Fewer flyhalf headaches for Stormers
by Gavin Rich 01 February 2012, 15:46
This time last year you got the sense that the DHL Stormers coaches were in a state of panic when it came to their anxious wait for Peter Grant to return from Japan, but that has changed.
Coach Allister Coetzee called up his third starting flyhalf in as many matches for Saturday’s DHL Pre-Season Series game against the Toyota Cheetahs at Newlands (kicking off at 5pm), and then admitted that he was far less stressed about whether Grant makes it back from the Kobe Steelers before the Super Rugby season kicks off than he was this time last year.
“I suppose the adversity we faced in the last season where injuries forced us to go through many different flyhalves and several of them came through to show they could play at that level helped us,” said Coetzee.
“We were a bit panicky about Peter’s situation last year, but we are less panicked now because we know we have guys who can play.”
Demetri Catrakilis, who was playing for UCT in the Varsity Cup this time in 2011, is the latest player to have been entrusted with the No 10 jersey in a match which Coetzee is using to test his depth before the probable first choice combination gets a final dress-rehearsal opportunity against the Kings two weeks before the Super Rugby opener against the Hurricanes.
“Catrakilis is a player who impressed us after coming through from club rugby last year and after doing well in the Currie Cup this is an opportunity for him to show he can play at Super Rugby level,” said the coach.
“We have a lot more depth there now, and after Burton Francis, Gary van Aswegen and Kurt Coleman got a chance in the previous two games this is Catrikilis’s turn,” said Coetzee.
With the exception of skipper Schalk Burger, hooker Deon Fourie and lock Rynhardt Elstadt, who makes his first appearance on the playing field since sustaining an injury in last year’s Super Rugby semifinal against the Crusaders, the team to play the Cheetahs has a second string look to it. However, there is enough quality to suggest they will push the Cheetahs and several players have a chance to push for places in the first choice team.
“Last year we used 38 players in Super Rugby, and the Reds, who won the competition, used 39. So while the South African Rugby Union requirement is that we name a squad of 30 before the tournament, we know we are going to need a group of around 40. This is the time when you introduce the new players to the level of rugby they may be exposed to later when the pressure is really on us.”
Stormers team: Gerhard van den Heever, Danie Poolman, JP du Plessis, Marcel Brache, Ederies Arendse, Demetri Catrakilis, Nic Groom, Nizaam Carr, Siya Kolisi, Schalk Burger (captain), De Kock Steenkamp, Rynhardt Elstadt, Frans Malherbe, Deon Fourie, Deon Carstens. Reserves: Siyabonga Ntubeni, Steven Kitshoff, Brok Harris, Eben Etzebeth, Donovan Armand, Nick Fenton-Wells, Rohan Kitschoff, Bolla Conradie, Kurt Coleman, Michael van der Spuy, Berton Klaasen.