Steenkamp to join Etzebeth in second row
STORMERS coach Allister Coetzee has recalled De Kock Steenkamp to the second row to partner Eben Etzebeth against the Southern Kings in this weekend’s Super Rugby clash at Newlands.
Gerbrandt Grobler, who made his run-on debut for the Stormers against the Reds last week and gave a commanding performance, drops to the bench.
Etzebeth was asked to play No 5 last week and manage the lineout for the first time in his senior career and he was sensational against gnarled Wallaby veteran James Horwill. But the coach has opted to take the pressure off the young Bok by returning the play-calling to Steenkamp, who has recovered from a chest injury.
In an interesting change, regular hooker Deon Fourie also returns to the starting line-up after a rib injury, but as a blindside flank.
Fourie has often operated at openside, but on Saturday, in a clear tactical move, he will wear the No 7 jersey, with Siya Kolisi at No 6. Don Armand drops to the bench.
Despite the numbers on their backs, Fourie’s natural foraging skills and Kolisi’s growth as a to-theball player suggest that the Stormers are looking to dominate the breakdown and up the tempo with a view to scoring a four-try bonus point against the Kings.
But heavy rain is predicted, which could lay waste to their plans. Coetzee did not offer any insight into the thinking behind Fourie’s selection at blindside other than to say that the last time Kolisi played blindside, he “missed a lot of detail”.
“For the first time this season, injuries have not dictated to us from the previous match,” Coetzee said.
“Both De Kock and Deon have been key men for us and, thus, they retain their starting place — despite Gerbrandt and Don having done so well for us against the Reds.
“Our depth on the bench has — in turn — also been bolstered.”
Meanwhile, in Bloemfontein, Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske made only one change to the starting XV to face the Bulls in a crunch encounter at Loftus, recalling wing Raymond Rhule in place of Ryno Benjamin.
Flyhalf Elgar Watts, after two impressive displays against the Reds and the Kings, has seemingly cemented his place ahead of Burton Francis and Riaan Smit.