No-one can wait any longer, the nerves are on a knife’s edge. The camps are going through their preparations. The new recruits are fitting well into the teams. They feel ready. Let the games begin. But there is still 26 days left before the games begin.The fans are getting nervous.
Read what some supporters had to say.
A passionate Stormers supporter wrote this-
Look, as Stormers fans we get treated with the biggest promises known to man every year during Jan and Feb in the build-up to the Super 14. The Cape media spin doctors do their thing and we all go for it. Not because we believe that THIS will be the year, but simply because we WISH, hope and pray that this year will be the year. And as Stormers supporters, why shouldn’t we.
So history does suggest that the Stormers does not SUCK so badly. And lets face it, the squad this year, just like in SO many other years looks really good. I mean, just to have Habana, Jaques Fourie and Jantjies (Yes, there is a reason why he has 24 Caps) in one backline is pretty awesome. Then to have a loose trio of Burger, Louw and Vermeulen would make many a coach smile, while the lock pairing of Bekker and van Zyl is not too bad. All in all, a good team. So as a fan, I expect them to at least finish in the top 4. But they wont… is it because of their laid back Cape Town fashion? No. Is it because there are too many ego’s in the team. With Luke out, no. Is it because the coaches are useless and there is no depth in the squad? No. None of the above is event present, let alone a factor. IMO.
A Lion Supporter had this to say-
So, to those who call us idiots, pathetic and disillusioned. We will, can and have the right to believe in our team and new set-up. Call us names, call us stupid. But please call us when we surprise you, and end in the top half.
We have every reason to believe that we will do better and be competitive. We have no reason to believe that we will remain the whipping boys of Super 14 and that we are a walking bonus point. The point is we are more professional. We are fitter and stronger, we have experience, and we have depth. We also have hugely talented players with a hunger to perform.
Die Vodacom Cheetahs moet nie net in die Vodacom Super14-reeks probeer meeding nie, maar moet glo hulle kan dit wen. Só sê Eugene van Wyk, spanbestuurder, oor dié streekspan se benadering tot die Super-reeks waarin hulle nog nie juis hond haaraf kon maak nie.
The Sharks we all know felt robbed, so they might be the most desperate of them all. That last 90 seconds in 2007 robbed them of the title they worked so hard for, sadly for them the Bulls arrived with a team that played their guts out in the semi final and the Sharks thought they wont last 81 minutes. They feel that somehow the Rugby Gods owe them one, how could it happen. The questions hang in the air every time they start a new season. Since I can not find a Shark blog site I don’t really know what the supporters say and feel. But I know that the 3 Lion players bolstered their team and hopes.
The Bulls have the toughest job of them all. Unlike the other teams who might be happy with a semi final spot or a top half finish the Bulls supporters want them to retain the trophy. No second place , No semi will be good enough, they want to make history by retaining it.
Bulls President Barend van Graan had this to say in a question and answer session-
Question Baie sogenaamde “kenners” voorspel dat die Bulle se S14 aanslag gekelder gaan word deurdat ons sleutelspelers fisies en geestelik op die planke is na die uitmergelende 2009 internasionale seisoen. Dit is sekerlik ‘n bedreiging, maar hoe lyk dinge werklik? Het Frans en Heyneke “contingency plans” opgestel om hierdie kwessie te probeer teenwerk? Om die S14 suksesvol te verdedig sal ‘n ongekende prestasie in SA sport wees. Gaan ons manne skerp genoeg wees om dit realisties aan te durf? Dankie.
Barend van Graan answered: Beste Shannow, Frans en sy afrigtingspan is hard aan die werk vir 2010 uitdagings in Super 14! Frans en Heyneke werk saam en die “vibe” in die kamp is baie positief!
I realize that we might be in for a very hard season. If we fall back to a 10th position like in 2008 it will be a sad and very disappointed Bull supporter here. When we had that down to earth year in 2008 , we started off very bad. At the end off the season we had a great finish and our spirits lifted, the signs was there for all to see. 2009 proved that those signs were read right.
So what will be my escape clause this year. Probably the further growth of our young players. And that we can keep our next generation players. Our structures is good we must just keep our faith in them and prevent our opponents from poaching them. That way good times wont be far away.
30 – Pill, You could be right there. Then Sharks done very well without any of their Boks last year in the CC.
Puma/Snoek, eers wanneer die ander spanne in SA elkeen 2 supertitels gewen het, sal die Bulle weer ‘under pressure’ wees in SA. Kom nou die ander SA spanne, doen bietjie julle deel ok, ons Bulle kan nie alleen die vlag dra nie ! 😉
Ek is nie ‘n ou wat vooraf te veel voorspellings maak nie, maar ek dink die Leeus en Stormers gaan baie beter doen hierdie jaar, die Sharks gaan te veel probleme hê (beserings en afrigter wat NZ toe verlang) terwyl die Bulls net teen een span kan verloor.
bdb
Wie is die een span ?
Blouste
Hulself?
Puma
The Sharks always do well, it`s just that choke thing….
33/34 vra vir WO.
O ja, die Cheetahs gaan natuurlik weer een van ons SA spanne uit ‘n semi of tuis-semi speel.
Sharks always runs out of breath at the last hurdle.
I do not know what to think about their chances this year.Anything can happen, but they seem to have some problems.Time will tell.
