From News 24

Let’s face it, the failure of either Western Province or the Stormers to land a really major trophy for around a decade has often been blamed on the perceived absence of a hard edge to their packs in the period in question.

It is no coincidence that when Province were dominating the [...]]]> A funny thing is happening in this supposedly “southern softie” neck of the rugby woods.

From News 24

Let’s face it, the failure of either Western Province or the Stormers to land a really major trophy for around a decade has often been blamed on the perceived absence of a hard edge to their packs in the period in question.

It is no coincidence that when Province were dominating the Currie Cup to an unprecedented degree in the mid-1980s – five consecutive successes between 1982 and 1986 – wily president Jan Pickard and company made sure the foundations would be laid quite genuinely from the “front”.

So the glory years coincided with the arrival from upcountry of such rugged, earthy specimens as Theuns Stofberg, Schalk Burger snr, Andre Markgraaff and Gert Smal to complement more home-grown hard-men like wine-farming tighthead prop Hempies du Toit and bellicose hooker Shaun Povey.

Newlands has had pockets of fire-in-the-belly specimens slightly more recently (someone like former Sharks front-ranker Robbie Kempson comes to mind), but tended to still labour under a suspicion, whether warranted or not, from elsewhere in the country that their pack comes up short for mongrel in crunch encounters.

So there has got to be some irony in the fact that, with South Africa’s premier pack “enforcer” Bakkies Botha – bred by the traditionally physical Bulls – now seemingly out of the Test picture and plying his slightly long-in-the-tooth trade in France, not just one but two No 4 locks of uncompromising disposition and great general promise have suddenly blossomed … in the Stormers ranks.

It is already clear that, assuming both young men are fully fit, coach Allister Coetzee and his lieutenants – forwards coach Matthew Proudfoot must be especially gratified – will have a tough task throughout the Super Rugby campaign deciding between Rynhardt Elstadt and Eben Etzebeth as partner to stalwart No 5 lineout dynamo Andries Bekker.

The 22-year-old Elstadt, starting just his second full season in the competition, has had some injury woes in recent months and an ankle problem prevented him from taking his place in the second row for the opening fixture against the Hurricanes last Saturday.

It seemed a blow considering the undoubted impression he had made at the coalface in 2011 when the Stormers were SA conference winners.

But it simply allowed the even more rookie Etzebeth, still some way from turning 21, to be fast-tracked to a start.

For the record, he made such an immediate, striking impression in a collectively impressive forward effort that he would have been my choice for man of the match; instead it went a little contentiously, I thought, to Beauden Barrett, flyhalf for the rather ramshackle, spoiling and opportunistic visiting side which lost by 13 points.

And that despite a rank incomplete Stormers performance, with coach Coetzee admitting subsequently that it is his backline, far more, that needed the proverbial rocket up the posterior.

You didn’t need to be a scientist to work out with some rapidity that this “kid” (the coward in this 47-year-old scribe might be instantly tempted to reverently brand him Mister, mind you) is tough as nails and was amazingly unperturbed by the magnitude of the occasion.

He is also already big (2.03m and 117kg, the pen sketches say) and mobile into the bargain; imagining his physical dimensions two years or so up the drag is a scary thought.

Everything about Etzebeth on Saturday evening read “presence”; I was able to confirm that after watching the entire game a second time.

It is true that his lineout capability at this level was not tested to any great degree, because the Stormers do tend to go first to bankers like the towering Bekker and, nearer the back, Duane Vermeulen on their throw.

But in every other respect Etzebeth came through with flying colours. He worked hard, drove even harder when he got a ball-in-hand chance, and was presumably influential in a mostly stout scrum and first-rate, as ever, rolling maul.

Perhaps most illuminatingly, though, it did not take him long to be “thereabouts”, and then not surrendering an inch, whenever a tetchy contest threatened to veer toward bouts of argy-bargy.

Encouragingly, perhaps, he seemed able to keep his fuse from reaching the bomb package, something a player like Bakkies Botha has not always managed; he could be too blatant in his skulduggery and thus prone to referees’ cards.

