Ex Super rugby
Rynhardt Elstadt will be back and so probably will be Steven Kitshoff, Joe Pietersen and Bryan Habana, but Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth’s chances of playing for the Stormers in their important Super Rugby derby against the Cheetahs on Saturday are said to be touch and go.
Etzebeth had a moon boot that had been put in place to set a sprained ankle removed on Sunday, and the Stormers management will only know after they have assessed him on Monday whether he will be ready to travel to Bloemfontein for a match which skipper Jean de Villiers has described as a mini semifinal.
“Eben’s situation is touch and go at the moment, we need to assess him once the moon boot has been removed. We obviously won’t risk him if there is any doubt,” said coach Allister Coetzee after his team’s 27-17 win over the Lions at Newlands.
Etzebeth’s physical presence was missed against the Lions, where the Lions’ dominance in the scrums, which was partially because of the flu that Frans Malherbe took onto the field with him, put the Stormers pack on the back foot.
But even if Etzebeth is not ready to play at Vodacom Park, the return of Elstadt from suspension will make a big difference.
Schalk Burger and Nick Koster are due back only the following week, and maybe not until the play-off rounds, so the return of Elstadt for Don Armand, who took some good clean lineout ball against the Lions, should be the one change to what was a new-look back row.
Coetzee will have to weigh up whether to play Deon Fourie at openside flank ahead of newcomer Tyrone Holmes.
The man from Fish Hoek enjoyed a solid debut but the Stormers did struggle at the breakdowns, and on Saturday they are up against one of the world’s best in the form of Heinrich Brussow.
Fourie stole some crucial balls from the Lions once he was switched to the flank in the second half.(Nice contest with Brussouw. Fourie is very underated as a 6)
Danie Poolman played well after being called into the team at the last minute following the flu-enforced withdrawal from the team of Springbok wing Bryan Habana, but then pulled a hamstring before halftime and has been ruled out for three weeks.
His replacement Marcel Brache did well on debut but was said after the game to be suffering from bruising on the chest and will be assessed on Monday.
With these injuries to the back three back-up players, it is a good thing that both Habana and Joe Pietersen should be over their flu this week, which will mean Pietersen returns to fullback, Gio Aplon goes back to right wing for Gerhard van den Heever and Habana returns to the left. ( Just underlines you need depth to stand a chance in thsi comp)
CHOMPING AT THE BIT
Kitshoff was rested against the Lions because he played in every game played by the South African under-20 team at the Junior World Cup, but Coetzee said he was chomping at the bit to play again after also missing out on the previous game against the Bulls because of under-20 commitments.
“Steven was very angry with me when I left him out this week and he is probably still angry with me but he needed the rest. I don’t think 20-year-olds know when they need to rest so we need to make the decision for them,” smiled Coetzee. (Well done Alistair for standing up to thsi 20 year old!!! t is high time he was rested)
The game is a big one for the Stormers as a win could put paid to any hopes the Bulls have of catching them in the race for conference supremacy. Indeed, if the Bulls lose to the Sharks on Friday night, that debate could officially be ended even before the 3pm kick-off in Bloemfontein on Saturday afternoon.
“We’ve still got two games to go to put us in position for the semis,” said captain De Villiers.
“The game against the Cheetahs is like a mini semifinal for us and then a final which will hopefully get us ready for the real thing a few weeks later.”
Apart from worrying about the Bulls, the Stormers also need to keep an eye on the Brumbies, who are four points behind them on the overall log.
The Stormers will not want to be involved in the first play-off round, which means they need to keep winning in order to remain in the top two, which guarantees automatic semifinal qualification.
The conference winner that finishes third overall has to play the sixth-ranked team in order to qualify for the semifinal round.
Sorry Cheeahas but we have to win this one so dont overdo it on Saturday relax and watch the class Stormers side show you how its done. Wonder if Quin Roux will get a start or will he go with Steenkamp again. Seems we are still a class loosie short. Thought they said Koster would be ready. No mention of Vermuelen who is key to our hopes.
