Planet Rugby Forum

OomPB wrote:

Beaver_Shark wrote:I hate to admit it, but I think the Stormers will have the best pack in the SA conference. (Kitshoff, Bongi, Malherbe, Schickerling, PSDT, Kolisi, etc).

But it's looking really dire in the backs.

Jantjies/Willemse/Senatla/Pretorius/DdP/Sergeal/D Lleyds
Vermaak/Josua Stander/Adwill/Prince/Nel/Saal/T Lleyds

Kitshoff/Bongi/Malherbe/JD/Moerat/Kolisi/PsdT/Jaco Coetzee
Vermaak/Scarra/Wilco/C vanZyl/Meihuizen/van Rhyn/Trokkie
Samuels/Sadie

saffer13 wrote:

OomPB wrote:

Beaver_Shark wrote:I hate to admit it, but I think the Stormers will have the best pack in the SA conference. (Kitshoff, Bongi, Malherbe, Schickerling, PSDT, Kolisi, etc).

But it's looking really dire in the backs.

Jantjies/Willemse/Senatla/Pretorius/DdP/Sergeal/D Lleyds
Vermaak/Josua Stander/Adwill/Prince/Nel/Saal/T Lleyds

Kitshoff/Bongi/Malherbe/JD/Moerat/Kolisi/PsdT/Jaco Coetzee
Vermaak/Scarra/Wilco/C vanZyl/Meihuizen/van Rhyn/Trokkie
Samuels/Sadie

Isn't Leyds gone?

Sards wrote:Top of the South African conference
RWC champions
RC champions
CC champions
Greatest team in Africa



Who would bet against those mighty credentials.

OomPB wrote:

Sards wrote:Top of the South African conference
RWC champions
RC champions
CC champions
Greatest team in Africa



Who would bet against those mighty credentials.

Only a dom vok like you.

OomPB wrote:

saffer13 wrote:

OomPB wrote:

Beaver_Shark wrote:I hate to admit it, but I think the Stormers will have the best pack in the SA conference. (Kitshoff, Bongi, Malherbe, Schickerling, PSDT, Kolisi, etc).

But it's looking really dire in the backs.

Jantjies/Willemse/Senatla/Pretorius/DdP/Sergeal/D Lleyds
Vermaak/Josua Stander/Adwill/Prince/Nel/Saal/T Lleyds

Kitshoff/Bongi/Malherbe/JD/Moerat/Kolisi/PsdT/Jaco Coetzee
Vermaak/Scarra/Wilco/C vanZyl/Meihuizen/van Rhyn/Trokkie
Samuels/Sadie

Isn't Leyds gone?

Nope, decided to stay.

handyman wrote:

OomPB wrote:

Beaver_Shark wrote:I hate to admit it, but I think the Stormers will have the best pack in the SA conference. (Kitshoff, Bongi, Malherbe, Schickerling, PSDT, Kolisi, etc).

But it's looking really dire in the backs.

Jantjies/Willemse/Senatla/Pretorius/DdP/Sergeal/D Lleyds
Vermaak/Josua Stander/Adwill/Prince/Nel/Saal/T Lleyds

Kitshoff/Bongi/Malherbe/JD/Moerat/Kolisi/PsdT/Jaco Coetzee
Vermaak/Scarra/Wilco/C vanZyl/Meihuizen/van Rhyn/Trokkie
Samuels/Sadie

More than enough there to comfortably top the SA conference. I see no posts from the Lions, Bulls and saarks posters for a flounce bet?

Utility forward Cobus Wiese will run out for the Stormers in the 2020 Super Rugby competition - and not for English club Saracens.

This assurance was given by Stormers coach John Dobson, who spoke to Netwerk24 on Wednesday.