But he seems a fitting, next-generation addition, all the same, to a theory in Cape Town’s gritty northern suburbs that “you don’t mess with an Etzebeth” if you value your health.

I am old enough to recall the exploits and tales (sporting, often, but perhaps not all for family reading …) of a swollen family of Etzebeth brothers in the 1970s and 1980s, of whom Cliffie, a former WP lock and prop, was probably the most renowned.

He was a policeman and also prolific amateur wrestler, who probably suffered a little from being that unfortunate in-between height, so whether he was best suited to tighthead or the second row was always a matter for conjecture.

What was never in dispute about Eben Etzebeth’s uncle, however, was his toughness between the chalk and in life … even if Alan Solomons, once coaching at UCT, would always insist that he “never thought of Cliffie as dirty” even in rugby clashes during turbulent political times between the students and police teams. (Keep in mind that Eben played Varsity Cup rugby for UCT only last year.)

In 2011, the presumably now advanced-age Cliffie was still racking up wrestling medals: Villagers Rugby Club, who he represented in the year they won the Easter Club Championships under Morne du Plessis’ leadership in 1980, lauded him in a news-letter for becoming a world freestyle veterans’ world champion.

Cliffie was close to another truculent, first league club-level tight forward brother, Skattie, who was shot dead in Belhar in 1993 while on debt-collection duty.

You didn’t want to get on the wrong side of either; for the benefit of Afrikaans readers, here is a fitting gem of an observation I unearthed off a blog: “Dis asof die Goodwood-sportklub se kroeg effe stiller raak toe Cliffie Etzebeth by die deur instap …”

Interestingly, SA Under-21 product Eben is the son of Harry, one of the galaxy of brothers, but whose sporting achievements were apparently rather more modest.

But in the form either of Eben Etzebeth or the mauler for Montagu, Elstadt, the Stormers No 4 jersey looks like being in the hands of a notably no-nonsense customer for some time to come, which some pundits would call a breath of fresh air, in its own way.

The million-dollar question in the minds of cynics, however, may well be this: How long will a franchise notorious for surrendering talent hold onto both of them?

The Cape Town clash is the first of three away games for the Hurricanes to kick-start the 2012 season, which, like last year, features home and away games against each of the other New Zealand franchises and matches against eight of the [...]]]> The much-anticipated 2012 Investec Super Rugby season starts this weekend, with the Hurricanes opening their campaign at 4.05am (NZT) on Sunday morning against the Stormers in South Africa.

The Cape Town clash is the first of three away games for the Hurricanes to kick-start the 2012 season, which, like last year, features home and away games against each of the other New Zealand franchises and matches against eight of the 10 Australian and South African franchises.

Of the 25-strong touring party for the first three games, to play the Stormers at Newlands, the Lions in Johannesburg and the Force in Perth, eight will make their Hurricanes debuts should they take the field.

In their first-up opposition, the Hurricanes face a Stormers side eager to hit the ground running and make the semi-finals for the third successive year. The beaten 2010 finalists and 2011 South African conference winners are led this year by Springboks Schalk Burger, Jean de Villiers, and backed up by gamebreakers waiting out wide such as Bryan Habana, Gio Aplon and Joe Pietersen.

In contrast to the Hurricanes, the Stormers are playing four of their opening five matches at home, at Newlands, and it’s not until round seven when they meet the Highlanders in Dunedin that they step out on overseas soil.

The Stormers have based their game on miserly defence more than anything else over the past two successful seasons. Last year they were one of four teams to surpass 400 points in their 15 round-robin games, but they had the second best defensive record in conceding 257 points, just five more that the tough-to-crack Waratahs who let in 252. The ninth placed Hurricanes scored 328 points and conceded 398 in 2011.

The Hurricanes and the Stormers didn’t meet in the first season of the new and expanded 15-team competition last year, so this will be their first clash since 2010.

