Vodacom Stormers and Chiefs are Super Rugby Pioneers
Posted by Rasputin - 11/04/06 at 07:04 am under Super 14The Vodacom Stormers and the Chiefs will become Super Rugby pioneers when they meet at the Blue Chip Stadium in Tauranga on Saturday.
The two will have the privilege of playing in the first-ever Vodacom Super 14 game to be played in Tauranga, a resort town about 140 kilometers from Hamilton.
 (Your correspondent’s note: Pity poor Tauranga, getting the Stormers as their first ever Super 14 match.)
The stadium where the match is being played is privately-owned by a local businessman. The venue has previously been used for – of all things – stock car racing and has been recently refurbished to bring it to Super 14 standard. The owner has even installed a roof over the ground to make it acceptable to SANZAR standards.
 (Your correspondent’s note: frankly, the way the Stormers are playing, I’d rather watch drag racing – and I detest drag racing.)
The Vodacom Stormers have settled in at their placid seaside locale at Mount Manganui, which is expecting a huge influx of people over the Easter Weekend. This is one of the reasons why the Chiefs chose to play the game here as many locals from Hamilton and other main centres are expected to be in town for the long weekend.
 (Your correspondent’s note: I’m very pleased to read it’s a “placid seaside locale because, after all, it’s a placid seaside team that’s visiting.)
The players put in a heavy gym session on Monday morning with much of the rest of the day spent in video sessions on the Blues match as well as on analysis of the Chiefs’ previous matches.
 (Your correspondent’s note: “a heavy gym session” on the Monday morning of the 9th round of the Super 14 may be as effective as closing the proverbial after the unspeakable has bolted but, by now, any Stormers fan wants to know they are sweating gallons. After all, they’ve made us sweat blood.)
WP Director of coaching Nick Mallett, who arrived in New Zealand on Sunday, will work with the coaching team on Monday and Tuesday before travelling to Wellington on other business.
 (Your correspondent’s note: One hopes beyond hope that the “other business” is finding a new coaching team.)
In effect, the match is an “away� fixture for both teams, with the Chiefs moving from the comfort of their usual home base. This is a feature of the game that Stormers coach Kobus van der Merwe believes will suit his team. “The game is effectively being played at a neutral venue,� he said. “We have seen before that a team’s performance can change when they come out of familiar turf, even if they are still at home. Hopefully, we will be able to take advantage of this in what I expect will be a very tough game�.
 (Your correspondent’s note: home or away, makes little difference to the Stormers, vintage 2006. As long as they get paid they’ll happily lose anywhere.)
Van der Merwe said the team had to put the poor performance against the Blues behind it and begin focusing on the week ahead. “We have acknowledged that the loss was not up to scratch. What is important is that we learn from it and not make the same mistakes against the Chiefs. This is a crucial week on tour and we have to give it all we have got if we are going to do well at the weekend�.
 (Your correspondent’s note: “the loss was not up to scratch”? Well, we simply cannot wait for a loss that truly comes up to scratch. I’m breathless at the thought.)
In case you believe I’m an incurable cynic, I’ve followed Western Province and their ersatz stepson, The Stormers, since Robbie Blair put over a touchline kick to defeat the All Blacks, in pouring rain with a heavy leather ball, in 1976. I’ve followed their every move with love and adoration, even whilst they slowly but surely let slip their grip, however we’ve reached a nadir that no rugby fan should ever be put through. They are rubbish and they no longer deserve blind adoration. When they sort themselves out they can give us long suffering fans a kick to see if we still care.
Source: www.thestormers.com
April 11th, 2006 at 7:17 am
“that the loss was not up to scratch.”:oops:
I’m with you on this one Ras.
ILMAO
April 11th, 2006 at 7:34 am
Nice work Ras!
Amen to that.
April 11th, 2006 at 8:00 am
howzit guys? did any of you read the arti in the Argus about this being the worst Stormers side ever? The excuse of inexperience is not good enuf. DWB has 38 caps, MJ, 30, JVN 40, JDV 20 odd, Schalk 25, Andrews 16, Bolla 15 and NDK 10. Adri Badenhorst also has 47 Sseries caps…
April 11th, 2006 at 8:26 am
“As long as they get paid they’ll happily lose anywhere.”