Dobson commented: "Cobus is available for Super Rugby. He has a release clause which he could exert after the tournament if he wanted to. I take note of Saracens' interest but I also know they have challenges."

saffer13 wrote:Jantjies/Willemse/Senatla/Pretorius/DdP/Sergeal/D Lleyds
Vermaak/Josua Stander/Adwill/Prince/Nel/Saal/T Lleyds

So with these backline options, my preferred backline would be:
9. Jantjies
10. Willemse
11. Senatla
12. Pretorius
13. DanduP
14. Sergeal
15. Leyds

21. Vermaak
22. Stander/Prince
23. Nel

handyman wrote: Let's hope the lions, bulls and saarks gets behind our biggest and best team, the Springboks .

Sards wrote:

handyman wrote: Let's hope the lions, bulls and saarks gets behind our biggest and best team, the Springboks .

Thats the spirit....


Stormers with their coach and team won the RWC.........

OomPB wrote:

Sards wrote:

handyman wrote: Let's hope the lions, bulls and saarks gets behind our biggest and best team, the Springboks .

Thats the spirit....


Stormers with their coach and team won the RWC.........

I try to bear your postings but please explain how do you came the this conclusion "with their coach" ?

Dobson have absolutely nothing to do with the Springbokke ?

saffer13 wrote:

OomPB wrote:

Sards wrote:

handyman wrote: Let's hope the lions, bulls and saarks gets behind our biggest and best team, the Springboks .

Thats the spirit....


Stormers with their coach and team won the RWC.........

I try to bear your postings but please explain how do you came the this conclusion "with their coach" ?

Dobson have absolutely nothing to do with the Springbokke ?

Good thing he was right, as usual.

The Stormers won't win Super Rugby if their "big names" remain these "superstars", according to coach John Dobson. Or, simply put, the team can't be stratified. Addressing the media at their training base in Bellville earlier today, Dobson discussed the squad's pre-season objectives and how he plans on dealing with the World Cup "hangover" some of his players are likely to still be feeling.

Not that there's anything wrong with drifting on the cloud of their massive success, but Dobson wants the team to operate as one in all aspects as they prepare for the 2019 Super season. No cliques, just one team.
The Stormers had eight players in the Springboks' World Cup winning squad, and integrating those guys into the Stormers' operations again will be a big focus for Dobson. “It’s a concern (how the World Cup winners are going to slot in). It was nice seeing Pieter-Steph (du Toit) quoted as he was talking about winning Super Rugby.

“We’ve worked very hard on trying to reset the culture here. They (Boks) haven’t been part of it. "I think one of the reasons why the Stormers haven’t been successful in a while is because we’ve always sort of had a stratified team around what I think Rassie (Erasmus) used to call the old purple squad. “Those were the really big guys... the guys who came to training in Range Rovers, like Bryan (Habana) and them, and then you had Nic Groom coming and parking his City Golf.

“That was Rassie’s theory, and I’ve certainly seen it in practice since then, so our big thing when they come back is that we need to sell them on what we’re trying to do here and the destratification of the team. "I don’t think we’ll win if they stay these superstars. It’s a big challenge for us." Dobson added that all of their players who were on the long-term injury list last season will be ready come February 1, with hooker Ramone Samuels the only concern. Dobson explained that the ankle injury Samuel's picked up early this year could prove career-threatening. His prognosis will be confirmed in February.

saffer13 wrote:

The Stormers won't win Super Rugby if their "big names" remain these "superstars", according to coach John Dobson. Or, simply put, the team can't be stratified. Addressing the media at their training base in Bellville earlier today, Dobson discussed the squad's pre-season objectives and how he plans on dealing with the World Cup "hangover" some of his players are likely to still be feeling.

Not that there's anything wrong with drifting on the cloud of their massive success, but Dobson wants the team to operate as one in all aspects as they prepare for the 2019 Super season. No cliques, just one team.
The Stormers had eight players in the Springboks' World Cup winning squad, and integrating those guys into the Stormers' operations again will be a big focus for Dobson. “It’s a concern (how the World Cup winners are going to slot in). It was nice seeing Pieter-Steph (du Toit) quoted as he was talking about winning Super Rugby.

