Any team that can dominate the Pretoria Bulls for 60 minutes like the ACT Brumbies did last weekend is a genuine title threat, Stormers coach Allister Coetzee says.
Coetzee fears the Brumbies are the biggest threat to his side navigating its way through the first half of the season undefeated.
The Stormers, who host the Brumbies at Newlands tomorrow night, have won their opening two games of the Super14.
They play their first six matches in South Africa before having a bye and then a four-week tour of Australasia. It’s this weekend’s match their coach views as the danger one.
The Stormers overcame the NSW Waratahs last week but according to Coetzee, the Brumbies pose a significantly bigger challenge.
”We had a look at the Brumbies’ game of last weekend and they led for a lot of that match and not only led, but were in complete control and not many teams can do that at Loftus against the Bulls,” Coetzee said.
”The Brumbies have a great set piece, they are a very good contesting lineout side, they’ve got brilliant match winners like Matt Giteau, an exceptional outside centre in Stirling Mortlock and a couple of other Wallabies in there.
”That alone makes them a very dangerous side.’
In other Brumbie related news it was revealed today that Stirling Morlock is considering a move next season to the new Super 14 team the Melbourne Rebels.
Mortlock informed Brumbies coach Andy Friend of the new club’s interest in him in late January, when the side was returning from a trial match in Wellington against the Hurricanes.
Friend and club chief executive Andrew Fagan have since discussed the worthiness of offering Mortlock a new contract for 2011 but that is unlikely to eventuate.
Friend met Mortlock again in Cape Town yesterday and was adamant the 32-year-old would be a success at the new club.
”As far as I’m aware, it’s still all just talk at this stage, there’s nothing concrete, but from the impression I get, Stirling is definitely keen to explore that option of Melbourne and seeing exactly what is there for him,” Friend said.
En nee, Jacque Fourie en Schalk Burger stel glad nie daarin belang om ook vir die Rebels te gaan speel nie!!
Stormers played well so far.
The Brumbies will most defenitly be a sterner test for them this weekend.
Brumbies was’nt so bad imo as the scoreline suggests last week.
Bulls realy took it to them in the last 20 min or so…
This week they will want to get their campaign back on track.
They are gonna be more settled, not just arriving a couple of days before…
No altitude influences…
Going to be a cracker…
Brumbies certainly play a “Complete” kind of rugby, with no clear weaknesses.
I also consider them title contenders for the end of the season.
Stormers have the players though, just look at some of the match-ups on offer… Jaque Fourie vs Mortlock, Duane Vermeulen vs Stephen Hoiles, Elsom vs Francois Louw, George Smith vs Pieter Louw, Andries Bekker vs Chisholm….
The only reason I would give the Stormers my vote and pick is the home-ground factor… and we all know how badly that has gone so far in the Super 14…. home ground no longer seem to be a telling factor at all.
For my money, I would say Mortlock has gone off the boil, perhaps its just attitude, but I think at 32 with a loooong career behind him, the bulking up and attrition has finally taken its toll….he should call it a day if the Brumbies dont renew his contract.
3@ 4man – Mortlock was a thorn in the Bulls flesh the whole of Saturday, still an awesome player and damn strong runner!
Die gevaarlikste manne in die Brumbie trui is Elsom en Gitua! As daai twee aan die gang kom en jy hulle toelaat om die game te dikteer, gaan dit ‘n laaaang Vrydagaand word. Ek het nogsteeds die Brumbies as ‘n defentiewe favorite om die semi’s te haal. Hulle span is goed afgerig en hulle het gesoute spelers in elke posisie. Ek hoop maar hulle is nog seer van laasweek se game teen die Bulle…
5@ Koning – Elsom is bliksems goed, en taai!
@6
Ek is sommer van voor af die bliksem in dat Elsom nie gesite is vir sy vuilspel op Stegman nie!!
7@ Koning – Brumbies het ‘n damn goeie en geballanseerde lostrio.
I didnt think you two ou’s would be making excuses for the Stormers!!! 😉
Die ge-ykte spreekwoord wat die ouens so baie gebruik is ongelukkig van toepassing hierso:
Hierdie is die Stormers se Rubicon. Steek hulle die rivier oor, is hulle pad na ‘n semi-finaal oop. Duik hulle more in die hek, en hulle kan vergeet van ‘n semi-finaal.
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