Coetzee wants more from flyhalves
by Gavin Rich 07 February 2012, 07:50
DHL Stormers coach Allister Coetzee is lamenting the injuries that prevented some of the key up-and-coming flyhalves in his region from developing like they should have in 2011.
With the 2012 Super Rugby season now just three weeks away, Coetzee is giving Gary van Aswegen, Demetri Catrakilis, newcomer Burton Francis and Kurt Coleman every opportunity to get as much game time as possible.
Van Aswegen, Catrakilis and Francis have all started a pre-season game, while Coleman has been used quite a bit later on in some of the matches.
At this stage Van Aswegen is the clear favourite to start at No 10 in the opening match against the Hurricanes at Newlands on 25 February, but that is based mainly on what he did in an impressive start to last year.
Since then he has been out for most of the time with an ankle and then a knee injury, and by Coetzee’s own admission the 21 year old did not have a rousing reintroduction to top rugby when he played against the Lions 10 days ago.
“You have to take into account that he had not played for a while,” pointed out Coetzee.
The coach said he was looking forward to having Peter Grant back in the mix not because of the Kobe Steelers pivot’s ability to front the Stormers' challenge from flyhalf, but also for what he can bring as a mentor to the other players in the squad.
“I would love to have taken Gary’s career forward last year but he had all those injuries that kept him off the playing field. His development can just progress quicker if he has someone like Peter Grant with him to help him come through,” said Coetzee.
Grant could well still be back in time to play against the Hurricanes, even though Coetzee and the rest of the management aren’t banking on it.
The Steelers, Grant’s Japanese club, have only a wildcard chance of entry into the knock-out phase of the competition in Japan and if they don’t make it, Grant will be back in time for the start of Super Rugby.
But he might take time to re-adjust to Super Rugby level and last year was reintroduced from the bench in his first game back, so there is a good chance that Van Aswegen will be starting against the Hurricanes regardless of whether the first choice is back or not.
TACTICAL PLAY
The area that Coetzee would like all his flyhalves to be working on is their tactical play, something Catrakilis was particularly poor at in the last game against the Cheetahs.
“The tactical play of the flyhalves is not where it should be – that is the case with all the flyhalves who have played so far. It is a work in progress,” he said.
“When you work on your general attack, then the players tend to forget about a heads-up type of rugby, meaning playing the situation. When you go back into your own half surely you can’t just shovel the ball on to the backs, you have to look for space to kick into.
"It’s something we are trying to get right with all three flyhalves. When you are going back in your own half you don’t have to form another ruck and if you have time and space to kick it and get us out of that area.”
As anticipated, the experienced trio of Andries Bekker, Duane Vermeulen and Tiaan Liebenberg are back in the selection mix this week and should add staunchness to the pack in Saturday’s final warm-up game against the Kings in Port Elizabeth.
Bekker, back from injury for the first time since last June, is expected to captain the side as Schalk Burger was the leader against the Lions and the Cheetahs and is due for a rest.
One stalwart still doubtful is scrumhalf Dewaldt Duvenage, who is still struggling with a toe injury.
“I will have more clarity on his situation on Wednesday. There’s a big chance of Dewaldt being part of the squad that goes to Port Elizabeth,” said Coetzee.
However Duvenage’s condition has served as a reminder of the need to fast-track the next group of scrumhalves, headed by Louis Schreuder and Nic Groom, both of whom were recent WP under-21 players.
Bolla Conradie, the 34-year-old former Springbok, is also still in the frame for a return to Super Rugby after a break of several seasons.
“It’s a sink or swim kind of thing for the youngsters. They’ve now been in our systems long enough. They are good enough to play at this tis level, but there are little tactical things they need to step up,” said Coetzee.