Touting Jaco and Jantjies as Stormers starters

Touting Jaco and Jantjies as Stormers starters

21 Jan 2013

MARK KEOHANE writes Jaco Taute wants to specialise as a fullback and Elton Jantjies must be the Stormers first-choice flyhalf.

If Taute doesn’t start at 15 and Jantjies is not given the responsibility at 10, then what was the point of luring them to the Cape for this season’s Super Rugby challenge?

Taute is still contracted to the Lions but because the Lions are not playing in the 2013 Super Rugby competition he is among 14 of last year’s Lions playing for another South African franchise this year.

Taute made his Springbok debut at outside centre, but it is fullback that is his best position and what motivated him accepting the offer from the Stormers was to play at fullback in a back three of Gio Aplon and Bryan Habana.

Taute and Lions and Bok team-mate Elton Jantjies are expected to add a dimension to the Stormers attacking game, which has been constantly condemned in the past three seasons as being too one-dimensional. The Stormers won 82% of their matches in last season’s league stages but lost at home in the semi-final for the second successive season. In 2011 the Crusaders were comfortable winners against a Stormers team that had also dropped few games and boasted the best defensive record in the competition’s history.

Defence has taken the Stormers close in the last two seasons but the lack of an attacking game has meant that close is as good as nothing.

Western Province, in the Currie Cup, employed a far more attacking game and Stormers coach Allister Coetzee has said that elements of the Province style would be incorporated into the Stormers’ play this season.

Coetzee remains a realist and is practical that the primary focus remains winning the game and getting four league points. He however acknowledges the impact players like Taute and Jantjies will have on the squad.

Taute’s versatility, in that he can play wing, midfield and even at flyhalf, helps any squad but Coetzee also sees his greatest value at fullback.

Jantjies must start at flyhalf for the Stormers with the more seasoned Peter Grant his back-up.

Jantjies has been stuffed around at international level but his form in Super Rugby last season was very good and he needs game time at the Stormers. He is a greater long-term investment than Grant, who plays in Japan during the Currie Cup season.

Grant will be a perfect foil for Jantjies but it is Jantjies who has to get the preferential treatment this season and playing in the more competitive and successful colours of the Stormers will also improve his national aspirations.


105 Comments

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  • 1.grant10: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 10:15 am

    go boys!!!!

  • 2.Baylion: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 10:24 am

    With no team to support in Super Rugby I will follow the Lions and ex-Lions players’ progress with interest.

  • 3.ufo: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 10:31 am

    yeah… ac has got to start elton at flyhalf… personally i’d have tim swiel backing him up and getting experience…

    don’t mind who plays fullback out of joe and jaco… just as long as they join the line and attack and don’t kick everything…

    @Baylion-2:

    is going to be interesting to see how the various players do in their new teams…

  • 4.grant10: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 10:50 am

    Stormers backline should be , if I am reading AC right…

    15 Taute
    14 Aplon
    13 JDJ
    12 jdv
    11 habana
    10 Elton
    9 D Duvenhage

    as for the forwards…..?

    whoa….some tough callls there!

  • 5.Mustard: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 11:07 am

    @grant10-4: Forwards is going to be….

    8. Vermuelen
    7. Schalk
    6. Kolisi
    5. Bekker
    4. Etsebeth
    3. Cilliers
    2. Fourie
    1. Kitshoff

  • 6.Mustard: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 11:15 am

    With a bench that would probably look something like this…..

    16. liebenberg
    17. Harris
    18. Malherbe
    19. Steenkamp/Botha
    20. Elstadt/Rhodes
    21. Groom
    22. Grant
    23. Van den Heever/de Allende

  • 7.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 11:15 am

    @Mustard-5: With some serious Elstadt rotation…..Carr too needs game time. Nice to see his pace and skills on show when the gameplan allows.

  • 8.patch: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 11:17 am

    Elton needs to start. He will only develop into a better flyhalf playing behind a strong pack. As for Taute i don’t think he is that great at center. Played terrible for the boks there. Also at fullback no real great threat. Him and Gio will fight it out.

  • 9.Mustard: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 11:20 am

    Pretty much covered in all positions except for 6. Stormers would do well to break the bank for Flouw. Surprised that they never put in any effort to get Minnie….he could have also done a job at 6. But rest of the positions there is enough depth to challenge for the title.

