Something to Cheer about ?

Its almost Super14 time. Hectic how much rugby the players are playing these days. Oh well we'll worry about that argument at the end of year tour when half the guys are dead.

This weekend the Stormers kick off against the Sharks, is this going to be the season when everything clicks for us. Could we see a return to the glory years of the late 80's. The Stormers certainly have the players, the coach and the support to make a serious challenge. My only negative and this probably goes for most teams but I am looking at us now is our depth in the backs. If we lose any of our flyhalf or centres we could be looking at a serious headache. Back up has always been hard to hold onto granted and when quality like Dollie gets snapped up by the Brumbies academy B squad what can you do. What will the poor little ball Ashfak Mohammed write about now. Anyway hope are indeed high and rightly so, I came across this penned in Rugbyheaven and its nice to see others have taken note of what we achieved last year.

STORMERS:

In Rassie Erasmus the Stormers have one of the finest coaches in the Super 14 and the squad he has assembled for this year's competition is a pretty fine one.

Last year the Stormers missed out on a place in the semifinals to the Hurricanes on points difference. They should, if things go to plan, be able to make the playoffs for the first time since 2004.

The Stormers have a sprinkling of world-class players in their ranks, including Schalk Burger, Bolla Conradie, Conrad Jantjes, Jean de Villiers, AJ Venter and the ever-youthful Percy Montgomery.

With that kind of line-up it's no surprise they're being tipped in the Republic as the South African team with the best chance of taking the title.

The Stormers all seem to have overcome the perennial problem of being unable to win matches in Australasia, picking up three victories in this part of the world last season.

The team to watch this year.

NEW KID ON THE BLOCK

Nick Koster had an impressive Currie Cup and the No 8 was called into the Barbarians side for the game against Australia last year. While he's an exceptional backrower he's spent time playing on the wing during pre-season.

IN

Wicus Blaauw, Willem de Waal (Narbonne, France), Dewaldt Duvenage (Boland), Nick Koster, JC Kritzinger, Hilton Lobberts (Bulls), Percy Montgomery (Perpignan, France), AJ Venter (Sharks), Duane Vermeulen (Cheetahs).

OUT

Tony Brown (Sanyo, Japan), Isma-eel Dollie (Brumbies), Tiaan Liebenberg (Toulon, France), Ross Skeate (Toulon, France).

TAB odds: $14

Predicted finish: runners-up.

Thats right folks runners up, what ? Ya well lets not get over board yet, its a long Super14 but its nice to see. I will be in the stands come Saturday. 

The other classic I came across on my browsing was this pearler out of France, God they do things well. The cheerleaders for our teams are pretty good. The Sharks lead the way and the Bulls are'nt bad. The Stormers girls look like the just got out of a Bellville nightclub, aggg sies man !!! Seriously take a peek at these, you wont be let down. Its truly amazing.

 http://multimedia.stuff.co.nz/rugby/Slideshows/latestphotos/index.html

What did I tell you, no wonder Carter did his Achilles... get it ?