Super rugby news

Andries Bekker is back for the Stormers this coming weekend against the force.  He will also be captaining the Stormers following the return to South Africa of Duane Vermeulen.  Other injured players include Gio Aplon and Nick Koster, who is returning to S.A. with Vermeulen.

In Cheetahs news, captain Adriaan Strauss returns for the match against the Highlanders this coming weekend.

The Lions made 2 changes for their match against the Brumbies this coming weekend.  Lionel Mapoe replaces James Kamana on the left wing and Hendrik Roodt fills in for Stephan Greeff at lock.

The Bulls and the Sharks both have byes this coming weekend.

The Super 15 points system sucks

Whoever decided on the current super 15 points system, should get his head examined.  It makes absolutely no sense and results in S.A. fans rooting for teams from New Zealand and Australia, instead of supporting the local super 15 teams.  Only one team from S.A. can have a home semi, so obviously every supporter wants that team to be his or hers.  Say I support the Sharks and the Stormers have a match against the Crusaders.  In previous years, I would have supported the Stormers, because I'm proudly South African, but now I want the Stormers to lose, because that would give my team, the Sharks, a better chance to finish on top.  It sucks.

Let's take a look at the log after this weekend.  The Chiefs are on top with 35 points, followed by the Stormers at number 2 with 33 points.  At number 3 is the Brumbies with 26 points.  This is where it gets ridiculous.  The Bulls at 4 with 33 points, the Highlanders at 5 with 30 points and the Crusaders at 6 with 28 points, all have more log points than the Brumbies.  But because of the conference system, the Brumbies are ahead of all three teams, although they have less points, just because they are on top of the Australian conference.  Should the points system have stayed the same as two years ago, S.A. would have had 2 teams in the top 4, with the Stormers at number two and the Bulls at number 3.  We even could have had two semi-finals in S.A., but this is now impossible due to the ridiculous system. 

This system is unfair and impractical.  Plainly said, it sucks.  I hope that someone will have the brains and the guts to stop this nonsense.

Stormers beat Reds

The Stormers has beaten the Reds by 23 points to 13.  The Stormers looked asleep in the second half and didn't earn a bonus point.

Stormers vs Reds

The Stormers are 17-3 ahead at half time.  It looks like they will get the full 5 points.

Funny rugby pictures

Stormers vs Reds Super Rugby match

The Stormers play the Reds today at 11:40 in Brisbane.  Both teams are injury stricken and have lost some key players.  Although the Stormers lost last week, they are in good form and will not have a problem to continue their good form.  Yes they lost Jean de Villiers and Andries Bekker, but a team with players like Bryan Habana, Gio Aplon, Joe Pietersen and the rest is still a formidable force.  I predict a win for the Stormers, but it won't be easy.

The return of Victor Matfield?

Victor Matfield is considering Heyneke Meyer's request to return for the Springboks.  Quite an interesting idea.  Maybe Heyneke should call in some more of the big guys from the past.  How about Frik du Preez? If the kicker has a bad game, he can always fill in as goal kicker.  And he will quickly sort out the English in the loose.  And Mannetjies Roux could play wing.  Then Loftus could play the Mannetjies Roux song every time he scores a try.  Kobus Wiese could be an asset next to Victor at lock. He could stand at the centre line to stop anybody from getting through.  There's so many players to choose from, like Morne du Plessis, Francois Pienaar, Divan Serfontein, Johan Heunis etc.  Heyneke could put quite a team together.

How would your all time best Springbok team look like?

Habana moves to 13 for Reds clash

The Stormers have made 3 changes to their lineup for the clash against the Reds.  Bryan Habana moves to 13, following the injury of captain Jean de Villiers, who is returning to Cape Town.  Habana will be partnering Juan de Jongh at centre while Gio Aplon returns to wing after injury.

The stormers team:

Joe Pietersen, Gerhard van den Heever, Bryan Habana, Juan de Jongh, Gio Aplon, Peter Grant, Dewaldt Duvenhage, Duane Vermeulen (Captain), Rynhardt Elstadt, Siya Kolisi, De Kock Steenkamp, Eben Etzebeth, Brok Harris, Tiaan Liebenberg, Steven Kitshoff.

Replacements:

Deon Fourie, Frans Malherbe, Nick Koster, Nizaam Carr, Louis Schreuder, Burton Francis, J.P. du Plessis

SA teams upcoming fixtures 20-21 April 2012

20 April 2012:  Reds vs Stormers 11:40 at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane

21 April 2012:  Sharks vs Chiefs 17:05 at Mr. Price Kings Park, Durban

21 April 2012:  Bulls vs Brumbies 19:10 at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria

Bye:  Cheetahs & Lions

Stormers vs Bulls supporters. It's not for sissies.

I recently did a very interesting experiment.  I put a picture of the new pink bulls jersey on my facebook page and got quite a strange response.  I know that the pink bulls jersey is the butt of many a joke, but all I got in response to my picture, was extreme attacks from (especially) Stormers supporters.  None of the comments were funny as I'd hoped, but they were quite aggressive.  This aggression, however, goes both ways.  Speaking to Bulls supporters, it seems that they have nothing good to say about the Stormers supporters.  'They are so arrogant', seems to be the main feeling among Bulls supporters.  Speaking in turn to Stormers supporters, they say the same thing. 'Bulls fans are so arrogant'. 

So which team's supporters are the most arrogant?  

You might say it's just a friendly rivalry?  Well, then you've never watched a Stormers/Bulls game in the same room with their fanatic supporters.  It gets crazy.  I've seen black, bloody and swollen eyes, beer flying through the air, team flags being tossed around and poked at people.  Friendships have been ruined by this rivalry, even some marriages couldn't take the pressure.  It's not for the faint hearted. 

I'm not sure there is such an intense rivalry anywhere in the world, as there is between the Bulls and the Stormers supporters.  It's something to be proud of I guess.  Just watch out what you say around these supporters, as you might end up with a black eye yourself!