The Stormers have beaten the Hurricanes in three of their previous four clashes, including the last two times they have met in Cape Town in 2008 (20-12) and in 2010 (37-13). In the 2008 match they established a 20-0 lead early in the second half that the Hurricanes couldn’t come back from, while two years ago the Stormers opened up an unassailable 20-3 advantage at halftime after Hurricanes fullback Cory Jane was forced from the field with a head injury.

In between these last two Newlands clashes, the Hurricanes won 34-11 in 2009 in Wellington.

Overall, the two teams have met 14 times in Super Rugby, with six wins to the Hurricanes and eight to the Stormers (who played as Western Province in 1996).

The Hurricanes’ record at Cape Town is played eight, won three and lost five. The Hurricanes have scored 21 tries against the Stormers in Cape Town and the Stormers have scored 24 tries against the Hurricanes in Cape Town.

The Stormers will be playing this weekend without their star kicker Peter Grant who plays part of the time in Japan which suggests that the Stormers will get fewer penalties.

Both teams will be playing with young number 10′s as the Hurricanes have Beauden Barrett at 10 [...]]]> The Stormers have not lost to the Hurricanes since 2009 and the Hurricanes have not left Cape Town as winners since 2006.

The Stormers will be playing this weekend without their star kicker Peter Grant who plays part of the time in Japan which suggests that the Stormers will get fewer penalties.

Both teams will be playing with young number 10′s as the Hurricanes have Beauden Barrett at 10 and the Stormers have Gary van Aswegen.

The home side have taken the bold move of naming winger Bryan Habana at centre which could be a masterstroke or a complete failure.

Habana’s rate of scoring tries has dropped dramatically in recent years but when he was scoring at his best he was intercepting opposition passes and was playing in an area in the field that a centre would normally be positioned. It might work.

Habana will however be up against Tim Bateman and Conrad Smith who will captain the Hurricanes team who will be looking for a fresh start after a disastrous year in 2011. .

The new format which was launched last year meant that some teams would miss out on playing others and last year the Stormers and Hurricanes did not play each other.

The teams have played each other 13 times with the Stormers edging ahead on 7 wins and 6 losses. In Cape Town the Stormers are only just ahead on the stats as well as the teams have played each other 7 times with the Stormers wining four and losing three.

The Hurricanes last visit to Cape Town ended in a 37-13 loss and the time before that it was a 20-12 loss. The 37-13 loss was so long ago the Stormers will still playing in their old blue kit.

On average when the teams meet the Stormers score 25 points and the Hurricanes 22. In Cape Town the scores shift further in favour of the Stormers at 30-22.

The Bookies have given the Hurricanes a big head start of 11 points – with an offer of Bet 10 and Get 20. The Stormers have home advantage in this match so they should win and on past form it should be comfortable. Stormers to win by 7.

This match will be shown on TV NZ, Aus, SA and in the UK on Sky Sports 4HD.

Average Score : Stormers 25 Hurricanes 22

Last five results 13 Mar 2010 Stormers v Hurricanes 37-13 Cape Town 18 Apr 2009 Stormers v Hurricanes 11-34 Wellington 19 Apr 2008 Stormers v Hurricanes 20-12 Cape Town 03 Mar 2007 Stormers v Hurricanes 30-17 Palmerston North 11 Mar 2006 Stormers v Hurricanes 19-23 Cape Town

Stormers overall record against Hurricanes Played 13 , Wins 7 , Losses 6 , Draws 0

Match : 6 Date : Saturday 25 February Teams : Stormers v Hurricanes Venue : Cape Town Time KO (local) :17:05 Referee: Marius Jonker AR1: Stuart Berry AR2 : Cobus Wessels TMO : Shaun Veldsman

Teams

Stormers

15. Joe Pietersen ,14. Gerhard van den Heever,13. Bryan Habana,12. Jean de Villiers,11. Gio Aplon,10. Gary van Aswegen,9. Dewaldt Duvenage,8. Nick Koster,7. Duane Vermeulen,6. Schalk Burger (C) ,5. Andries Bekker,4. Eben Etzebeth, 3. Brok Harris,2. Tiaan Liebenberg,1. Steven Kitshoff

