Bash resumes pivotal role

Bash resumes pivotal role

13 Mar 2012

Flyhalf Peter Grant will start his first match of the season when the Stormers host the Blues at Newlands this Friday.

Gary van Aswegen started at No 10 in the Stormers’ first two matches against the Hurricanes and Sharks. While the Cape side won both matches, Van Aswegen struggled to produce a dominant showing and the backline as a collective failed to fire on attack.

While the Stormers still hope that the 22-year-old Van Aswegen will develop into a good flyhalf option, it’s clear Grant is now their main man.

‘Peter is a Springbok and has a lot of experience,’ coach Allister Coetzee said of Grant’s selection. ‘It’s a very good Blues side that we’re up against, and so there’s going to be a lot of pressure in that [flyhalf] channel. Peter has shown it time and again that he can cope with that kind of pressure.’

Grant returned from Japan five days before that Sharks match and was rushed straight into the match 22. He came off the bench in the second half to not only settle the backline but also nail a touchline penalty to win the game.

Despite Grant’s heroics, he may not be utilised as the Stormers’ primary goal-kicker. Fullback Joe Pietersen missed four attempts at goal in that Sharks match, but could still be entrusted with responsibilities for the coming matches.

‘To be honest, I don’t have a definitive answer to that question,’ Coetzee told keo.co.za. ‘It is something that will be decided at the captain’s run on Thursday.’

Coetzee confirmed that lock Rynhardt Elstadt and prop Deon Carstens, who have both been sidelined with injury, will return to action in the Vodacom Cup this weekend. Depending on how they fare, they could be available for the Stormers’ next clash against the Lions.

Meanwhile, team captain Schalk Burger has had the plaster removed from his injured knee and will begin his rehabilitation next week. It was initially said that Burger would be back for the second tour match against the Crusaders, and on Tuesday Coetzee confirmed that things are on track regarding Burger’s return to the playing field.

Stormers – 15 Joe Pietersen, 14 Gio Aplon, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Jean de Villiers (c), 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Peter Grant, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Nick Koster, 7 Duane Vermeulen, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Subs: 16 Skara Ntubeni, 17 Frans Malherbe, 18 De Kock Steenkamp, 19 Nizaam Carr, 20 Louis Schrueder, 21 Gary van Aswegen, 22 Gerhard van den Heever.

By Jon Cardinelli


344 Comments

Pages: [1] 2 3 4 5 6 7 » Show All

  • 1.ufo: Reply to this comment
    13 Mar 2012, 12:18 pm

    huh…?

    the news should be… how come etzebeth is on the bench…??

  • 2.Tacitus: Reply to this comment
    13 Mar 2012, 12:20 pm

    Good team.

  • 3.ufo: Reply to this comment
    13 Mar 2012, 12:20 pm

    s’pose it’s best to go with grant…

    at least we don’t have to rely on his pop-gun boot in defense… joe or gio bring their bazookas to the party…

    but otherwise a solid enough looking team…

  • 4.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    13 Mar 2012, 12:20 pm

    @ufo(ufo)-1: because Kockie needs to start, rotation policy :D

  • 5.ufo: Reply to this comment
    13 Mar 2012, 12:22 pm

    JC…

    don’t the stormers play the blues on friday night…?

  • 6.stew: Reply to this comment
    13 Mar 2012, 12:22 pm

    Good stormers side – of all the SA sides the stormers have had the Blues number in the past – stormers by 7

  • 7.pompies2: Reply to this comment
    13 Mar 2012, 12:23 pm

    Can’t understand the Steenkamp for Etzebeth change. Sure the added physicality of Etzebeth is needed, more so after the Blues’ display last weekend. Steenkamp will do OK in the lineouts, but his tight-loose play isn’t great.

  • 8.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    13 Mar 2012, 12:23 pm

    @Transformation(Transformation)-4: etzebeth to come on as an impact player mowing down tired Blues players, AC saw how the Blues were only hanging on @ Loftus. finish with a flourish

  • 9.KWAGGA ROBERTSE: Reply to this comment
    13 Mar 2012, 12:28 pm

    Whats with the Bash nickname. If someone called a Heinrich Fulls or Pieter Mulder Bash I could understand but this bloke can hardly bash a kakhuis door in….

    Would’ve let Ettertjie loose on this Blues pack and knock the sh it out of them in the first halve and have the rest take it home 30min from time.

  • 10.grunk: Reply to this comment
    13 Mar 2012, 12:28 pm

    Bekker is another one who hasn’t fired on all cylinders this season. Against the Blues, we are going to need all the dynamite we’ve got to keep those forwards in check. It is pointless having Bash back without some decent possession.