“We’ve worked very hard on trying to reset the culture here. They (Boks) haven’t been part of it. "I think one of the reasons why the Stormers haven’t been successful in a while is because we’ve always sort of had a stratified team around what I think Rassie (Erasmus) used to call the old purple squad. “Those were the really big guys... the guys who came to training in Range Rovers, like Bryan (Habana) and them, and then you had Nic Groom coming and parking his City Golf.

“That was Rassie’s theory, and I’ve certainly seen it in practice since then, so our big thing when they come back is that we need to sell them on what we’re trying to do here and the destratification of the team. "I don’t think we’ll win if they stay these superstars. It’s a big challenge for us." Dobson added that all of their players who were on the long-term injury list last season will be ready come February 1, with hooker Ramone Samuels the only concern. Dobson explained that the ankle injury Samuel's picked up early this year could prove career-threatening. His prognosis will be confirmed in February.

John Dobson says Blitzbok and Stormers flyer Seabelo Senatla is determined to prove himself worthy of Springbok selection next season. DYLAN JACK reports.

The former Junior Springbok wing made his name on the World Sevens Series circuit, turning into a Blitzbok great at an early age by scoring 224 tries in 203 matches – sitting fourth overall on the top try-scorers in sevens history. He is also a Commonwealth Games gold medallist with the Blitzboks and a bronze medallist from the 2016 Rio Olympics.

However, after tasting as much success as he could in the shortened form of rugby, Senatla recently turned his attention to 15s, playing for the Stormers and Western Province on a more regular basis to achieve his ultimate goal of becoming a Springbok.

Senatla, along with Stormers teammate and fellow convert Ruhan Nel, are back training with the Blitzboks and are set to play in the first two Sevens Series tournaments in Dubai and Cape Town in December.

However, Dobson confirmed that the wing would be back and play for the Stormers on a full-time basis during next season’s Vodacom Super Rugby tournament.

‘We have got Angelo Davids, Ruhan and Seabelo,’ Dobson said on the Stormers players who are also part of the Blitzboks squad. ‘Angelo is staying with the Sevens for the whole season, Seabelo and Ruhan will join us at our pre-season camp after the Cape Town Sevens. Seabelo will be with us full-time. If he gets selected, Ruhan will go to the Olympics and miss the Super Rugby playoffs.’

While Senatla has struggled to make a similar mark in 15s to what he has done in sevens, Dobson added that Senatla’s fire to make his conversion a success still burns brightly.

‘Seabelo is absolutely convinced that he can become a Springbok. That is his focus. He is actually discounting quite a bit in terms of wages to be able to do that. I hope he makes it. He is really keen.’

Jensrsa wrote:

John Dobson says Blitzbok and Stormers flyer Seabelo Senatla is determined to prove himself worthy of Springbok selection next season. DYLAN JACK reports.

The former Junior Springbok wing made his name on the World Sevens Series circuit, turning into a Blitzbok great at an early age by scoring 224 tries in 203 matches – sitting fourth overall on the top try-scorers in sevens history. He is also a Commonwealth Games gold medallist with the Blitzboks and a bronze medallist from the 2016 Rio Olympics.

However, after tasting as much success as he could in the shortened form of rugby, Senatla recently turned his attention to 15s, playing for the Stormers and Western Province on a more regular basis to achieve his ultimate goal of becoming a Springbok.

Senatla, along with Stormers teammate and fellow convert Ruhan Nel, are back training with the Blitzboks and are set to play in the first two Sevens Series tournaments in Dubai and Cape Town in December.

However, Dobson confirmed that the wing would be back and play for the Stormers on a full-time basis during next season’s Vodacom Super Rugby tournament.

‘We have got Angelo Davids, Ruhan and Seabelo,’ Dobson said on the Stormers players who are also part of the Blitzboks squad. ‘Angelo is staying with the Sevens for the whole season, Seabelo and Ruhan will join us at our pre-season camp after the Cape Town Sevens. Seabelo will be with us full-time. If he gets selected, Ruhan will go to the Olympics and miss the Super Rugby playoffs.’

