Habana to start at No 13
ASHFAK MOHAMED JUAN DE JONGH has been ruled out of the Stormers’ Super Rugby opener against the Hurricanes, while coach Allister Coetzee has signed a three-year contract extension and won’t be joining the Springbok management team.
That was the latest coming out of the Stormers camp yesterday following their practice session in Bellville. De Jongh has been struggling with a painful jaw after taking a knock in the pre-season friendly against the Lions, and was always in doubt for the Hurricanes clash. Springbok wing Bryan Habana is now set to wear the No 13 jersey on Saturday at Newlands, where he will face All Black centre Conrad Smith.
“It’s looking good, there is progress with Juan, but it is slow. He has not been put in contact, but the sensitivity is not as much as it was a week ago,” Coetzee said yesterday. “By next Monday, I will have a good indication. My policy on players is that, if they are not there by Tuesday, it’s difficult to select him. Bryan did well against the Kings (at centre), I was pleased with his performance.”
But the coach did receive some good news yesterday when Nick Koster (knee), Duane Vermeulen (knee), Andries Bekker (ankle) and Dewaldt Duvenage (toe) were all passed fit to play. There is still some doubt about lock Rynhardt Elstadt’s fitness, but Coetzee is confident that he will be ready.
With regards to his contract extension, Coetzee revealed that he had turned down an opportunity to join new Springbok boss Heyneke Meyer’s management team as an assistant coach because “there was still work to be done” at the Stormers and Western Province.
The WP and Stormers bosses have also given three-year contract extensions to assistant coaches Matthew Proudfoot and Robbie Fleck, defence guru Jacques Nienaber and WP Vodacom Cup and Under-21 coach John Dobson.
“This is a job that’s not completed yet with Western Province. I know your country is the first thing to look at, and make sure that you are part of the success at national level. But also, we started something a couple of years ago, with Rassie (Erasmus), and he said it clearly that after three years, he felt that he’s got to move on. He did his best and has put systems into place, with the successes we’ve had up to now,” Coetzee said.
“But we just couldn’t win a trophy, and that’s why he’s moved on. I just feel that I’ve started something with him, and there’s still work to be done here. That’s why the decision was tough, but I was clear in what I wanted to do.
“My heart is at the right place. I have been a Springbok assistant coach from 2004 to 2007, and I would’ve loved to work with Heyneke Meyer – I think he is a fantastic coach – but sometimes you can take the easy way, and go into another assistant job and sit there for the next four years and have no pressure in a cushy job. But this is where I want to be and this is where I would like to still obtain my objectives.”
Erasmus’ post won’t be filled, as Coetzee will be solely responsible for player contracting and talent identification at lower levels, where he presumably will work with Dobson and the head of the club players’ programme, Jerome Paarwater.
But the WP Rugby Union will appoint a high performance manager to assist Coetzee with the administrative duties in terms of player affairs and contracting.
“The high performance manager will report directly to me, and work as my second in command.
“The talent-spotting is definitely still my job. I may not be able to always go out there physically, but I would like to be hands-on with our scouting system – from the southern suburbs to the northern ... even outside the Cape. I think it is important for every coach – you get judged at Super Rugby – but it starts right at the bottom. So, if I’m not in charge there and know who’s coming through, it’s unfair.”
Coetzee added that he will still coach WP in the Currie Cup this year and “see how it goes” before deciding whether to continue both the Stormers and WP next year. Tuks continued their unbeaten run in the FNB Varsity Cup as they powered to a 40-20 win over Pukke at the Tuksrugby Stadium last night.
This was Tuks’ third consecutive victory, a confidence booster ahead of their highly anticipated trip to Stellenbosch next week, where they face rivals Maties.
Maties are also unbeaten in this year’s competition and next week’s top of the table clash promises to be epic.
Tuks could not have asked for better preparation than the energy sapping bruiser against an unrelenting Pukke side but it was the hard work by the Tuks forwards and precision when in front of the opponent’s try-line that saw Tuks emerge victorious.
Three first half tries did the trick for the home side, going into the break with a commanding 24-10 lead. Were it not for their countless handling errors, Tuks could have sealed the victory way before the final whistle was blown.
However, when the ball stuck to the hands, Tuks were unstoppable. Two of their three first half tries came almost from first phase ball as Tuks were dominant in the line-outs and used the driving maul effectively.
It was the dominance at the set-piece that kept Pukke constantly on the back foot and handed the hosts the territorial advantage as well.
Tuks drove in the final nail through a well worked try on the hour mark which Flyhalf Wesley Dunlop kicked a high up and under. Man-of-theMatch and full back Clayton Blommethies plucked the ball out of the air to score the fourth try of the evening.
After another assault on the visitors try-line, Tuks were rewarded when Lohan Jacobs scored to put the result beyond doubt and bring up the forty points.
Pukke continued to fight until the death and there was some reward for them as wing Andrew van Wyk scored a consolation try having also scored in the first half.