Coleman to take over the controls as Du Preez is ruled out until June
THESTORMERSflyhalf job is Kurt Coleman’s to lose after scans ruled Robert du Preez out for as many as 10 matches.
“Rob suffered a grade two to three tear of the MCL and partial PCL tear in the (left) knee,” said Stormers coach Robbie Fleck yesterday. “He doesn’t require surgery, but it looks like he’ll be out for up to 12 weeks. He should be fit and ready to go after the June Test break.”
Du Preez suffered the injury during last week’s 20-10 win in Bloemfontein, and the 12-week recovery period ironically comes to an end after the re-match against the Cheetahs at Newlands on May 28.
Super Rugby pauses in June to accommodate Ireland’s three-Test tour of South Africa and the 22-yearold is expected to contend for a place in the matchday squad for the final three league games of the season, against the Rebels and Force in Australia, followed by a visit from the Kings.
“It’s not the end of his season, but he’s obviously gutted,” added Fleck. Du Preez made way for Coleman, pictured above, early in the second half and the latter took no time to get comfortable at the controls.
“I feel for him because he played really well against the Bulls, but I was very happy with Kurt’s performance - shortly after he went on he got a really tough penalty that he had to slot over and, credit to him, he showed a lot of guts.”
The Stormers coach ruled out the possibility that Du Preez’s long-term lay-off would be addressed by recruit- ing an experienced replacement.
“We’ve got two good players in Brandon Thomson and Jean-Luc du Plessis,” Fleck said of the two pivots he worked with at Western Province’s Under-21s last year. “They’ve both done the whole pre-season with us, so it’s an exciting opportunity for both of them. We’re going to back the youngsters in the system.”
The system produced the Stormers’ first win in Bloemfontein since 2012 and Fleck was relieved, though frustrated, to have bypassed that potential banana peel.
“I can’t put my finger on why we struggle up there,” he said. “The Cheetahs put pressure on us with their line speed and they defended really well.
“We were a little bit flustered in that first half, but the pleasing aspect was that we pulled it together in the second half, we were able to build a few phases and our set piece came together.
“Overall, it was the first time in three years that we won there, the Cheetahs crucially didn’t get a bonus point. It was a big monkey on our back for a long time and the players are really happy that they’ve come back with a win.”
The Stormers have had to move on from celebrating that achievement because the Sharks pose a completely different challenge this week.
“The Sharks are a much improved side from last year and, certainly defensively, they’re a better outfit - they’re well organised and well drilled in that regard,” said Fleck. “They also have a strong scrum and maul, and they’re looking to back themselves a little bit more, and they’ve got a decent kicking game with (flyhalf) Joe Pietersen and (fullback) Willie le Roux there.
“The difference is that with the Cheetahs, you really don’t know what’s going to happen next. Defensively, they’re rushing up out of the line and a lot of the time it feels like they’re offsides, and on attack, they play a wide-wide game.
“The Sharks are more organised and they have a decent pack, and some good, senior players mixed with youngsters coming through, like the Du Preez twins.”
Rookies Jean-Luc and Daniel du Preez are Robert’s younger siblings and both have made a positive impression in two starts for the Sharks this season – Jean-Luc was named man of the match after both wins against the Kings and Jaguares.
“I suppose I’ll have to sort them out,” Stormers lock Eben Etzebeth smiled. “It’s going to be a good challenge.”