  • 11.stew: Reply to this comment
    13 Mar 2012, 12:29 pm

    @Transformation(Transformation)-8: Especially tired after being hit by bottles !!! he he !!!

  • 12.ufo: Reply to this comment
    13 Mar 2012, 12:30 pm

    @Transformation(Transformation)-4:

    :lol:

    i really don’t like this rotation thing at all… although I know it is necessary, especially in the s15…

    i like a guy being able to play his way into the starting slot and keeping it until the next guy outplays him…

    rather reward the better player with more playing time than ‘reward’ him with less…

    substitute when the better player gets tired or has a bad day at the office…

  • 13.pompies2: Reply to this comment
    13 Mar 2012, 12:31 pm

    @Transformation(Transformation)-8: it’s quite risky to leave it to impact players. You’ve got to control the game from the start. If you relying on impact players to do the job, your starting players didn’t do theirs.The Blues got an early score last week and it did wonders for them. You have t knock their confidence early. Besides, Etzebeth is an 80 minute player.

  • 14.ufo: Reply to this comment
    13 Mar 2012, 12:32 pm

    @grunk(grunk)-10:

    he’s coming back from serious injury… think it’ll take a couple more matches to spark all 12 cylinders…

  • 15.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    13 Mar 2012, 12:34 pm

    Etsebeth covers 4 & 5 so maybe that has something to do with it, AC obviously has a plan, and i think that plan is to only play Bekker for 60 minutes a game this season. Etsebeth is the perfect replacement in that circumstance, although you could just as well play “Kokkie” in that role too.

    Kokkie.

    What a kuk nickname.

  • 16.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    13 Mar 2012, 12:35 pm

    PS I read on News24 that Elton may be out for up to a month.

  • 17.stormer in a teacup: Reply to this comment
    13 Mar 2012, 12:36 pm

    @ufo(ufo)-12: That’s how Becker was played into the ground last year.

  • 18.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    13 Mar 2012, 12:37 pm

    @Tacitus(Deucalion)-2:

    Did you see my directive last night about not listening to Whitney nor Queen anymore.

  • 19.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    13 Mar 2012, 12:37 pm

    @ufo(ufo)-12: like AC did with Bekker playing him until he was moer toe and the ankle needed surgery and it was bye bye World Cup for Dries?

  • 20.KWAGGA ROBERTSE: Reply to this comment
    13 Mar 2012, 12:37 pm

    @stormersboy(stormersboy)-16: Slipped on that sh it dripping from his hair and got his foot stuck under the toilet……eina

  • 21.BULLET: Reply to this comment
    13 Mar 2012, 12:38 pm

    Not surprising really, he is a damn good player.

  • 22.Tacitus: Reply to this comment
    13 Mar 2012, 12:39 pm

    The Stormers should take it.

  • 23.stormer in a teacup: Reply to this comment
    13 Mar 2012, 12:40 pm

    @stormer in a teacup(stormer in a teacup)-17: and his alter ego Bekker.

  • 24.ufo: Reply to this comment
    13 Mar 2012, 12:42 pm

    @stormer in a teacup(stormer in a teacup)-17:
    @Transformation(Transformation)-19:

    yeah yeah guys… but not quite the same…

    bekker played virtually every minute of every game… i’m simply suggesting that we should start with etzebeth…

    i would give etzebeth a vote of confidence for a motm performance… imo…

  • 25.Tacitus: Reply to this comment
    13 Mar 2012, 12:45 pm

    Dawn.

    Ja I did. Will do.

  • 26.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    13 Mar 2012, 12:45 pm

    Etzebeth is as hot as the CT weather.

  • 27.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    13 Mar 2012, 12:48 pm

    @Tacitus(Deucalion)-25:

    Those two are brain contaminants.

    Please update the i Pod

  • 28.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    13 Mar 2012, 12:49 pm

    @ufo(ufo)-24: if the player knows what the coach’s intentions are there shouldn’t be any issues about being rewarded or whatever. in new zealand for example hansen has arranged that some of the all blacks don’t have full contact training all the months of super rugby and only attend certain light training session to preserve them.

    nothing like that in SA, we expect bekker, elstadt, eben to front elke saterdag without fail because “i like a guy being able to play his way into the starting slot and keeping it until the next guy outplays him”

  • 29.pompies2: Reply to this comment
    13 Mar 2012, 12:51 pm

    @Transformation(Transformation)-19: you need to be selective in the games you rest players. besides, the stormers come off a bye and it’s a home game.