Reserves :16. Scarra Ntubeni,17. Frans Malherbe,18. De Kock Steenkamp,19. Siya Kolisi,20. Louis Schreuder,21. Burton Francis,22. Marcel Brache

Hurricanes

1. Tristan Moran ,2. Dane Coles,3. Ben May,4. Jeremy Thrush,5. Jason Eaton,,6. Faifili Levave,7. Jack Lam,8. Victor Vito,9. Chris Eaton,10. Beauden Barrett,11. Alapati Leiua,12. Tim Bateman,13. Conrad Smith (c),14. Cory Jane,15. Andre Taylor

Replacements :16. Motu Matu’u,17. Jeffery Toomaga-Allen,18. James Broadhurst,19. Brad Shields,20. TJ Perenara,21. Daniel Kirkpatrick,22. Charlie Ngatai

This brand new initiative will see DHL Stormers home games being [...]]]> WP Rugby today announced a charity initiative – Donate to Educate – between the DHL Stormers, Sponsor DHL Express and SHAWCO. SHAWCO, the Students’ Health and Welfare Centres Organisation is a student-run NGO based at the University of Cape Town, that seeks to improve the quality of life for individuals in developing communities within the Cape Metropolitan area.

This brand new initiative will see DHL Stormers home games being utilized to collect clothing aimed at empowering individuals with the skills to trade and set up small ventures that would benefit the community.

Supporters are encouraged to bring used or new clothes to DHL Stormers home games played at DHL Newlands. The clothes collected will be used in 2 ways:

1. Sold at SHAWCO retail outlets.

2. Sold, at base price, to identified township entrepreneurs, who will be trained and assisted via SHAWCO’s business student initiative SIYAYA, thus setting up new entrepreneurial businesses.

All surplus funds generated by SHAWCO will be used to set-up and run educational programmes.

All supporters attending games at DHL Newlands this season are requested to bring along new or old clothes and deposit them into the marked and manned bins at the main entrances to the stadium.

Commenting on the initiative DHL Stormers captain Schalk Burger said, “As a team we think this is a great initiative. We all have old, unwanted clothing and it’s great to think it can make a difference to many, whilst assisting in training and education and creating a few jobs. Clean out your cupboards and bring something along to the game. You can make a difference.”

Charles Brewer, MD of DHL Express Sub-Saharan Africa added, “It is important to us as a company and individuals to make a real difference in the environments that we operate in. Bring your old or new clothes and DHL will help ship them to the communities that really need them. Help and make a difference”.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24:

Blues v Crusaders, Auckland – 08:35

Blues: 15. Isaia Toeava, 14. David Raikuna, 13. Rene Ranger, 12. Benson Stanley, 11. Rudi Wulf, 10. Michael Hobbs, 9. Alby Mathewson, 8. Jerome Kaino, 7. Daniel Braid, 6. Chris Lowrey, 5. Ali Williams, 4. Anthony Boric, 3. Charlie Faumuina, 2. Keven [...]]]> Date, venue, kick-off time and line-ups for Round 1 of the 2012 Vodacom Super Rugby tournament.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24:

Blues v Crusaders, Auckland – 08:35

Blues: 15. Isaia Toeava, 14. David Raikuna, 13. Rene Ranger, 12. Benson Stanley, 11. Rudi Wulf, 10. Michael Hobbs, 9. Alby Mathewson, 8. Jerome Kaino, 7. Daniel Braid, 6. Chris Lowrey, 5. Ali Williams, 4. Anthony Boric, 3. Charlie Faumuina, 2. Keven Mealamu (captain), 1. Tom McCartney Substitutes: 16. Pauliasi Manu, 17. Tevita Mailau, 18. Brad Mika, 19. Luke Braid, 20. Piri Weepu, 21. Hadleigh Parkes, 22. Sherwin Lee Stowers

Crusaders:

