Stormers get Burger boost
29 Nov 2012
Stormers head coach Allister Coetzee says Schalk Burger will be fit for the 2013 Super Rugby season.
The veteran flank missed the entire 2012 season after injuring his knee during the Stormers’ Super Rugby opener against the Hurricanes.
The 29-year-old is currently busy with his rehab, but will rejoin the team at training on 7 January and is expected to play in the first pre-season match on 2 February.
Meanwhile, Coetzee told Heart 104.9FM’s Sportswrap that Elton Jantjies won’t be promised any game time while Jaco Taute will play fullback during Super Rugby next year.
The Springbok flyhalf is likely to start for the Stormers at the start of Super Rugby, because of 2012 incumbent Peter Grant’s commitments with Japanese club the Kobe Steelers until late February and Currie Cup-winning flyhalf Demetri Catrakilis’s departure to the Southern Kings.
This will please the Lions, who want their players to get a good amount of game time during their respective loans, especially ahead of the Super Rugby promotion-relegation play-offs in July and August.
However, Coetzee stressed that no set amount of playing time has been agreed. It’s also believed that Grant will return to the Stormers starting line-up once he’s settled in Cape Town.
‘No, [Jantjies' game time] has nothing to do with anyone,’ said Coetzee. ‘We’ve experienced in Super Rugby that you need to have enough depth in your team’s spine, that includes your hooker, No 8, your 9 and 10 and your 15. Also tighthead prop. We’ll have that at flyhalf with Peter and Elton there, and with youngsters like Kurt Coleman and Gary van Aswegen.’
When speaking about Taute, Coetzee confirmed that the utility back will compete for the No 15 jersey with Joe Pietersen.
Taute has played mostly at centre in 2012. He featured prominently in the midfield for the Lions, while he’s played three Tests at outside centre for the Springboks.
‘Jaco’s best position – and he’ll tell you that – is 15,’ said Coetzee. ‘From his provincial U21 and SA U20 days, he’s been a talented fullback. He joins the line well and has great running skills. He’s a big strong lad in the last line of defence. And he’s got a good boot on him – he kicks for poles and puts in long-range kicks. He’ll give the team a bit of punch from the back.’
Good news for the Stormers is that Taute will consider signing a permanent deal with the Stormers if all goes well during his loan. The player confirmed his interest of extending his stay with this site in October.
66 Comments
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29 Nov 2012, 10:16 am
Stormers looking very promising in 2013!
29 Nov 2012, 10:20 am
AC is still alive?
29 Nov 2012, 10:21 am
Should’ve lent Heinrich Steyl to the Kings, or Cheetahs, or heck, even the Bulls.
Wonder when the Stormers will announce their training squad.
29 Nov 2012, 10:21 am
Would it be correct to say that if the Stormers qualified for a semi-final, they would be without Taute and Jantjies as they would return to the Lions for their playoff match?
29 Nov 2012, 10:24 am
@BULLET-1:
Stormers will rely heavily on having a good team culture. Their excellent defense comes down to commitment. Soon as you lose a little bit of that, those 8 point wins by 7 or less can easily turn into losses.
Here’s hoping for the best! And a season where we may actually score a few tries PLEASE!
29 Nov 2012, 10:24 am
@super_adi-4: It would be correct. But that’s okay, because Coetzee reckons they’ve got more depth than the Mariana Trench.
29 Nov 2012, 10:25 am
@hendrikp-5:
*8 wins by 7 points or less.
29 Nov 2012, 11:12 am
Wow okay,
Did a bit of research. WP didn’t resign Steyl. Hmm.
Bit surprised nobody picked him up. Lucky for Maties I suppose.
29 Nov 2012, 11:35 am
Taute is the top running 15 in SA at present. There is nobody better.
He has a Big boot too so I hope he gets his chance..
29 Nov 2012, 11:44 am
Sooooooo …. a coloured coach will bench a coloured player who is a Bok? And all the TIK koppe & ANC was fighting for this guy to be included in the bok starting 15 … interesting!!
29 Nov 2012, 11:52 am
@hendrikp-8: I agree, interesting no Heinrich Steyl, also, what about Tim Swiel – lots of talk about him last yr preseason, this yr nothing. I know he is in the u20 squad, but surely he would be given a chance ahead of injury prone Gary Van A, who hasn’t had more than 20 mins of rugby in about 3 years
29 Nov 2012, 12:22 pm
@Tbozknows-9: Right now Ludic-k is the best FB in SA. Unmatched under the high ball, joining the line (running – where you say Taute is best) and cutting down attackers as the last line of defence. If form was the only barometer (not ability etc.) then nobody could compare with Ludic-k over the last few months on any front, he was excellent.