  • 30.the artist formerly known as gunther: Reply to this comment
    13 Mar 2012, 12:52 pm

    Whitney is very tappit.

  • 31.the artist formerly known as gunther: Reply to this comment
    13 Mar 2012, 12:53 pm

    @Dawn(Dawn)-27:

    Tac’s Nissan X-trail only has a frontloader.

  • 32.>^..^< katman: Reply to this comment
    13 Mar 2012, 12:56 pm

    @the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-31: No gazette playa? How is his music exchange club with Skoppie going to work? Skoppie uses TDKs exclusively.

  • 33.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    13 Mar 2012, 12:59 pm

    @pompies2(pompies2)-29: clearly AC thinks Kockie can take ali williams & co…

  • 34.ufo: Reply to this comment
    13 Mar 2012, 13:00 pm

    @Transformation(Transformation)-28:

    hehehe

    well of course in a world of entitlement aspiring to the the best counts for nothing…

  • 35.Tacitus: Reply to this comment
    13 Mar 2012, 13:00 pm

    Hehe.

    You guys been getting ‘profiling’ lessons from Sherrif Horatio Byleveld then, have you.

  • 36.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    13 Mar 2012, 13:01 pm

    @the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-31:

    Watch your mouth

    Tac drives a Fortuner

  • 37.the artist formerly known as gunther: Reply to this comment
    13 Mar 2012, 13:01 pm

    @>^..^< katman(katman)-32:

    tac shotgun’s a boombox.

    run dmc style.

    I hope he doesn’t play skoppies new mixtape backwards.

    you make the music go back you hear satan speak.

  • 38.Robzim: Reply to this comment
    13 Mar 2012, 13:02 pm

    No team with P Grant at flyhalf has or will ever win a major competition.

  • 39.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    13 Mar 2012, 13:02 pm

    @Tacitus(Deucalion)-35:

    Watch your mouth

    Piet Byleveld is the bizniz of the shizznizz

  • 40.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    13 Mar 2012, 13:04 pm

    @Robzim(Robzim)-38:

    Aha

    Finally back from The Argus

  • 41.the artist formerly known as gunther: Reply to this comment
    13 Mar 2012, 13:04 pm

    @Dawn(Dawn)-36:

    that’s too obvious.

    tac is a meverick.

    ***-trail it is.

  • 42.>^..^< katman: Reply to this comment
    13 Mar 2012, 13:05 pm

    @the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-37: Is that the Midfield General sample of the Faith No More sample?

  • 43.Robzim: Reply to this comment
    13 Mar 2012, 13:05 pm

    @>^..^< katman(katman)-32:

    @ufo(ufo)-34:

    Have any of you listened to the new Springsteen album (Wrecking Ball) and, if so, how do you rate it?

  • 44.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    13 Mar 2012, 13:06 pm

    All in Athlone fear Piet Byleveld

    Although we were all very happy to see his wedding featured in You magazine.

    Beautiful it was

  • 45.the artist formerly known as gunther: Reply to this comment
    13 Mar 2012, 13:06 pm

    @Tacitus(Deucalion)-35:

    Sherrif couldn’t find his arse with Pietman’s elbow.

  • 46.pompies2: Reply to this comment
    13 Mar 2012, 13:07 pm

    @Transformation(Transformation)-33: so toeties thinks kockie will pummel ali. sounds like the brokeback sequel.

  • 47.>^..^< katman: Reply to this comment
    13 Mar 2012, 13:07 pm

    @Dawn(Dawn)-40: He got lost. Accidentally hung a left at Muizenberg, got confused when he saw Strand approaching and next thing you know he’s in Lesotho. Could happen to anyone.

  • 48.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    13 Mar 2012, 13:07 pm

    @the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-41:

    It’s a Fortuner

    :evil:

    Fully-loaded

  • 49.>^..^< katman: Reply to this comment
    13 Mar 2012, 13:08 pm

    @Robzim(Robzim)-43: No. Any good?

  • 50.Robzim: Reply to this comment
    13 Mar 2012, 13:12 pm

    @>^..^< katman(katman)-49:

    Still making up my mind. Listened to it for the first time this morning. 2 or three tracks immediately strucked me as very good. Others as average + . Need to listen more.

Pages: [1] 2 3 4 5 6 7 » Show All

Keo.co.za has always promoted uncensored views, but has never tolerated racist or crass outbursts. Come on guys and girls. If you can't moderate yourselves or each other then I am going to be forced to regulate the posts and enforce a registration process for comments. The choice is yours.

Have your say

You must be logged in to post a comment.