5Lock4ward says...

Too bad, I would have liked to seen Burger show the NH what physicality really means.

Posted 22:38 05th July 2011

JayStarr says...

This is a great sign of loyalty from the senior players, and it's also very encouraging to see the young stars staying on...

But becoming SR-champions is not just about having continuity and experience. They need to realise that to beat teams like the Crusaders and Reds next year they need to:

a) change their attitude/mentality; and

b) improve their attacking play DRASTICALLY.

As controversial as this might sound, I don't think Schalk Burger is the best captain for this team (or he needs to change his approach). For the games that he was not playing the Stormers seemed to have a different attitude under JdV - you would regularly see him get the players together in huddles BEFORE they went off the rails... Schalk only seems to talk to them once they've already screwed up...

There is also a HUGE difference for me in this team's attitude now, and what it was under Luke Watson. When Watson was captain they had a sense of urgency, like a fire burning inside them... I was proud of them even when they lost, because they threw everything into it. I hardly ever see that now.

To improve their attack by the required margin, Brok Harris and Wickus Blaauw need to be replaced. They've been mediocre at best in the scrums... and are often our weakness on both attack and defense. They've had their time.

Also, I've said it before but I'll say it again: the fact that Robbie Fleck can have players like Aplon, Habana, Fourie, de Villiers, de Jongh and Sadie at his exposal, but end up having the worst attack in the competition, is nothing short of a DISGRACE... They looked one-dimensional and CLUELESS!

I'll be keeping a close eye on Province's attacking play in the Currie Cup, because here there are no excuses. Fleck needs to shape up or slip out. Otherwise the Crusaders and Reds WILL beat us again next year.

Posted 19:39 05th July 2011