Stormers need to be brave and invest in the youngsters

 Forget the likes of Harris at 3, Blaauw at 1, de Kock Steenkamp as a bench lock or Habana at 13. The Stormers have some really talented youngsters on board and they need to throw them in the deep end, show faith in them and invest in them.

In 20 year old Malherbe, they have a tighthead who by all accounts is the real deal. At 124kg's he certainly is built for the job. He will not have to move many mountains to be better than the utterly useless Brok Harris.

We have already seen enough of Steve Kirchoff to know that this kid is the real deal. At 19, he is still a pup but a powerful pup at that. At 120kgs he has some serious beef and a vast improvement on Blaauw. In JC Kritzinger, they have an able back up prop for the bench. JC is only 24 and an impressive 118kg's.

At lock they have the best young lock in the business in Eben Etzebeth, this kid will be a Bok sooner than later. An impressive figure at 2.03m and 120kgs and boy does he get around the park. Best young lock I have seen in years. Etzebeth should be the Stormers bench lock as back up to the impressive Elstadt and Bekker. At 118kg Elstadt has plenty of beef as does Bekker at 122kg.

Its a real pity Coetzee has not included the two exciting young centres in his squad. JP du Plessis returns from a stint with the Rebels and he has the very impressive Bok U20 centre in Pat Howard at his disposal. These two are far better bets than Habana at 13. Chances are they would prove better options than incumbents de Jongh and Jean (who has now past his best days).

Coetzee should push the boat out and go with the youngsters, much like the Bulls have done. A side along the lines of:

15. v/d Heever 14. Habana 13. Howard 12. JP du Plessis 11. Aplon 10. v/ Aswegen 9. Duvenhage 1. Kirchoff 2. Fourie 3. Malherbe 4. Elstadt 5. Bekker 6. Kolisi 7. Burger 8. Vermeulen 16. Groom 17. Jean 18. de Jongh 19. JC Kritzinger 20. Liebenberg 21. Etzebeth 22. Koster will do the Stormers proud.

Are you a Kings fan Dave? With that side the Stormers could be watching them play next year....instead of competing. Some youngsters are fine.....Lambie clearly is, so was Frans. But it didn't require a genius to spot them, they stood out for all to see. Taken as a whole though, as we can see from the Boks "b" team performances.....the youngsters are inferior to the proven veterans.

And what proof do you have Habana wont succeed at 13? You keep repeating that idea without any motivation for the idea.  He has speed off the mark, intuition and loves being physically involved. I think he could be the answer there.

 Ah Moz, ever the conservative - no doubt Blaauw, Harris and de Kock Steenkamp are better bets than Kirchoff, Malherbe and Etzebeth?

Habana will never make a 13, for a start he has average hands and lacks the instinct to play 13. His strength has always been as a finisher, not a player who creates something for players around him. Good centres require silky skills, brains and a good touch - Habana does not strike me as a player with these attributes. The guy was a quality wing, relying on pace first and foremost - but in reality he is a clumsy player, much like many wings are - silky skills he does not have.

Mark my word he wont make a 13, much like Schalk was never a 6, Smit was never a prop, Pienaar never a 15 or Danie Rossouw a 8

Moz were you not saying habna woul dflop at 13?

Look as I said, Alistair has to get his selections right. What all ths is showing is that they have some very good players in this quad. Given the length of the season all of them should have a chance.

Blauw and Harris are still relatively young. I agree Steenkamp is nothing special. MAlherbe could surprise folk this season and maybe even get a Bok call up. Kirchoff is on a rapid upward curve as well as kritzinger.

Eben hopefully wil lget a lot of game time and is a player to watch.

Schalk was an excellent 6 and won IRB rugby player of the year playing 6. Danie saved our bacon in the

2007 WC mopping up at the back of our retreating scrum.

Jean was excellent at this Wc so all in all we have enough centers and really its all about putting it together and  trusting injuries and refs don't blow one out of the water.

I am looking forward to seeing how the Stormers pack go this season. Potentially it could be very good. Rassie has certainly built up a far superior squad to what we had before he came along. Somehow though I do not see much brain power in the coaching staff. This is worrisome when one ponders a possible Super 15 win.

Mostly what I'm saying Beeno is youngsters, who have never experienced the pace and ferocity of the S15, need to be introduced in a core team.......not selected willy nilly for unproven individual skills. Rugby is a team game, when you forget that you get Destroyli.

As for Habana I have long advocated a look at 13. Silky skills......haha. I suppose Fury had silky skills......the lad couldn't hit a barn door with a pass.

These position moves are always unpredictable....but I have some hopes Bryan can revive his career at 13. On the wing he no longer has the pace or the condfidence in his pace to challenge on the outside.