Posted 07:49 11th April 2012

JayStarr says...

@ noodle: You mean like one of those chip kicks Joe Pietersen scored a try from..?

The Crusaders will have to play much better than they did against the Bulls if they want to beat the Stormers. And Dan Carter better find his kicking boots soon - because Peter Grant has his on..!

But you're right - I'm certain the Crusaders will try to use clever kicking to overcome the Stormers' defense. They'll probably try to put up-and-unders on Aplon and Pietersen - bargaining on their speedsters being able to put in a good chase and beat their shorter opponents in the air... But the Bulls tried this - and it didn't work. It might also not be such a good idea to give free ball to Aplon, Pietersen and Habana! So I'm sure they'll try cross-field kicks, grubbers and chips too... but I'm also sure the Stormers will be expecting this from the Crusaders!

I'm also expecting the Crusaders not to commit to mauls at the line-outs - like they did with the Bulls... because they know the Stormers' have the best maul in the comp. But as the Stormers showed last year and against the Highlanders, they can stop mauling and revert to plan B pretty easily. I think they might even just not maul to begin with after seeing the Bulls game - and only bring it in when the 'Saders least expect it.

I think it will be an interesting chess match. :)

Stormers to send out a serious message by beating the Crusaders in Christchurch.

Posted 23:59 10th April 2012