Cape Town - Stormers set-piece juggernauts Eben Etzebeth and Steven Kitshoff have been disengaged from Saturday’s South African Conference derby against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein (kick-off 5.05pm).
But coach Allister Coetzee believes that their replacements, Jean Kleyn and Oli Kebble, won’t have any difficulty holding the line.
Etzebeth has been rested in accordance with SA Rugby’s World Cup resting programme. The towering Test lock has appeared in five consecutive matches and will complete the first of three mandatory rests. Kitshoff is one of three Stormers who have started every match this season - the others being Damian de Allende and Cheslin Kolbe - and Coetzee has wisely opted to park the powerful loosehead prop this week.
In the only other change to the side that ran on for a 15-13 win against the Bulls last week, fit-again Dillyn Leyds returns to the left wing at the expense of Pat Howard.
“Jean is a similar type of four-lock to Eben,” Coetzee said on Thursday. “He’s got grunt and physicality; he’s a hard worker who hits rucks - a no-frills type of player.”
Such an appraisal would reduce an outside back to tears, but for a tight forward it’s a ringing endorsement and reason to puff up the chest with pride.
“Jean is really comfortable at this level and I’ve got no doubt that he will do well.
“The big thing about a front lock is to have heart, and Kleyn has got the ticker. You can’t coach that.
“You don’t ask for a lot of nice things in that (front lock) job, it’s just donkey work.
“Jean can do that, and he’s got the abrasiveness, he’s got the pain threshold, he doesn’t give up and he’s a hard, confrontational player.”
Almost one foot shorter but five kilograms heavier than Kleyn, Kebble has the frame of a stampeding buffalo at the point of contact.
“Oli showed what he can do (in the second half of the Bulls game) and his presence on the field really counted,” said Stormers captain Duane Vermeulen of the 22-year-old who is set to make his Super Rugby starting debut.
“Oliver will relish this opportunity,” added Coetzee.
“He’s been playing behind Kitshoff who has honestly been playing some brilliant rugby - he’s been outstanding with a high workrate and his set phase play has been phenomenal too.
“But this is a great opportunity for Oliver to start and get more than 10 minutes off the bench, and I’m excited to see how he goes.
“He will be tested on Saturday, but he’s a young loosehead with a lot of potential, he’s a good scrummager with good ball-carrying ability.”
The Cheetahs are getting worse with time.
After starting their campaign with two wins they went on to lose five in a row, then beat the Western Force in round nine, and have since lost two on the trot.
But complacency has cost the Stormers before, and Coetzee is reluctant to learn that lesson again.
“One thing that we have is respect for the Cheetahs,” he said. “If you look at our past record we’ve played six games in Bloemfontein and we’ve only won three. We haven’t won there since 2012.
“The Cheetahs are not a side to be underestimated. They’ll come out with no pressure on them and they’ll ask a lot of questions. We recognise the challenge.”
The Star