Etzebeth is new Stormers enforcer
22 Feb 2012
Rynhardt Elstadt has failed a late fitness test and will be replaced by Eben Etzebeth for the Stormers’ first Super Rugby match against the Hurricanes.
Earlier this week, the Stormers were confident that Elstadt would recover from an ankle injury to take his place in the second row. But following further testing it’s been decided that the No 4 lock won’t be risked. He will however be ready to play against the Sharks next week.
This leaves the Stormers without an established enforcer option, and coach Allister Coetzee has decided to hand Etzebeth the responsibility in his very first Super Rugby match.
‘Eben is an out-and-out No 4 lock,’ said Coetzee when asked to explain why a more seasoned second rower like De Kock Steenkamp wasn’t preferred. ‘Yes he is a youngster and often youngsters make mistakes, but he has great potential and I have no doubt that he is ready to make the step up at Super Rugby level.’
As reported on Monday, Juan de Jongh will not feature because of a jaw injury. Bryan Habana will partner Jean de Villiers in midfield, and this move opens up a space for Gerhard van den Heever on the wing.
Gary van Aswegen will start at flyhalf in the absence of Peter Grant, who is still playing rugby in Japan, and will be joined by Dewaldt Duvenage in the halfbacks.
Nick Koster will start at No 8 despite the return of regular eighthman Duane Vermeulen. Vermeulen will play blindside flank.
Coetzee added that Deon Carstens, who was recruited from Saracens in the off-season, wasn’t considered because of a lack of game time at tighthead prop. Coetzee feels that the Stormers have the right front row balance in Steven Kitshoff, Brok Harris and reserve prop Frans Malherbe at this stage of the season.
Stormers – 15 Joe Pietersen, 14 Gerhard van den Heever, 13 Bryan Habana, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Gio Aplon, 10 Gary van Aswegen, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Nick Koster, 7 Duane Vermeulen, 6 Schalk Burger (c), 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Subs: 16 Siyabonga Ntubeni, 17 Frans Malherbe, 18 De Kock Steenkamp, 19 Siya Kolisi, 20 Louis Schrueder, 21 Burton Francis, 22 Marcel Brache.
107 Comments
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22 Feb 2012, 15:50 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-91:
shot bud…
yeah… very scrappy game…
shot for the wine tips too… will try them out…!
22 Feb 2012, 17:02 pm
@ufo(ufo)-101:
two guys on a rugby blog sharing wine tips… how very capey
22 Feb 2012, 17:44 pm
this my ideal Stormers side as currently available barring injury
15 Joe Pietersen
14 Gerhard van den Heever
13 Juan de Jongh
12 Jean de Villiers (c)
11 Gio Aplon
10 Gary van Aswegen
9 Dewaldt Duvenage
8 Duane Vermeulen
7 Rynhardt Elstadt
6 Siya Kolisi
5 Andries Bekker
4 Eben Etzebeth
3 Frans Malherbe
2 Tiaan Liebenberg
1 Steven Kitshoff
Subs: 16 Deon Fourie / Siyabonga Ntubeni, 17 Deon Carstens, 18 De Kock Steenkamp, 19 Nick Koster / Nizaam Carr, 20 Louis Schrueder, 21 Bryan Habana, 22 Marcel Brache.
22 Feb 2012, 22:40 pm
Why is it that the stupid Stormers under Alistair Coetzee are so bloody fussy about a number 4 lock and a number 5 lock being a completely different species.
Too many good locks have gone to WP and had their careers ruined by this stupid approach. If you can jump and be lifted at the front of the lineout, you can easily do the same in the middle.
Adriaan Fondse and Anton Van Zyl among a few more come to mind.
23 Feb 2012, 01:53 am
Etzebeth is the best young lock I have seen in years. This kid has Bok written all over him. He was by far the best Bok U20 last year. For a big guy 2.03m and 120kg he gets around the park, has high workrate and loves to go on the charge.
The Stormers have some serious beef in the lock department, with 3 of them being 21 and younger. They have Bekker 28, 2.08m and 122kg, Elstadt 21, 1.98m and 118kg, Eztebeth 20, 2.03m and 120kg and Quin Roux 21, 1.98m and 125kg
23 Feb 2012, 03:01 am
@Sheriff(Sheriff)-17: I know what you mean..I sort of think it’s like..’pride comes before a fall..’
23 Feb 2012, 04:31 am
Not long now and we up to 99 registered tipsters…would have been a nice round 100 but some turkey decided to resign from the pool yesterday, feck knows why!
http://www.superbru.com/superrugby/pool.asp?p=230425
Pool name: Muppits fly Business Class
Pool code: earnpent
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