Not a Stormers/WP supporter, unless they are playing an overseas team, but I have to admit, I am not sure whether to laugh or cry at the statement above.
April 11th, 2006 at 8:47 am
Gym on Monday, Mallet on Monday and Tuesday….. when will the players be given time off to do their hair before the match??
Is it prerequisite for a Stormers backline player to first acquire a “cool” (??) haircut before being allowed to play for the team. Naas Olivier always used to have a normal haircut, but since playing for the Stormers it seems he has also been drawn into the hair salon scene!
April 11th, 2006 at 10:24 am
The Blue Chip Stadium in Tauranga.
I believe that’s what you would call an oxymoron.
April 11th, 2006 at 10:26 am
Ersatz and oxymoron on the same thread – we really are setting the standards here!
April 11th, 2006 at 10:35 am
LMAO,
Ras, I would love to hear you do TV commentary on one of the Stormers’ farces (read games).
Would be the best comedy in years.
April 11th, 2006 at 8:45 pm
Sit en wag ons almal nou vir iemand om te begin strooi praat. Moet wees, 17 online, en niemand sê ‘n woord nie!!!!!
April 11th, 2006 at 8:51 pm
Tafeltjie
Sjjjjjjjjuuuuutttt!
Die mense lees ons goeie artikels.
April 11th, 2006 at 8:53 pm
Ja, Kandas, soos jy altyd sê sjjjjjjuuuuuttt!!!
Ons almal hoop so!!!!
April 11th, 2006 at 9:03 pm
Of moet ek eerder sê, hou meer daarvan as Admin “keelskoonmaak”
April 11th, 2006 at 9:09 pm
Howzit all
Anyone to talk revolution here?
April 11th, 2006 at 9:09 pm
Dit is sulke aande wat ek na my Groot oom Pissy verlang!!!!!!
April 11th, 2006 at 9:10 pm
OO,
Will talk revolution after the weekend.
April 11th, 2006 at 9:11 pm
Hallo OO
Slegs as jou revolution net vanaand k@kpraat insluit!
April 11th, 2006 at 9:37 pm
Sure Donner
Jyst stirring the pot
Hallo Bergie
KKNK geniet?
April 11th, 2006 at 9:38 pm
16 visitors
nmaybe BIG BROTHER IS READING
nobody is posting though
April 11th, 2006 at 9:40 pm
20 visitors online
April 11th, 2006 at 9:41 pm
21 visitors online
stil nobody is posting
April 11th, 2006 at 9:42 pm
23 vistors
April 11th, 2006 at 9:43 pm
22 visitors
April 11th, 2006 at 9:43 pm
20 vistors
April 11th, 2006 at 9:44 pm
OO
The people are bringing themselves up to date with the real intellectual discussions!
April 11th, 2006 at 9:44 pm
18 visitors
April 11th, 2006 at 9:45 pm
Sure Kandas
And for the SARU piete is both an huge job and a enlightening one
April 11th, 2006 at 9:46 pm
19 peekabooers- well maybe some are peek-a- boobs
April 11th, 2006 at 9:47 pm
I wonder where the Sidique suipende Saudi Sharks is?
April 11th, 2006 at 9:49 pm
20 visitors
April 11th, 2006 at 9:50 pm
You bored tonight OO?
April 11th, 2006 at 9:50 pm
I have a lot of respect for Rasputin and his lengthy monotypes- it is really boring
April 11th, 2006 at 9:51 pm
Yip Kandas
I want to Rouse the Rabble – but alas the Rabble is blogging without commenting
April 11th, 2006 at 9:52 pm
14 visitors
April 11th, 2006 at 9:54 pm
18 vistors
I wonder if the YelloValiant will cruze this week?
April 11th, 2006 at 9:56 pm
Nee wat- vannaand staan die vokol blou inni blom hierso
April 11th, 2006 at 9:57 pm
18 vistors
Ok- I give up- I am going to watch Barney with Orakel III
April 11th, 2006 at 10:03 pm
21 visitors
Barney is also boring
April 11th, 2006 at 10:33 pm
OO, caunt one shower in peace??
April 12th, 2006 at 6:18 am
2 visitors online now
April 12th, 2006 at 6:59 am
4 Online now