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, 20:58 pm
Hendrikp gets it
29 Nov 2012, 21:03 pm
@hendrikp-50: The Stormers are ok,Hennie.We are well on our way to get that balance right.Why should we play a losing brand of rugby like the cheetahs and lions?Winning is more important than that sh it dished up by those two franchises on a weekly basis.In AC I trust.He experimented with a few things in the CC and I believe that he will take the Stormers to a different level next year.
29 Nov 2012, 21:05 pm
@Johannes_Lombard-51: Why don’t you go fok yourself you Afrikaner p ussy.
29 Nov 2012, 21:16 pm
@wnbb-53:
Not a cool thing to say.
@wnbb-52:
The Lions, firstly, don’t play entertaining rugby at all.
The Cheetahs do, and would be a hell of a lot better if they had a bit more depth.
I don’t think it’s a recipe for disaster. We do need to stick to our strengths though.
29 Nov 2012, 21:23 pm
Again, hendrikp gets it
Again wnbb does not
Wys Nie Basiese Begrip
What are you – 16?
29 Nov 2012, 23:12 pm
Well come back Burger! The Stormers are going to be potent next year… I agree with AC, jaco Taute is the best 15 in the country, sure Ludik did very well at the Sharks, but he was playing for a very good team.. Taute shines in a very poor Lions team which goes to show he will be even better in a strong team like the Stormers… Just hope Meyer can open his eyes and play this guy at 15 for the bokke next year…Got a feeling the Stormers are going to be scoring some tries in 2013! WP JOU LEKKER DING!
30 Nov 2012, 06:12 am
@CharlesM-34:
Mistakes happen – Look, HM forgot he had a backline, MS at FH, USA still looking for WOMD. Suppose for a Frenchman all SA names look the same
30 Nov 2012, 09:22 am
With frans steyn getting injured on a regular bases these days, I would like to see grant at 12 with du jongh at 13. I suppose with jean being Bok capt, would also give him game time at 13
30 Nov 2012, 09:52 am
Swiel and the coach need to make up there mind to see where he should play. If his future is at 10, then start playing him at 12 to blood him like DC.
30 Nov 2012, 12:07 pm
@garth-59:
Swiel and the coach need to play him at 15.
1 Dec 2012, 00:25 am
@hendrikp-60: What’s the point of having Swiel and Taute and Pieterson play for the same position and then having a donkey playing 12.
1 Dec 2012, 00:52 am
@garth-61:
Taute going back to Lions end of the year.
Swiel a long-term option at the back over Joe Pietersen, who is on the back end of his rugby career and you’d expect will probably be looking for another overseas contract sometime soon.
1 Dec 2012, 00:53 am
@garth-61:
Oh, and that ‘donkey’ is a BIG reason for the best defensive side in SR.
Just because you don’t enjoy watching him doesn’t mean he’s not the right person to help them win games.
1 Dec 2012, 01:11 am
@hendrikp-25:
Disagree on that assertion
Frans Louw was never an out and out fetcher.Especially when he made his debut for WP,he proceeded to hone the art and his timing at the breakdown.It wasnt something he had from the get go.So how do you suppose his strength at the breakdown improved to him now being the premier openside in SA??
Thierry Dusuatoir the reigning IRB player of the year was also not as adept to the breakdown in initial stages of career. He is actually much like Kolisi,massive engine,great tackler,decent carrier.With time on the ground game he has become quite good.He simply outlayed McCaw the greatest exponent of the art since Josh Kronfeld in RWC 11
Micheal Jones also the one of the first tearaways credited with playing towards the ball.But he was also a carrier and tackler.fantastic athlete.Playing towards the ball he was groomed by John Hart if Im not mistaken in the Auckland days after 87.Then blew his knee out thus had to recondition his game.
Sean O’Brien as well the Irish 7,carrier first and ground game is developing.None better illustrated by Ireland victory over Oz in RWC 11.
Im really not of the notion “Players are BORN in certain positions”..Like Flyhalves,opensiders,tighthead props etc
One of the greatest Tighthead props in history Olo Brown initially played a lot of rugby as a loosehead,with the emergence of Craig Dowd in Auckland it neccessated the move to 3 if Im not mistaken.
1 Dec 2012, 05:28 am
@hendrikp-63: You have clearly forgotten all his missed tackles for the Boks. Jean is finished and should go cash in in Europe while he can still get a few bucks.
1 Dec 2012, 07:48 am
I hear via the grape vine that the reason Burger was out for almost an entire year with an injury that was initially due to see him out for 3 months was because they botched his first operation.
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