  • 10.Mustard: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 11:26 am

    @The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-7: Carr really impressed me when he was given a chance. He is primarily an 8 so if he were to get game time it would be to rest Vermeulen. I would use him off the bench for a few home matches. Elstadt/Rhodes/Armand covers blindside. Carr 8. At 6 though we a bit thin. Perhaps Fourie could be used in that position as he did so well in the currie cup.

  • 11.John Galt: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 11:28 am

    Great side that.
    Stormers are OVERWHELMING favourites to win the SA conference.

  • 12.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 11:32 am

    @Mustard-10: Vermeulen needs to be rotated and rested, ditto for Bekker and Etsebeth. Carr should get more than a few games at 8 – or rather, that’s what I’m hoping.

    We are fortunate to have Rhodes and Elstadt (4 or 7) as well as that young lock from the Lions (the Baby Bok lock – Ruan Botha I think?) who can all be used if required….as well as the usual Steenkamps, Armands etc.

    Bekker won’t hold up the whole S15, so who knows, because we are so well covered at 4, Eben might shift to 5 if required….

    All I ask of the rugbygods is that we don’t have a loose forwardfuckup of the likes we had last year…….or a 10 crisis of the 2011 sort.

  • 13.papaown: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 11:33 am

    With Schalk as captain I just don’t see them banishing Grant to the bench. Besides super rugby is long so they can rotate the two. I’d still prefer Bash as back up

  • 14.grant10: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 11:35 am

    @Mustard-5: awesome pack as well that…

  • 15.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 11:35 am

    @Baylion-2: I read your post on news 24, Well done. It was you wasn’t it?

  • 16.papaown: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 11:35 am

    The issue with AC is he doesn’t believe in rotation and thereby runs his players into the ground. There’s enough back up and armoury to rotate the likes of Bekker, Vermeulen, Schalk, and JdV

  • 17.grant10: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 11:36 am

    @patch-8: Hi Puma

  • 18.papaown: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 11:36 am

    @stormersboy-15: what did he say there?

  • 19.grant10: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 11:36 am

    @Mustard-9: agree there …100 %..

  • 20.papaown: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 11:42 am

    @John Galt-11: I dunno. With the Sharks roping in King Carlos I can see them running circles around the Stormers D

  • 21.Mustard: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 11:42 am

    @The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-12: Yeah im glad you mentioned Bekker….jeez this oke has constant injury problems. If he going to have a long career with the Boks he has to be managed better by the Stormers coaches. Keeping him fit would be a coup in itself. What amazes me is how well Victor Matfield played for the Bulls and the Boks and was rarely out with any serious injuries……he took care of himself. If he can translate his Stormers/Provincial form to the Boks, him and Etsebeth could build a formidable partnership for years to come like Matfield and Bakkies did.

  • 22.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 11:45 am

    @papaown-16: More than enough backup to rotate without losing anything at all.
    There are certain games in which a loose trio of Carr, Kolisi and Burger for example, would be more effective than a Vermeulen, Kolisi, Burger trio.

    What I would like to see in one or 2 games……purely for my own selfish reasons I guess, is Eben at 5, and Elstadt at 4. Bring on the pain………….. And if one plays those 2, you basically free up a spot in the loose trio for a ‘silky player’.

  • 23.Mustard: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 11:47 am

    @The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-12: With regards to the loose forward disaster of last season……i very much doubt that will happen again…..it was a freak of a season

  • 24.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 11:47 am

    @papaown-20: That’s if the guppies listen to anything King Carlos says……
    Must be honest, I can now honestly say I LIKE and ADMIRE someone connected to the guppies….. ;)

    @Mustard-21: My dream is still for Quinn Roux to come back….and play 4. Eben at 5. And then rock on from there :) Bekker is just too up and down, in and out, backwards and forwards. Sheeeez he has been a sick note.

  • 25.grant10: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 11:54 am

    @The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-22: I am liking the way you think there….

  • 26.Mustard: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 11:54 am

    @The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-24: Apparently Quinn Roux is having a bit of a horror for Leinster. They used him in 3 games off the bench to ease him in and his been okay with really impressing. Then he dislocated his shoulder and is out of rugby for a few months if im not mistaken. Maybe he is regretting his move now.

