‘Exciting’ Augustus is next Stormers bolter
STORMERS coach Robbie Fleck believes Juarno Augustus will add to the team’s current loose forward options – for the “playoffs and beyond that”.
Augustus comes into the starting XV at No 7 for the Stormers’ match against the Sunwolves at Newlands tomorrow (kickoff 7.30 pm) after both Sikhumbuzo Notshe and Kobus van Dyk picked up knee injuries during the week.
Fleck said that Augustus’ selection was a “comfortable” one.
“Playing for the Stormers is not completely new to him. He got game time in the pre-season friendly against the Lions. We are very comfortable with this selection and he adds further to our loose-forward options, both for the playoffs and beyond that,” Fleck said.
“He brings something different and he might free up the likes of Nizaam (Carr) and Siya (Kolisi), but he’s got to do the basics first and then the rest will come to him easily.”
Fleck added that he didn’t see the inclusion of the 19-year-old Augustus as a “big call”. Augustus was named Player of the Tournament at the World Rugby Under20 Championships in Georgia and now, a few weeks later, he will complete the Stormers’ loose trio along with skipper Kolisi at openside flank and Carr at No 8.
“I don’t think it is a big call to play Juarno at all. I would call it an exciting selection,’ said Fleck.
Augustus was of course instrumental in the Junior Boks’ campaign as the hard-running loose forward scored no fewer than seven tries in Chean Roux’s team’s five matches. But it wasn’t a case of him just being in the right place at the right time – he also made crucial contributions at the breakdowns, while his ball-carrying, his skill set, and his general hard-working style caused all kinds of problems for their opposition.
As with flyhalf Damian Willemse, who made his starting debut for the Stormers last week, Fleck is keen to see what Augustus will deliver. He also singled out Augustus’ ball-carrying ability and what he can bring to the blindside position as something that he was particularly excited about.
“He did play No 8 at the world tournament, but he played between seven and eight, and he can be very effective when he comes around the corner from blindside flank from a ball-carrying point of view,” he said.
Fleck will also have another combination to check out tomorrow in centres Damian de Allende and EW Viljoen.
Currently, of the midfielders, only De Allende, Viljoen and Dan Kriel are fit, while Scottish international Huw Jones, will be out for another week. Springbok centre Juan de Jongh (concussion) should also be in the mix for the playoffs.
In other changes, SP Marais’ injury sees last week’s vice-captain Dillyn Leyds move to fullback, with Seabelo Senatla on the left wing with Cheslin Kolbe, who scored a hat-trick in the Stormers’ 40-34 win over the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein
Stormers:15 Dillyn Leyds, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 EW Viljoen, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Seabelo Senatla, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Juarno Augustus, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg. Bench: 16 Ramone Samuels, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Chris van Zyl, 20 JD Schickerling, 21 Justin Phillips, 22 Dan Kriel, 23 Bjorn Basson