While Senatla has struggled to make a similar mark in 15s to what he has done in sevens, Dobson added that Senatla’s fire to make his conversion a success still burns brightly.

‘Seabelo is absolutely convinced that he can become a Springbok. That is his focus. He is actually discounting quite a bit in terms of wages to be able to do that. I hope he makes it. He is really keen.’

https://www.sarugbymag.co.za/senatla-springbok-colours/

Stormers coach John Dobson is confident that they have managed to retain the majority of their Springboks for next year’s Vodacom Super Rugby season. DYLAN JACK reports.

The Stormers have been involved in their pre-season preparations for next year’s Super Rugby season since early October. The reason for their early start is that Super Rugby will kick off on the final weekend of January next year.

With the Springboks still recovering from their World Cup exploits, the squad that assembled at the training ground this week was a young one, made up mostly of the U21 team and seniors who did not sign a loan deal overseas.

Given the financial issues that have dogged Western Province Rugby for so long, there have been concerns over how many Springbok players the union would be able to retain. Eben Etzebeth (Toulon) and Damian de Allende (Wild Knights) have already signed deals with overseas-based teams.

However, Dobson was confident that most of their Springboks would stay for next season, with an announcement about contract renewals set to be made in early December.

‘The vast majority,’ Dobson said when asked how many of their Springboks the Stormers have retained. ‘You have probably heard that Eben Etzebeth is going to Toulon. Damian de Allende has already signed in Japan. We will make an announcement but with the rest we are good.’

Dobson said that next season’s calendar is going to make it difficult to get the Springbok players ready in time to run out on 1 February against the Hurricanes.

bok_viking wrote:Well if the Stormers can hold on to the majority of their top players they will be the only realistic hope out of South Africa next season. If they are not first of the South African teams it will be a major underachievement. They are basically up against mainly young teams with very little experience with the rest of the SA teams.

handyman wrote:

bok_viking wrote:Well if the Stormers can hold on to the majority of their top players they will be the only realistic hope out of South Africa next season. If they are not first of the South African teams it will be a major underachievement. They are basically up against mainly young teams with very little experience with the rest of the SA teams.

Agreed. One has to question the management and unity of the other unions.

Sards wrote:

handyman wrote:

bok_viking wrote:Well if the Stormers can hold on to the majority of their top players they will be the only realistic hope out of South Africa next season. If they are not first of the South African teams it will be a major underachievement. They are basically up against mainly young teams with very little experience with the rest of the SA teams.

Agreed. One has to question the management and unity of the other unions.

Exactly....Stormers are going to smash Soup rugby and bring that trophy back for 2019.....

OomPB wrote:

Sards wrote:

handyman wrote:

bok_viking wrote:Well if the Stormers can hold on to the majority of their top players they will be the only realistic hope out of South Africa next season. If they are not first of the South African teams it will be a major underachievement. They are basically up against mainly young teams with very little experience with the rest of the SA teams.

Agreed. One has to question the management and unity of the other unions.

Exactly....Stormers are going to smash Soup rugby and bring that trophy back for 2019.....

No not that but they will smash the Sharks.

OomPB wrote:

Sards wrote:

handyman wrote:

bok_viking wrote:Well if the Stormers can hold on to the majority of their top players they will be the only realistic hope out of South Africa next season. If they are not first of the South African teams it will be a major underachievement. They are basically up against mainly young teams with very little experience with the rest of the SA teams.

Agreed. One has to question the management and unity of the other unions.

Exactly....Stormers are going to smash Soup rugby and bring that trophy back for 2019.....

No not that but they will smash the Sharks.

handyman wrote:

OomPB wrote:

Sards wrote:

handyman wrote:

bok_viking wrote:Well if the Stormers can hold on to the majority of their top players they will be the only realistic hope out of South Africa next season. If they are not first of the South African teams it will be a major underachievement. They are basically up against mainly young teams with very little experience with the rest of the SA teams.