  • 27.grant10: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 11:56 am

    I heard that Scarra will need an op and will probably onlybe back end of April….

    Tiaan Liebenberg probably miss first month as well…..

    That leaves only D Fourie fit and strong.

    Thats a crisis already…..

  • 28.grant10: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 11:57 am

    @Mustard-26: he is out till April I read…

  • 29.Mustard: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 12:02 pm

    @grant10-27: That’s bad. So we only have one fit Hooker. Who’s the backup??

  • 30.Eekay: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 12:07 pm

    We should break the bank for a good no.9

  • 31.Mustard: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 12:07 pm

    Maybe AC should send an sos to schalk brits. Though i very much doubt Saracens would release him. What are the odds of John Smit making and appearance for the Stormers faithful hehehehe……lets hope not.

  • 32.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 12:25 pm

    @Mustard-31: They wouldn’t release Brits. The John Smit thing may actually be possible, just as bench cover for a few weeks. I recon we’ll have to look at junior cover to be honest.

  • 33.Fleckie: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 12:33 pm

    Yeah agreed, Quinn Roux is an absolute beast and would b a great number 4 with Etsebeth at 5.
    Hooker is a huge problem, Who else do we have???? The hooker who played for the u21 side is in the SA u20 squad i think, if thats right then give him a run.

    Who’s the Maties Hooker who’s been around the set up for awhile???

    We’ve got a great squad this year, lets hope hooker doesnt let us down

  • 34.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 12:34 pm

    @Mustard-26: Yup, he is injured at the moment. He must get his buttback to CT. I truly believe he has something special to offer.

    @Eekay-30: We have a good 9, that ‘could’ become a more than good 9…..But he won’t be starting I reckon. I can’t mention his name for fear of jinxing his chances this season. G whizz.

    @stormersboy-32: From what I can gather; this fella ————- > @grant10 ; would lose the plot totally if that were to happen?

  • 35.H: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 12:35 pm

    A lot of talk from someone who needs to lift Joe Pietersen first.

  • 36.Baylion: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 12:38 pm

    @stormersboy-15: The Lions Pride blog? yes, it’s mine.

    Thanks.

  • 37.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 12:43 pm

    @H-35: Joe P was helluva disappointing at times last year…..Nice to have competition in the back 3 though…..

    Fighting talk from vd Heever already……Taute waffling on….Habana, Aplon and Joe P quiet……Young de Allende can also wing it….(although I quite liked him at centre)

  • 38.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 12:54 pm

    @papaown-16: @papaown-16:
    sadly, he will probably break eztebeth.

  • 39.grant10: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 13:02 pm

    @Mustard-29: none as yet…..AC looking overseas I believe…

  • 40.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 13:12 pm

    @grant10-39: John Smit, as Stormersboy suggested? :)

  • 41.grant10: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 13:15 pm

    @The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-40: I would hope not…..

    Must be a few hookers who can actually run a bit that Stormers could attract….

    Sydney Tobias perhaps?

  • 42.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 13:16 pm

    @The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-40:
    i would farking love it!
    karmic justice of sweet proportion.

  • 43.Brigadier Van Zyl: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 13:16 pm

    Newlands…..the death of flyhalfs.

  • 44.grant10: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 13:24 pm

    @i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-42: dont be cruel man…I love going to Newlands and hardly miss a match….

    Hate to have to start watching on tv now…

  • 45.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 13:50 pm

    @grant10-44:
    hahaha

  • 46.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 13:54 pm

    @Brigadier Van Zyl-43:
    lionel cronje had a good game for the lions.

  • 47.Brigadier Van Zyl: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 14:03 pm

    46…..against Russia?

  • 48.mxhosa: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 14:20 pm

    Having watched Carr play 6 for the 2011 Baby Boks, I reckon he’s by far the best openside flanker at the Stormers – even better than Deon Fourie…

  • 49.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 15:01 pm

    @Brigadier Van Zyl-47:
    yes, and my point was his game looked much better than it did when he was in CT.

  • 50.grant10: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 15:06 pm

    @mxhosa-48: He prefers 8……but if he can do a job then he must be seriously considered there…

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