Inclement start to the Stormers’super preparations
THE Stormers pick up the pace for the forthcoming Super Rugby season with a run-out against neighbours Boland in Wellington tomorrow, before upping the intensity when facing Super Rugby opponents in the form of the Lions and Cheetahs in a pre-season warm-up tournament at Newlands from next week.
Following a change in sponsorship, the Cape Town-based competition formerly known as the Neo-africa Tri-series, which was established in 2010, will see the Cape franchise give coach Allister Coetzee time and space to run the rule over his 53-man squad ahead of the opening Super Rugby game against the ever-dangerous Hurricanes on February 25.
The Stormers’ preparations for the new season have been anything but smooth, with the sudden resignation of director of rugby Rassie Erasmus, the Sharks pulling out as one of the Tri-series teams and the news that sponsors Neo Africa had pulled the plug on the pre-season event.
The Cheetahs were roped in at the last minute after the Sharks opted for a lower-key approach to the season.
Sharks assistant coach Hugh Reece-edwards said: “We will play Boland and the Eastern Province Kings over two weekends early in February. Playing in the Newlands triangular involved playing two games (against the Lions and the Stormers) in four days at the end of this month.
“We think it will be more beneficial to our planning and preparation to spread the games over two weekends, particularly this early in the BOLAND: 15 Jacquin Jansen, 14 Alistair Kettledas, 13 Jonathan Francke, 12 Siviwe Magaba, 11 Brandon April, 10 Ricardo Croy, 9 Neil Papier, 8 Junior Bester (captain), 7 Thor Halvorsen, 6 Milroy Isaacs, 5 Nolan Clark, 4 Jerry Sefoko, 3 Peet Vorster, 2 Chris Buckle, 1 Charl du Plessis. Bench: 16 Martin Nel, 17 Ludwig Ras, 18 BJ Julies, 19 Jaco du Toit, 20 PJ van Zyl, 21 Franzel September, 22 Zandré Jordaan, 23 Juwell Samuels, 24 Armand Marais, 25 Jeremy Plaatjies, 26 Cola Williams, 27 Senan van der Merwe, 28 Trevor van Rooyen, 29 Adriaan Klaasen, 30 Adam Barlow. STORMERS (from): Adrian Kritzinger, Allistair Vermaak, Berton Klaasen, Bolla Conradie (vice-captain), Brok Harris, Clement Lewis, Danie Poolman, De Kock Steenkamp (captain), Don Armandt, Eben Etzebeth, Ederies Arendse, Frans Malherbe, Gerbrandt Grobler, Gerhard van den Heever, Gio Aplon, JP du Plessis, Juan de Jongh, Kurt Coleman, Marcel Brache, Michael van der Spuy, Nic Groom, Nick Koster, Nizaam Carr, Reuben Johannes, Rohan Kitshoff, Tiaan Liebenberg, Yaya Hartzenberg. season and with a long year ahead of us.”
But Coetzee is taking the disruptions in his stride, focusing his attention on getting as much mileage out of his squad before the rigours of Super Rugby set in at the end of next month.
“We will ensure that each and every player gets the opportunity to play prior to the Super rugby competition,” he said.
“The majority of the squad will get at least 80 minutes game time.”
With a four-match pre-season programme ahead, Coetzee remains optimistic about his young players coming through the ranks and proving that they are investments for the future.
“I am quite excited to see our young stars put up their hands now that they are given the opportunity to prove themselves,” Coetzee said.
“These warm-up matches will be a good start for youngsters such as centres JP du Plessis, Burton Klaasen and Michael van der Spuy.”
The Stormers face Boland tomorrow – prior to the first encounter of the Tri-series against the Lions on January 27, the Cheetahs on February 4 and EP Kings on February 11.
Lions coach John Mitchell, meanwhile, has confirmed that eighthman Josh Strauss will captain the side in the Super Rugby tournament, with veteran centre Doppies la Grange vice-captain. Strauss and La Grange were at the helm when the Golden Lions won the Currie Cup last season and both captained the Lions at various stages of last year’s Super Rugby competition.