Agreed. One has to question the management and unity of the other unions.

Exactly....Stormers are going to smash Soup rugby and bring that trophy back for 2019.....

No not that but they will smash the Sharks.

I think that is pretty much a given. The saarks are in a bad spot, with no players, a new coach and a toxic team environment.

Jensrsa wrote:

John Dobson says Blitzbok and Stormers flyer Seabelo Senatla is determined to prove himself worthy of Springbok selection next season. DYLAN JACK reports.

The former Junior Springbok wing made his name on the World Sevens Series circuit, turning into a Blitzbok great at an early age by scoring 224 tries in 203 matches – sitting fourth overall on the top try-scorers in sevens history. He is also a Commonwealth Games gold medallist with the Blitzboks and a bronze medallist from the 2016 Rio Olympics.

However, after tasting as much success as he could in the shortened form of rugby, Senatla recently turned his attention to 15s, playing for the Stormers and Western Province on a more regular basis to achieve his ultimate goal of becoming a Springbok.

Senatla, along with Stormers teammate and fellow convert Ruhan Nel, are back training with the Blitzboks and are set to play in the first two Sevens Series tournaments in Dubai and Cape Town in December.

However, Dobson confirmed that the wing would be back and play for the Stormers on a full-time basis during next season’s Vodacom Super Rugby tournament.

‘We have got Angelo Davids, Ruhan and Seabelo,’ Dobson said on the Stormers players who are also part of the Blitzboks squad. ‘Angelo is staying with the Sevens for the whole season, Seabelo and Ruhan will join us at our pre-season camp after the Cape Town Sevens. Seabelo will be with us full-time. If he gets selected, Ruhan will go to the Olympics and miss the Super Rugby playoffs.’

While Senatla has struggled to make a similar mark in 15s to what he has done in sevens, Dobson added that Senatla’s fire to make his conversion a success still burns brightly.

‘Seabelo is absolutely convinced that he can become a Springbok. That is his focus. He is actually discounting quite a bit in terms of wages to be able to do that. I hope he makes it. He is really keen.’

https://www.sarugbymag.co.za/senatla-springbok-colours/

Masterji wrote:What will the full strength Stormers look like?

saffer13 wrote:

Masterji wrote:What will the full strength Stormers look like?

Tough to say but the backline I'd prefer is:
9. Jantjies
10. Willemse
11. Senatla
12. Pretorius
13. DanduP
14. Sergeal
15. Leyds

21. Vermaak
22. Stander/Prince
23. Nel

Forwards, maybe something like this:
1. Ginger
2. Bongi
3. Malherbe
4. JD
5. Moerat
6. Kolisi
7. PSDT
8. Coetzee

16. Scarra
17. Louw
18. Vermaak??
19. Augustine
20. Wiese??

Chilli wrote:

saffer13 wrote:

Masterji wrote:What will the full strength Stormers look like?

Tough to say but the backline I'd prefer is:
9. Jantjies
10. Willemse
11. Senatla
12. Pretorius
13. DanduP
14. Sergeal
15. Leyds

21. Vermaak
22. Stander/Prince
23. Nel

Forwards, maybe something like this:
1. Ginger
2. Bongi
3. Malherbe
4. JD
5. Moerat
6. Kolisi
7. PSDT
8. Coetzee

16. Scarra
17. Louw
18. Vermaak??
19. Augustine
20. Wiese??

Isn't Wiese going to Saracens?

RE-SEASON BUILD-UP: The departure of World Cup-winning Springbok Damian de Allende and Dan Kriel has left the Stormers in a pickle.

Stormers coach John Dobson admitted midfield is one of two ‘flash points’ for his team, as they step up their pre-season preparations.

“We are little bit thin at centre,” was the candid statement by Dobson, when addressing a media briefing at the team’s training base in Bellville.


