Coetzee crams five props into his suitcase
COACH Allister Coetzee does not think it’s a gamble to take just two scrumhalves and two hookers on the Stormers’ fourmatch Super Rugby tour of Australasia.
Scrumhalf and hooker are specialist positions, and there is always a risk of an injury a few days before a match. And the player on standby in Cape Town won’t have enough time to fly halfway around the world to make it in time to play.
Instead, Coetzee has decided to cram five props into his suitcase, and a host of players who can cover lock, loose forward and the outside back positions.
However, Coetzee says they will make contingency plans around those two positions should they run into trouble. He even joked that many people might even get their wish and see fullback Cheslin Kolbe at scrumhalf if something bad should happen.
“I have never taken three scrumhalves on tour, never, because you need flexibility in the outside backs because that is where the highest risk of injury will come. Hence the selection,” Coetzee said yesterday.
“You always prepare someone in the squad to play that role. So if a player wakes up on a Friday morning with a bit of flu, then someone will have to back up there. We know who the third scrumhalf is. If we are pushed in a position like that, we will find a suitable guy.
“If you look at our composition, we have five props, which always important. We have got four locks with Michael Rhodes who can be a back-up there.”
The Stormers take on the Highlanders, Hurricanes, Waratahs and the Force on their trip following a good start to the campaign.
Four wins from five matches will certainly give them a lot of momentum, as opposed to last season when injuries and a mixed bag of results at the start the campaign influenced their tour.
Last Saturday’s defeat to the Chiefs would have dented their confidence, but what it also did was expose some of the problem areas which weren’t so noticeable against the Bulls, Blues, Lions and Sharks.
The Stormers’ kicking, kickchase, tackling and conservative approach in the second half contributed to the defeat against New Zealand’s No 1 side, and Coetzee and his team of coaches will try to iron those creases out over the next few days before they leave for New Zealand and Australia this weekend.
“The Highlanders, Hurricanes and Waratahs are all good teams, and for the next three weeks we can expect something similar to the Chiefs,” Coetzee said.
“The Highlanders (play a similar game), and this loss (against the Chiefs) will only be a failure if we don’t take the lessons to heart. The next three games will come with similar pressures, and will be similar in style and quality.”
The Stormers will be without captain Duane Vermeulen for the first game on tour because of SA Rugby’s resting requirements. Outside centre Juan de Jongh will lead the team against Highlanders, but Coetzee is still deciding on a new vice-captain, a man who will lead the pack.
Schalk Burger is the obvious choice. But will he start? It seems that Coetzee has earmarked Nizaam Carr to play in his preferred No 8 next weekend.
Carr and Burger won’t necessarily play in the same loose trio because Coetzee believes they play a similar sort of game. Michael Rhodes is back and could start at No 7, which could then see Siya Kolisi move to openside for the match if Carr is drafted in at No 8.
“We have to look closely to get the right combination,” Coetzee said. “The big thing is Mike was really on form and was playing good rugby. But I’m not sure if he will be on that level again in terms of performance after he stopped playing two or three weeks ago.
“Schalk hasn’t played a lot of No 8. But Schalla and Nizaam are the same, because they are linking loosies. You have to have a hard-running loose forward and a lineout option, and an abrasive guy because we will be sitting without Duane.”