29 Nov 2012, 12:27 pm
Who is Heinrich Steyl?
29 Nov 2012, 12:29 pm
@strikers-11:
I thought about him but heck it’s only his 2nd year out of school! He played excellent rugby for WP U-21s this year – when he could’ve still been playing for the U19′s.
Would be stupid if they loaned him out to someone else, but I think he’d make a valuable addition to the Stormers squad… maybe long-term rather though. Give him a better run-in by playing some Vodacom Cup (and really shine) or preferably Currie Cup first.
I also prefer Swiel as a fullback. We’ve got quality 10′s, and he looks to have a good running game from the back.
29 Nov 2012, 12:30 pm
@blik-13:
Former WP U21 fullback.
Played 1 game for WP last season during the CC, in which he broke his leg.
29 Nov 2012, 13:06 pm
Stormers lack the out and out opensider…..a glaring weakness in the squad….AC must not make the mistake of playing Scalk at openside……if D Fourie is unwilling to take on the role [ what a damn pity !! ] ….then Kolisi must be the go to player for openside….he has a better chance of competing with the Brussows, Pococks, Hoopers than Schalk…..
If AC does go with Schalk at openside he has to play D Fourie in that pack or we will be done 6 love at the breakdowns….all over rover, goodnight nurse….
What I would do to have Brussow or Flo in that Stormers set up…..
Damn pity D Fourie not keen to make a permanent switch to openside….
Swiel is a gem…..another year and he will be pushing for a spot as Stormers 10….
Cilliers and Rhodes are also fantastic additions….
Quality depth and proper rotation are going to be key….AC must show faith in all 35 or 40 players….the WP Currie Cup Team showed the youngsters are just as good, if not better , than some of the aging stars….
29 Nov 2012, 13:16 pm
Stormers havee almost perfect mix.. All we need is Flo!!!!!
29 Nov 2012, 13:16 pm
And a decent scrummie… Claassens? Pienaar? Kockott?
29 Nov 2012, 13:18 pm
@Rhys7-17: Agree…
29 Nov 2012, 13:19 pm
@Rhys7-18: Schreuder , Groom are not bad
29 Nov 2012, 13:19 pm
I reckon P Grant may play quite a bit at 12 next season…
29 Nov 2012, 13:20 pm
15 Taute
14 Aplon
13 De Jongh
12 De Villiers
11 Habana
10 Jantjes
9 Groom
8 Vermeulen
7 Burger
6 Kolisi
5 Bekker
4 Etzebeth
3 Cilliers
2 Liebenberg
1 Kitshoff
16 Fourie 17 Carstens 18 Malhebe 19 Elstadt 20 Carr 21 Schroeder 22 Grant 23 Van Den Heever
24 Ntubeni 25 Kritzinger 26 Harris 27 Ruan Botha 28 Michael Rhodes 29 Duvenhage 30 Joe Pietersen 31 Brache 32 Du Plessis
29 Nov 2012, 13:25 pm
@grant10-16: Kolisi should work on his fetching skills. He has a gtood engine and a lot of heart, I think if he had the right technique he could be a good fetcher.
29 Nov 2012, 13:31 pm
@Rhys7-22:
Start Deon Fourie at 2 and drill him to sort out his throwing. Joe Pietersen over Gerhard van den Heever on the bench every day of the week. Also Michael Rhodes over Nizaam Carr, at this stage.
Feel a bit for Duvenage also. Think he’s still our best choice at 9, but needs the proper support.
29 Nov 2012, 13:33 pm
Kolisi should move somewhere that will allow him to play 8.
He’s not a natural fetcher, and it’s not something that can just be taught.
His lack of height also means he won’t ever be a proper blindside, and that equals very few tests for the Boks
29 Nov 2012, 13:40 pm
Jantjies will play SO well in the first few games that game-time wont be an issue and Coetzee will want to play him
Elton, Grant, Burton rotating will be great for the players to get rest and for some competition.
Same in centres and at fullbak with Joe and Jaco
Stoooooormeeeeeeers
29 Nov 2012, 13:49 pm
Coach Coetzee has never previously rotated players, with this xtra depth I hope he do.
I’ll rotate one forward and one backline player per game if I was the coach.
If I’m him I’ll just tell Deon Fourie to play at 6. Deon Fourie was our most valauble player in CC.
I think Stormers need depth at loose head, as Carstens are injured (JC Janse van Rensburg please!)
