This weekend was a very special one for Stormers fans around South Africa, as it was the weekend when the Stormers showed that they can be real title contenders and that they can stand up to any team physically. For many years now there have been questions over the Stormers pack's ability to challenge the Bulls and the Sharks physically. In two finals in 2010 those questions were left unanswered as first the Bulls in the Super 14 final and then the Sharks in the Currie Cup final outplayed the Stormers in the forwards.
Saturday evening, however, was a very different kettle of fish. The Stormers pack looked under pressure at the start of the game, but that lasted a mere 10 minutes. In any tight game the tight five lay the foundation, but the loose forwards often determine the outcome. At Newlands on Saturday the Stormers loose trio were phenomenal and I can't see how P Divvy (Peter de Villiers ) can leave any one of them out of his squad.
The talented Sharks loose trio of Ryan Kankovski, Keegan Daniel and Willem Alberts were comprehensively outplayed. Duane Vermeulen has always been shunned by the Bok coach, but I don't know how long that can continue. Pierre Spies is an absolute beast of a physical specimen. It is great for TV and print ads, but that doesn't mean much when you don't use it on the field. Francois Louw also missed out on the end-of-the-year tour in 2010 to Deon Stegmann from the Bulls. At the World Cup, later this year, the Boks will need two open side flankers and I would take Francois Louw with Heindrich Brussouw. His work rate and ability to steal ball on the ground will be a major asset to the team.
Enough said about our loose forwards, let's talk about our locks. For years now there has been no doubt about the two best locks in the country and possibly the world. Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha have earned their reputation as the best lock combination in World Rugby. Well move over, there are new kids on the block. Rynard Elstadt has arrived on the scene with a bang as the mongrel that the Stormers pack has lacked for many seasons. He is only 21 years old and doesn't stand back for anybody. There is a story doing the rounds that in his first practice session with the Stormers he tackled Schalk Burger back and then gave him a punch for good measure.
On Saturday these two joined forces and when Bismarck du Plessis took the ball up for the first time they smashed him back and Elstadt also gave him a little "how's your mother" when he got up. Andries Bekker seems to have sorted out his private life and is playing the type of rugby that makes him a deserved successor to Victor Matfield. These two locks are both very young and have the ability to become the top combination in World Rugby. The Cape has always been blessed with great back line players and with this pack of forwards the likes of Jean de Villiers, Jacques Fourie, Gio Aplon and Brian Habana can tear any team apart. This is what they did on Saturday to the Sharks and when Peter Grant comes back they will be even more dangerous. Long may this form continue. I look forward to the battle between Jean de Villiers and Jacque Fourie for the Stormers and Robbie Freuen and Sonny-Bill Williams of the Crusaders. If the Stormers defend the way they did against the Sharks it will be a tough day for the Crusaders at fortress Newlands.
On the international scene I welcome the announcement of John Smit as the World Cup captain. I know many of you won't agree with me, but I will try to explain why. In 1999 Nic Mallet dropped Gary Teichmann before the World Cup. Bobby Skinstad was at his best then and undoubtedly better than Teichmann. Gary's influence and respect as a captain was underestimated by Mallet and I think it cost us a World Cup. John is a great leader and has the ability to get the team together and make sure they all focus on the task at hand, which is defending their title. I have always been a big critic of "P Divvy" and his coaching abilities and, therefore, I believe he needs a strong leader like John Smit to captain his troops.
This weekend will be another great one in Super Rugby and I look forward to giving you my thoughts next Monday. Have a great week.
