All Black and Hurricanes centre Conrad Smith admitted he was surprised by the Stormers’ showing against the Lions in Johannesburg last week.
Sport24
The Capetonians produced one of their worst performances ever to go down 34-10 at Ellis Park in their first Super Rugby game of the season.
“I watched a replay of the game and yes, I was surprised,” Smith said while his side prepares to tackle the Stormers at Newlands on Friday.
He does, however, expect the Stormers to be much better on their home ground.
“As was the case with us, the Stormers played their first game last weekend. The same happened to the Crusaders last year when they lost to the Blues after having a bye in the first round.
“These things happen. I’m sure the Stormers will be a totally different team this week.”
The Hurricanes themselves lost 27-9 to the Sharks in Durban last week and Smith said they must take their chances this time round.
“We struggled in the scrums early in the game. It’s not like set pieces are a weakness for us but it counts as one of the Sharks and Stormers’ strengths.
“It’s easy for the backs to blame the forwards, but we had enough chances to beat the Sharks. We let ourselves down.”
Friday’s clash kicks off at 19:10.
150 @ Scrumsaam:
Sorry seun… noem ons maar Oom!
@ Scrumsaam:
148
hulle se mos die dade van jou jeug spook soms op jou oudag. Steve slaap seker swak deesdae. Bulle ploeg nou sommer in die grond
I think this girl is sexy….
Katy Perry… Roar:
Lyk sy nie vir julle ook of sy ‘n gholfbal deur ‘n hosepipe kan suig nie?
Reg so oom, ek sal leer soos dinge aangaan.
@ superBul:
Speel hulle nog daai song op Loftus? voel soos Kitskos as ek daai song hoor.
@ Scrumsaam:
Ek hoop regtig nie hul speel hom die naweek weer nie. Daai song is meer verby sy tyd as ons gameplan
157 @ superBul:
Guns & Ludwig’s Roses?
superBul wrote:
Beste gesegte wat ek al gehoor het in jare.
@ Scrumsaam:
Iemand moet hierdie song vat en om die Bulle n liedtjie bou.
En wat gaan hier aan dat hier niks aan gaan nie? lol
160 @ superBul:
Nee, flok tog, net nie dit nie!
Stormers kan daai song maar kry.
161 @ Sharks_forever:
No OBSCURE songs please, Tjarkie!
grootblousmile wrote:
Oh Lawdy you guys have already posted the OBSCURE!!! Stev stofsuier in NZ??? WTF
@ grootblousmile:
Daai een sal die voorvaders op Loftus skoon in n spin sit
164 @ Sharks_forever:
What was your fist thought?
Lana del Rey?
I know you just too well….
I thought to add something a little more modern for you old farts 😆
grootblousmile wrote:
Who is that?
169 @ Sharks_forever:
I thought you liked her…
have no idea who she is lol
171 @ Sharks_forever:
Who’s that SA rocker chick you like… the obscure one?
The Vodacom Bulls are set to make radical changes to their team to face the Lions this weekend in order to get themselves onto the winning path in this year’s Vodacom Super Rugby series.
While Flip van der Merwe is set to captain the side once again, the team named on Wednesday will in all likelihood see Victor Matfield and Jacques-Louis Potgieter in the starting line-up and a bold move for regular lock Grant Hattingh to No 8.
The Bulls are set to make the changes after losing their opening two matches. They feel the changes will be the correct ones to ensure the team gets go-forward ball and executes better.
Hattingh’s possible move in particular is an interesting one, with the lock last having played No 8 back in his Varsity Cup days when he was at Maties. He never played at No 8 at the Lions during his time there, but did play flank on occasion.
The move will see the Bulls getting an extra lineout option at the back, while the mobility of Hattingh will hopefully let the loose trio gel better.
Matfield’s return to the starting team is also interesting, and is partly because Pierre Spies is not there, and partly because the Bulls want to secure good first-phase ball as they desperately need a victory against the Lions.
It is also hoped that concerns over the captaincy will be sorted out in this game.
It was noticeable in the Cheetahs game that Flip van der Merwe at one point wanted to go for the sideline with a penalty kick, only to have Matfield point to the posts. The Bulls took the penalty kick at goal but it was unclear who was captaining the side at the time.
While it was expected that Handre Pollard would shift into the starting role at flyhalf after Louis Fouche’s two disappointing outings, Jacques-Louis Potgieter is set to take the spot with Pollard on the bench.
Fouche will drop out of the 22 altogether but there will be no other changes to the backline, despite failing to fire in the last two outings.
Potgieter scored 20 points in the curtain-raiser on Friday against the Free State Cheetahs’ Vodacom Cup side in a pre-season friendly and his experience, along with his big boot, are seen as the reasons why the Bulls have gone for him above the talented Pollard.
Pollard, however, has made a significant impact in both games off the bench and the Bulls feel he can be better utilised in this position.
Frik Kirsten should move into the tighthead position in the only change in the front row.
• The Bulls were given further good news when it was learnt that Deon Stegmann does not have to undergo surgery for his groin injury which has stopped him from playing in this year’s Super Rugby competition.
Stegmann will continue his rehab and, if all goes well, should be ready for the Bulls’ game against the Blues at Loftus Versfeld next weekend.
@ grootblousmile:
Nope my friend is Dilana, You Tube Dilana and see real talent.
Sorry Rudi just posted that Bulls news that I thought you might want. nless you have it and I did not see? lol
174 @ Sharks_forever:
Oh yes… Dilana…
I knew it had something to do with a ‘lana’… that’s why I thought it was Lana del Rey!
175 @ Sharks_forever:
No problem
Interesting move by the Bulls
Nou net die gesien op FB,
Ek het nou besef ek is eintlik ook ‘n WP/ Stormer ondersteuner. 1) Ek hou van die see. 2) Ek hou van wyn. 3) Ek hou van vis. 4) En ek kan ook nie rugby speel nie….(“,)
178 @ Sharks_forever:
As long as the Bulls stick with Callie Visagie and Jono Ross, it will still be an abortion.
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