15. Tom Marshall, 14. Sean Maitland, 13. Robert Fruean, 12. Ryan Crotty, 11. Israel Dagg, 10. Tyler Bleyendaal, 9. Andy Ellis, 8. Kieran Read (captain), 7. Matt Todd, 6. George Whitelock, 5. Sam Whitelock, 4. Tom Donnelly, 3. Ben Franks, 2. Quentin MacDonald, 1. Wyatt Crockett Substitutes: 16. Corey Flynn, 17. Owen Franks, 18. Luke Romano, 19. Luke Whitelock, 20. Willi Heinz, 21. Patrick Osborne, 22. Adam Whitelock

Brumbies v Force, Canberra – 10:40

Brumbies:

15 Robbie Coleman, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Andrew Smith, 12 Christian Lealiifano, 11 Jesse Mogg, 10 Matt Toomua, 9 Nic White, 8 Ben Mowen, 7 Ita Vaea, 6 Peter Kimlin, 5 Sam Carter, 4 Leon Power, 3 Dan Palmer, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Ben Alexander Substitutes: 16 Anthony Hegerty, 17 Ruaidhri Murphy, 18 Scott Fardy, 19 Michael Hooper, 20 Ian Prior, 21 Zack Holmes, 22 Joe Tomane

Force:

15. Alifeleti Mafi, 14. Nick Cummins, 13. Winston Stanley, 12. Rory Sidey, 11. Napolioni Nalaga, 10. James Stannard, 9. Brett Sheehan, 8. Ben McCalman, 7. David Pocock (captain), 6. Matthew Hodgson, 5. Nathan Sharpe, 4. Toby Lynn, 3. Salesi Ma’afu, 2. Nathan Charles, 1. Pekahou Cowan Substitutes: 16. Elvis Taione, 17. Kieran Longbottom, 18. Phoenix Battye, 19. Angus Cottrell, 20. Justin Turner, 21. Ben Seymour, 22. Samu Wera

Bulls v Sharks, Pretoria – 19:10

Bulls:

15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 Johann Sadie, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Morne Steyn, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Pierre Spies (captain), 7 Jaques Potgieter, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Juandre Kruger, 4 Flip van der Merwe, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1 Dean Greyling Substitutes: 16 Willie Wepener, 17 Frik Kirsten, 18 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 19 CJ Stander, 20 Jano Vermaak, 21 Louis Fouche, 22 JJ Engelbrecht

Sharks:

15. Riaan Viljoen, 14. Louis Ludik, 13. JP Pietersen, 12. Tim Whitehead, 11. Lwazi Mvovo, 10. Patrick Lambie, 9. Frederic Michalak, 8. Ryan Kankowski, 7. Marcell Coetzee, 6. Keegan Daniel (captain), 5. Anton Bresler, 4. Steven Sykes, 3. Jannie du Plessis, 2. Bismarck du Plessis, 1. Dale Chadwick Substitutes: 16. Craig Burden, 17. Wiehahn Herbst, 18. Ross Skeate, 19. Jacques Botes, 20. Charl McLeod, 21. Meyer Bosman, 22. Paul Jordaan

SATURDAY, FRIDAY 25

Chiefs v Highlanders, Hamilton – 08:35

Chiefs:

15 Robbie Robinson, 14 Lelia Masaga, 13 Richard Kahui, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Tim Nanai-Williams, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Brendon Leonard, 8 Fritz Lee, 7 Sam Cane, 6 Liam Messam (captain), 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Craig Clarke, 3 Ben Afeaki, 2 Hika Elliot, 1 Sona Taumalolo. Substitutes: 16 Mahonri Schwalger, 17 Toby Smith, 18 Michael Fitzgerald, 19 Tanerau Latimer, 20 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 21 Andrew Horrell, 22 Asaeli Tikoirotuma.