Before I make predictions, I would like to judge the first round of matches…
Making Super 14 predictions this year will be difficult in the first weeks
35 – Pill, I know. Maybe this year that I am not expecting them to do well they probably will. We have a really rubbish draw too. No real FH either.
Like you say time will tell.
32 – BdB, hehe. Wat span gaan die Bulls verloor toe? Sharks? 😆
Maybe boet, we always seem to play well at Loftus. 😉
Serious boet, I don’t have high hopes for my team this year. Then they still have great players. So am hoping like mad for them.
If the Bulls manage a semi and final, i will be very impressed.
Not that i don`t think that they can pull it off. If any SA franchise can it would probably be them.
But it is going to be difficult at best.
40 – If my afrikaans is rubbish just ignore and not laugh too much..hehe. I am trying….hehe.
Ek’s nou flokking honger…. en dors… en my kondensmelk is op…. ek ry gou shops toe… cheers
Moenie so vroeg in die seisoen ons haaie afskryf nie. 😉 Hulle is altyd naby aan bo, en kan enige span wen as dinge reg loop.
Dis wt die bookies sê:
Despite the loss of Bryan Habana and injuries to several key players, bookmakers still fancy the Bulls to be the leading SA franchise in this year’s Super 14.
Leading UK bookies, Ladbrokes, have installed the Crusaders and defending champion Bulls as joint favourites (7/2) to win the title.
The tournament kicks-off on Friday February 12.
The Brumbies, with flyhalf Matt Giteau back in the fold, are third favourites (11/2), ahead of the Hurricanes and Sharks (both 7/1).
There appears to be little hope of success for the other three SA franchises, with the Stormers, despite their acquisition of Habana and fellow Bok Jaque Fourie, listed as lowly ninth-favourites (16/1) while the Cheetahs (50/1) and Lions (100/1) aren’t expected to contend for the playoffs.
Meanwhile, according to GreatOdds, South Africa’s largest online bookmakers, the Bulls are only third favourites, behind the Crusaders and Brumbies.
Ladbrokes odds:
Crusaders 7/2
Bulls 7/2
Brumbies 11/2
Hurricanes 7/1
Sharks 7/1
Chiefs 9/1
Waratahs 9/1
Blues 12/1
Stormers 16/1
Cheetahs 50/1
Highlanders 66/1
Force 66/1
Reds 100/1
Lions 100/1
GreatOdds odds:
Crusaders 11/4
Brumbies 11/2
Bulls 6/1
Hurricanes 15/2
Sharks 15/2
Chiefs 11/1
Waratahs 11/1
Blues 12/1
Stormers 12/1
Cheetahs 66/1
Highlanders 66/1
Western Force 80/1
Lions 150/1
Reds 200/1
Snoek.
Ja hulle kan, maar so kan die Bulle ook.
Hey Puma…u can come join my superbru for s14 and varsity cup…..
The pool code for Vul Varsity is grabvest
The pool code for VUL S14 is sidejump
Anyone can come and join……
47 – Tripps, Will join your S14 pool. Don’t watch much of the Varsity cup. Thanks for inviting me.
47 – Tripps, Just joined your pool for the S14.
Daar is baie faktore wat ‘n span se seisoen kan maak of breek, soos bv. ‘peak’ hul op die regte tyd, beserings, skorsings, loting, ens.
Die Bulle het ‘n baie moeilike loting gehad, maar hul beserings en skorsings was op die ‘regte tyd’ (begin en middel van die seisoen), terwyl hul presies op die regte tyd ‘gepeak’ het (die wedstryd teen die Sharks en daarna) en hul die semi en finaal kon speel met ‘n volsterkte span.
So alles het presies reg uitgewerk vir die Bulle, en die res is geskiedenis. Of so iets weer gaan gebeur, sal net tyd leer. Dink nie ons gaan gou weer so ‘n finaal sien nie.
Dit is goed dat die oorsese mense al ons spanne so afskryf, dit gee ons meer motivering. Hoop veral die Lions en Cheetahs gee nie weer net punte weg teen oorsese spanne nie.
42: Puma, jou Afrikaans is pragtig vir ‘n engelsman !
Een van die grootste probleme van ons SuidAfrikaanse spanne (en hul supporters) is dat dit vir ons lekkerder is om jou eie buurman optef@k, maar dat ons nie so baie passie daarinsit om die oorsese spanne te wen nie. Gereeld gebeur dit dat byvoorbeeld die Cheetahs omtrent laaste op die log le, maar dan klop hulle ‘n span soos die Sharks wat onder die top vier le. Nie dat ek bedoel die bottomlog spanne moet punte weggee teen die toplog spanne nie, maar as ons met daai selfde passie teen bv. die Crusaders en Brumbies speel gaan dit baie vir SA rugby beteken.
Sal dit nie lekker wees as al ons spanne ten minste onder die top 10 eindig nie? Met tenminste twee wat die semifinals haal. Dit sal ons beslis ook ‘n sielkundige voorsprong gee in vanjaar se 3N. Ek sal ook graag wil sien die SA spanne se afrigters moet meer saamwerk. As die Stormers byvoorbeeld klaar teen die Brumbies gespeel het kan hulle aan die Bulls inligting gee oor lynstaantekens, swakpunte en goeie punte van die span teen wie die Bulls nog moet speel.
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