“We have two really good youngsters in Matt Moore and Rikus Pretorius. Also, there is Daniël du Plessis and Ruhan Nel.

“[However,] Ruhan might be going [with the national Sevens team] to Tokyo for the Olympics,”the Stormers coach added.

De Allende has moved to the Wild Knights in Japan and Kriel joined the Ellis Park-based Lions.

Moore was recruited to the Munster academy straight out of school two years ago, but has returned to South Africa and joined the Cape Town outfit.

Pretorius is a product of Grey College. He has been part of the broader Stormers training squad since 2018 and played for the SA Under-20 squad in 2018 and 2019 – as vice-captain this year. He made his Western Province debut in the Currie Cup against the Cheetahs in August.

The other ‘flash point’ is scrumhalf.

“We also don’t have a proven Super Rugby back-up No.9,” the coach said.

“Herschel [Jantjies] has become one.

“We might look at keeping Jano [Vermaak] on in some capacity.”

“The pack is really well resourced,” Dobson said, adding: “The back three [is also] really well resourced.

“At flyhalf we have Damian [Willemse], JL [Jean-Luc du Plessis] and Leggit [Dillyn Leyds] can cover there.

“There is a youngster called David Kriel, who reminds me of a young Pieter Rossouw,” he said of the Grey College-schooled back who played fullback for WP in the Under-19 Final against the Blue Bulls earlier this year.

“He is a really good player.

“Super Rugby may not be ideal for him just yet next year.

“[However,] he is going to be special, properly special.

“We always have the option of David going to No.15 and Leggit moving up [to No.10].

“It is not the best kicking game in the world, but I don’t think we have the best kicking game in the world anyway.”

OomPB wrote: However I like our fixture list with only touring late in the tournament. If we can build up form with the home matches it will put us in great shape for the business end.

Jensrsa wrote:Geo-targeted
A telephonic interview with Stormers coach John Dobson regarding pre-season plans at the Sharks for the 2020 Super Rugby season

Jensrsa wrote:

OomPB wrote: However I like our fixture list with only touring late in the tournament. If we can build up form with the home matches it will put us in great shape for the business end.

Not so sure if it's a good thing to tour late, especially to NZ, but it depends on who the Stormers play then. Important to build a good lead on the log

OomPB wrote:Look like Willemse got a bad injury playing for Saracens. Hope he is ok.

OomPB wrote:

Jensrsa wrote:

OomPB wrote: However I like our fixture list with only touring late in the tournament. If we can build up form with the home matches it will put us in great shape for the business end.

Not so sure if it's a good thing to tour late, especially to NZ, but it depends on who the Stormers play then. Important to build a good lead on the log

In the past the Stormers always had a good home record. They have never toured late.

Saturday, April 25 (Kick-off: 09h05)
v Chiefs, venue TBC

Saturday, May 2 (Kick-off: 06h45)
v Crusaders, Orangetheory Stadium in Christchurch

Saturday, May 9 (Kick-off: 11h15)
v Brumbies, venue TBC in Canberra

Saturday, May 16 (Kick-off: 06h45)
v Sunwolves at Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium in Tokyo

Sards wrote:

OomPB wrote:

Jensrsa wrote:

OomPB wrote: However I like our fixture list with only touring late in the tournament. If we can build up form with the home matches it will put us in great shape for the business end.

Not so sure if it's a good thing to tour late, especially to NZ, but it depends on who the Stormers play then. Important to build a good lead on the log

In the past the Stormers always had a good home record. They have never toured late.

Saturday, April 25 (Kick-off: 09h05)
v Chiefs, venue TBC

Saturday, May 2 (Kick-off: 06h45)
v Crusaders, Orangetheory Stadium in Christchurch

Saturday, May 9 (Kick-off: 11h15)
v Brumbies, venue TBC in Canberra

Saturday, May 16 (Kick-off: 06h45)
v Sunwolves at Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium in Tokyo

3 tough matches and then the Brumbies