Highlanders:

TBA

Waratahs v Reds, Sydney – 10:40

Waratahs:

15 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14 Tom Kingston, 13 Rob Horne, 12 Tom Carter, 11 Brackin Karauria-Henry, 10 Daniel Halangahu (captain), 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 Chris Alcock, 6 Dave Dennis, 5 Dean Mumm, 4 Kane Douglas, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Benn Robinson. Substitutes: 16 Damien Fitzpatrick, 17 Paddy Ryan, 18 Lopeti Timani, 19 Jono Jenkins, 20 Brendan McKibbin, 21 Bernard Foley, 22 Nathan Trist.

Reds:

15 Luke Morahan, 14 Dom Shipperley, 13 Anthony Faingaa, 12 Ben Tapuai, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Mike Harris, 9 Will Genia, 8 Jake Schatz, 7 Beau Robinson, 6 Scott Higginbotham, 5 James Horwill (capt), 4 Rob Simmons, 3 James Slipper, 2 James Hanson, 1 Ben Daley. Substitutes: 16 Albert Anae, 17 Greg Holmes, 18 Van Humphries, 19 Radike Samo, 20 Liam Gill, 21 Ben Lucas, 22 Jono Lance.

Stormers v Hurricanes, Cape Town – 17:05

Stormers:

15 Joe Pietersen, 14 Gerhard van den Heever, 13 Bryan Habana, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Gio Aplon, 10 Gary van Aswegen, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Nick Koster, 7 Duane Vermeulen, 6 Schalk Burger (captain), 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 Steven Kitshoff Substitutes: 16 Siyabonga Ntubeni, 17 Frans Malherbe, 18 De Kock Steenkamp, 19 Siya Kolisi, 20 Louis Schreuder, 21 Burton Francis, 22 Marcel Brache

Hurricanes:

15 André Taylor, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Conrad Smith (captain), 12 Tim Bateman, 11 Alapati Leiua, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Chris Eaton, 8 Victor Vito, 7 Jack Lam, 6 Faifili Levave, 5 Jason Eaton, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 Ben May, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Tristan Moran Substitutes: 16 Motu Motu’u, 17 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 18 James Broadhurst, 19 Brad Shields, 20 TJ Perenara, 21 Dan Kirkpatrick, 22 Charlie Ngatai.

Lions v Cheetahs, Johannesburg – 19:10

Lions:

15 Jaco Taute, 14 Deon van Rensburg, 13 Doppies le Grange, 12 Alwyn Hollenbach, 11 James Kamana, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Michael Bondesio, 8 Joshua Strauss (captain), 7 Derick Minnie, 6 Cobus Grobbelaar, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Wikus van Heerden/ Hendrik Roodt, 3 Patric Cilliers, 2 Callie Visagie, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg. Substitutes: 16 Martin Bezuidenhout, 17 Jacobie Adriaanse/ CJ van der Linde, 18 Hendrik Roodt / Stephan Greeff, 19 Warren Whiteley, 20 Tian Meyer, 21 Butch James, 22 Lionel Mapoe.

Cheetahs:

15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Dusty Noble, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Andries Strauss, 11 Rocco Jansen, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Tewis de Bruyn, 8 Davon Raubenheimer, 7 Philip van der Walt, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Izak van der Westhuizen, 4 Andries Ferreira, 3 WP Nel, 2 Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1 Trevor Nyakane Substitutes: 16 Hercu Liebenberg, 17 Lourens Adriaanse, 18 Waltie Vermeulen, 19 Ashley Johnson, 20 Pieter van Zyl, 21 Sias Ebersohn, 22 Willie le Roux

This leaves the Stormers without an established enforcer option, and coach Allister Coetzee has decided to hand Etzebeth the responsibility in his very first Super Rugby match. Juan de Jongh will not feature because of a jaw injury. [...]]]> Rynhardt Elstadt has failed a late fitness test and will be replaced by Eben Etzebeth for the Stormers’ first Super Rugby match against the Hurricanes on Saturday.
Kick-off is at 17:05.