29 Nov 2012, 13:53 pm
@grant10-16: It is my understanding that Deon Fourie left WP to go and play rugby in Europe? Or is he availible during the S15, I don’t think so.
Just a few month ageveryone in the Cape wanted Joe Pietersen to be the Bok fullback. Now it seems that he might not even make the Stormers starting 15.
29 Nov 2012, 13:54 pm
@Stoetbul9-28: month ageveryone = months ago everyone
29 Nov 2012, 14:04 pm
@Stoetbul9-28:
Not sure who wanted him as Bok fullback 0_0.
@Stoetbul9-28:
He changed his mind after good CC. Guess not riding the bench made him a bit happier.
29 Nov 2012, 14:08 pm
@blik-23: agree mate…
29 Nov 2012, 14:11 pm
@Stoetbul9-28: Toulon was the offer…
no was the answer…
29 Nov 2012, 14:11 pm
The boys are almost back in town.
I’ll take 14 wins by 7 or less if it means the koppie goes to Cape Town
29 Nov 2012, 14:33 pm
Rhys7: J C Kritzinger has been released by Province. He will be studying full-time. It wasn’t mentioned whether he’ll play again. It’s a pity that he had so many injuries – both knees as well as an ankle as far as I can recall. He was a real strong scrummager.
Stoetbul: I read the other day that there was a mix-up from the French club. They wanted to contract Tiaan Liebenberg – somebody made a mistake and they signed Fourie instead.. I think that is the main reason that Deon F is staying. I still can’t believe that in the professional era a club can make such a mistake.
29 Nov 2012, 14:50 pm
@hendrikp-24: Disagree. It’s between Elstadt and Rhodes. Carr covers all 3 positions in the back row. @hendrikp-24: Fourie @ 2 and the scrum turbo reverses. Also play with 1 less in the tight-loose.
29 Nov 2012, 14:59 pm
Am seriously excited for Stormers the balance and depth hasnt been this good for years. 2009 we almost had it but we all know what happened then.
29 Nov 2012, 15:24 pm
Bokfan … Burton is @ the Kings boet
29 Nov 2012, 16:08 pm
@katman-6:
Where’d he say that Katoh?
29 Nov 2012, 16:23 pm
Not promising anyone game time makes sense because players should compete for all positions, but to not play an up and coming and ever improving Jantjies and to continue with Bash who is over his best in a general sense (his goal kicking was still good)would be a mistake. Don’t read too much into what AC say on radio programs. In that sense he is not too far behind PdV.
29 Nov 2012, 16:30 pm
The Stormers will make it to the play-off’s in 2013 but the issue has always been their mental frailty when it comes to the do or die games.
Hopefully the CC win would have broke the shackles.
29 Nov 2012, 19:21 pm
Stormers looking good, but then again the hype is always big preseason. Def have the potential to go all the way, think it will be between them and the Sharks for SA conference with the Cheetahs having a real good crack at coming in third if Goosen stays fit. I am a Bull supporter btw
29 Nov 2012, 20:17 pm
I sure hope this is not yet another season of a ton of narrow wins, with no attacking threat whatsoever between sleepy Grant and slow JDV, make play-offs, lose in semi.
29 Nov 2012, 20:17 pm
Followed by AC stating there are positives.
PLEASE NOT
29 Nov 2012, 20:19 pm
And I grew up at Newlands so to speak. Been a fan for decades.
29 Nov 2012, 20:23 pm
Then rather MUCH RATHER play pretty like Cheethas and lose 1/2 of games.
SURELY the policy of winning and get to playoffs to fill the bank account can now replaced with ACTUALLY PLAYING RUGBY
29 Nov 2012, 20:24 pm
Then rather MUCH RATHER play pretty like Cheetahs and lose 1/2 of games.
SURELY the policy of winning and get to playoffs to fill the bank account can now replaced with ACTUALLY PLAYING RUGBY
29 Nov 2012, 20:28 pm
@Johannes_Lombard-46: listen here pal,we are not the Cheetahs and will never be!We will play to win ….and not make a spectacle of ourselves like the Lions and Cheetahs do on a regular basis.Get it.
29 Nov 2012, 20:31 pm
Relieved Schalk is back. Any team he is in tends to play a hell of a lot better, and he’s a legend himself.
One of the greats, who will make both the Stormers and Springboks a fighting force. If he can regain some good form, he’d be a good choice for Bok captain also.
29 Nov 2012, 20:37 pm
Wnbb – what are you…18?
29 Nov 2012, 20:41 pm
@wnbb-47:
Winning is more important yes, but if you can do it while entertaining (the whole point right?), then the business side would surely benefit.
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