Cape is Boer again!

With the departure of Lukas Watsonia to the NH, we declare the Stormers franchise as Dutch again as in Jan van Riebeeck’s days. Surely the biggest news for us. They had a bit of a disappointing 2009 season. Since they’d realized they are out of the semi race they immediately start building for this season. Leaving out their Bokke (Burger, de Villiers, Bekker & Januarie) and had immediate success. Since then they had in WP clothing great success and missing the CC final by a Morne penalty but still ending second on the CC log.

Player Losses:
Jean de Villiers (Munster), Luke Watson (Bath), Chavangha (Lions).

Player Gains:
Habana (Bulls), Jac Fourie (Lions), Lionel Cronje & Fabian Juries (Cheetahs)

New Talent
Lionel Cronje. One of SA finest young talent in the 10 jersey. If you see the Cronje surname and he is from Grey Osfontein , you look no further. He had to outplay the Ebersohn Twin to make the SA U20 jersey his own..

Juan de Jongh. The first product of Nick Mallets WP Rugby Academy and turn in the CC into a lethal weapon in midfield. Hadn't had that much changes in the green jersey but sure a explosive midfielder in the 12 or 13 jersey.

Coaching
Rassie have promote Alistair Coetzee to S14 coach, Fleck will take the backs and Proudfoot the forwards after Gary Gold has been promoted as Bok forwards coach.

Players to Watch:
Habana & Fourie: Pretty excited with this buys. Hope the Stormers will return with their historically wide game plan and use this two game breakers. One player missing from the EOYT Wikus Blaauw have this opportunity to nail down a green jersey. He have destroyed every single TH fatty in CC rugby and he’d be the one to give the backline front foot pill from scrums. Andries Bekker will have to produce lineout ball. He was one of not many youngsters making the test step up in the EOYT.. Schalk Burger will lead the team and will have to lead from the front. No silly stuff from him. .

Challenges:
The Stormers T5 had gone to age in the CC  and will have to show this in Super Rugby. Last year they were the best defensive side but will have to show they can attack like they use to. The forwards will have to get them ball and the T5, all important. Two years back when they had the same fixture list they end up 1 point short of a semi place. The started way to slow and lost three at home before they toured. This time they have to start all guns blazing. Glad to see they play three warm ups at home and bar injuries should help them. Player depth all important and they’ll be well served with most players with at least one CC season behind them

My teams pick

15  Jantjes, Joe Pietersen
11 & 14  Habana, Juries, Sereli & Aplon
13  Jac Fourie, de Jongh, des fountain
12  Peter Grant, du Jongh, Newman, Sadie
10  Lionel Cronje, Willem de Waal, Peter Grant
9 Dewaldt Duvenhage, Ricky Januarie, Conrad Hoffman
8  Duanne Vermeulen, Ralph Koster
7 Francois Louw, Pieter Louw
6  Schalk Burger, Pieter Myburgh
4 & 5  Bekker, Fondse, Anton van Zyl, Steenkamp/Muller
3  Brock Harris, JC Kritzinger
2 Liebenberg, Fourie, Shimange
1  Blaauw, JD Moller

Calendar:
Lions (A), Tahs (H), Brumbies (H), Highlanders (H), Canes (H), Cheetahs (H), BYE, Force (A), Blues (A), Chiefs (A), Saders (H), Reds (H), Sharks (A) & Bulls at Newlands.

The best possible tour for any SA side, bye and then Perth meaning they will have a three and a half week tour.

Rating:
Nothing less then a semi spot for 2010 will satisfy the Newlands faithful.