Pretorius wants to face legendary Bok Steyn

STORMERS centre Rikus Pretorius says he’s looking forward to the “big challenge” of possibly going up against the Cheetahs’ Frans Steyn on Saturday.

The Stormers will be looking to follow up this past weekend’s bonuspoint win over Griquas in Kimberley when they welcome the Cheetahs to Newlands for a 7pm kick-off.

Steyn was a late withdrawal for the Free State side’s match against the Sharks at the weekend, but if he does make the starting team sheet for the Newlands encounter, it’s likely that Pretorius – who has started at inside centre in all four of the Stormers’ Super Rugby Unlocked games – will be the one going up against him. The Cheetahs are yet to make a call on Steyn’s availability.

Given the quality of the 33-yearold and the form he’s been in, it’s only natural that he’d be one of the main threats in the Cheetahs team.

For Pretorius, it will be a special battle as he looked up to his fellow Grey College alumnus during his schoolboy days.

“Playing against Frans is going to be a big challenge for me, but that’s the game we want to play – you get better when you go up against good players. I’ve always looked up to him,” Pretorius said earlier this week.

Pretorius has formed the Stormers midfield alongside Dan du Plessis since rugby returned on the local scene, with him playing in the No 12 jersey and Du Plessis at 13.

Before lockdown, Wales veteran Jamie Roberts was the starting inside centre, and Pretorius explained why he wasn’t frustrated by not getting a starting berth in the first few months of the 2020 season.

“I wouldn’t say it was frustrating,” Pretorius said about not starting prior to the break.

“I actually really enjoyed learning from someone who has played for the British & Irish Lions and has 94 Tests for Wales. It was just a privilege learning from him. It motivated me to put in more work to get the No 12 jersey.”

On being a regular starter now, he said: “It feels great, but everything is about the team and every time I play I just want to do good for the team. It is a huge privilege, though. Seeing as this is the last season at Newlands, it’s just a privilege to be able to wear the Stormers jersey every week.”

The 21-year-old added that he’s enjoying combining with Du Plessis in midfield.

“He’s been in the system for a long time, he’s physical and he makes his tackles. What I like about him is he plays to the ball, he can carry hard but he can also throw the ball around skilfully.”

On the challenge that awaits, he added: “Against Griquas our attack was better and our defence was better, our territory also looked good, we focused on that a lot during the pre-season. The Cheetahs are playing good rugby, so it’ll be a good challenge.”