This leaves the Stormers without an established enforcer option, and coach Allister Coetzee has decided to hand Etzebeth the responsibility in his very first Super Rugby match.
Juan de Jongh will not feature because of a jaw injury. Bryan Habana will partner Jean de Villiers in midfield, and this move opens up a space for Gerhard van den Heever on the wing.
Gary van Aswegen will start at flyhalf in the absence of Peter Grant, who is still playing rugby in Japan, and will be joined by Dewaldt Duvenage at scrumhalf.
Nick Koster will start at No 8 despite the return of regular eighthman Duane Vermeulen. Vermeulen will play blindside flank.
Teams:
Stormers:
15 Joe Pietersen, 14 Gerhard van den Heever, 13 Bryan Habana, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Gio Aplon, 10 Gary van Aswegen, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Nick Koster, 7 Duane Vermeulen, 6 Schalk Burger (captain), 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 Steven Kitshoff
Substitutes: 16 Siyabonga Ntubeni, 17 Frans Malherbe, 18 De Kock Steenkamp, 19 Siya Kolisi, 20 Louis Schreuder, 21 Burton Francis, 22 Marcel Brache
Hurricanes:
TBA

With the Bulls highlighting that their new kit has a dramatic “smash” design inspired by the phrase “bull in [...]]]> Stormers launch new 2012 kit February 21, 2012 Posted by Morné Hot on the (hot pink, and probably high) heels of the Bulls launching their steamy new away kit, the Stormers are set to launch their 2012 Super Rugby campaign in a brand new outfit too. David Moseley – News24

With the Bulls highlighting that their new kit has a dramatic “smash” design inspired by the phrase “bull in a china shop” and expresses the Bulls’ powerful playing style, the Stormers have come forward to say that their 2012 range of playing kit is inspired by the popular phrase “Storm in a teacup”, and will express their knack for huffing and puffing, yet only managing to blow the straw houses down. This, explain the marketing gurus at the Cape franchise, highlights the Stormers ability to create a stir without any substance to back the hype. “We feel that after years of throwing it all away in the closing stages of the Super Rugby tournament, we should rather lower expectations right from the outset,” Stormers Marketing Manager Blowhard McLanyard told this reporter.

“This way, our faithful fans will be rewarded with a stress-free and mediocre mid-table finish, and not have to suffer the indignity of losing to the Lions in semifinal play-off decider.” Stinkwood was never an option Some critics have noted that the Stormers generally run out of “puff” at the end of the long Super Rugby season. The new kit designer, however, refutes such claims. “The ‘Storm in a teacup’ theme will embrace all levels of Stormers rugby,” says fashion expert and Stormers kit consultant Trendy O’Skinny-Jean Waxed-Tache the Third.

“The Bulls have co-opted the colours of Pretoria’s famous Jacaranda into their kit,” notes O’Skinny. “But in the Western Cape the trees are all horribly unfabulous. At first I thought a scheme based on the popular stinkwood trees would suit the team because, you know, they stink. But the rugby top brass at Newlands were none too happy. That’s when ‘Storm in a teacup struck’.” The Stormers, renowned throughout the country for promising big and delivering small, will now take to the field in a kit more fitting their rugby performances.

“We’re looking at an eggshell-to-ecru colour scheme for the boys this year, to really bring through the flimsy nature of the ‘Storm in a teacup’ campaign. We feel the new colour scheme will reinforce the dainty teacup theme and highlight the brittle nature of our Super Rugby challenges,” adds McLanyard. There will be nothing on the kit. No logos, no distracting colours, no chevrons, hoops or circles. All to signify what the Cape union has achieved in recent years. The truth is, adds McLanyard, teacups are the only cups we have in the trophy cabinet at present. “We don’t want to pressure the team, so we’re hoping ‘Storm in a teacup’ is something the guys can relate too.”

Other reports have indicated that the Stormers away kit could be made from a new, hi-tech invisible cloth. “This should also resemble the Newlands trophy room, as when you look into the glass cabinets, you see nothing,” says O’Skinny-Jean, with the tiniest hint of a mischievous grin. Meanwhile, there is no truth in the rumour that the Lions and the Kings are engaged in a legal battle over the slogan “Fighting for the Wooden Spoon”.