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Saffer view : Round number 1! |
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Written by PB
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Monday, 18 February 2008 |
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Pretty glad the rugby started. Saturday was a great day and attending the Bulls vs Stormers game on Newlands and to view a packed Newlands was great. Plenty of Bulls supporters and it bring back the old rivalry feeling between this two SA greats. First up this new rules will need some understanding. We struggle to get to grips with the touch, pause , engage rules but this ELV make many supporters swear. Suddenly no one knows what the heck is going on. I don’t know but it don’t look like quicken the game, for our teams this mean more of a kicking game and less running. The breakdowns end up in a mess and many a time it end in a free kick for the wrong team. The opponent team just seem to slow the game down more often. Hopefully this is this the start and things will change as soon as we get more use to it. So lets get back to the action. Only the Sharks encounter against overseas oppo and the two derbies. Sharks vs ForceThe Sharks on paper surely one of the favourates but they will need to stepup big time. To many pill kicking away. The Force did come back in the end and nearly clich a away win. If I am Muir I’ll certainly pick Keegan Daniels in the loosies. Botes is a great player but AJ Venter needs to go to the locks now. He is way to slow , specially with the new rules with the breakdowns. Hopefully with Michalak back in 10 and Steyn to 15 can make a difference in the backs. They will need to step up because no easy games and the Stormers mean business now with Rassie shouting the shots. Before I start with the two derbies I enjoyed the Newlands one. I love the brutal stuff between the two and back is the hard stuff we were so use too in the past. I am sure that the Bulls Stormer game would have keep the WC citing committee busy for a week with all the ruff stuff and that is good for our rugby. No mercy ask or give. Stormers vs BullsWay to much kicking in this game but I’ll concentrate on the positives from the game.Stormers. I think the Ligth Five for the Stormers is something of the past. They look in the first real business and even outplay the Bulls with their forward strength. Cant remember when a Stormers side took a scrum in stead of a free kick And scrum they did and nearly a push over try for the Stormers against the Bulls?. Mujatsi certainly a good buy for the Stormers. The lineouts from both side struggle a bit at the start but looked pretty solid later for both teams. The Stormers loosies and perticilar Watson were full value. When the replacements came on Rassie had it wrong. With Louw & Francois van der Merwe replaced no one seems to clean the rucks and it was there where Wikus and Kie breaks the Stormers stronghold. The Bulls craft this win like a champion team should. With FdP & Hougaard running their show in their calm way. Well if there is one team I’ll give four points it will be the Bulls. A important away win for them and think at the end of the compo the Stormers will kick themselves and the Bulls will be thankfull with this result. The Cat fightAnd what a fight it was. This young Lion team grow in every match and this time another bad boy made the difference, Earl Rose. The moment he and Big Joe step up the plate the Cheetahs throw it away and the Lions collect the points. This is just what the docter order for this young Lion team. Week 2This week we have three top sides in SA. Tough matches ahead and we’ll get a clear indication where the teams will head. First the Cheetahs vs Force then the semi repeat of 2007 in the Bull ring vs Crusaders and Lions vs Blues. Well one derby, this time the Stormers vs Sharks and it can go either way. If the Stormers can get par on the physical side and play with width they can upset this impressive Shark side. Bring it on.
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