Cape Town - Eben Etzebeth will make his return to the Stormers line-up on Friday when the side continues its pre-season programme with a match against the Cheetahs at Newlands.
Etzebeth missed most of last season through an ankle injury but the towering lock forward will return to strengthen Allistair Coetzee’s forward pack.
“It is great having Eben back in the side. He really adds a lot to our pack and we would not be playing him if he were not 100 percent, so you can expect him to make an impact,” Coetzee said on Tuesday.
“We really missed him in our pack last season, just like the Sharks missed Willem Alberts. Any team will miss their Springboks because they bring a lot to the side.
“Besides their talent and skill they bring a sense of confidence to the side as well, so when these types of players are missing from your side you really feel it.”
Ahead of the match against the Cheetahs Coetzee has also welcomed back winger Kobus van Wyk while loose forwards Nizaam Carr and Siya Kolisi continue their road to recovery.
“Siya is back in training but he is not fully fit yet and like we have said many times before we will not play someone who is not 100 percent fit.
“Nizaam, too, is also part of the side but he will require some conditioning training... he lost quite a bit of muscle-mass while he was sick with the virus so he will need more time. If all goes well they could play against Boland next week.”
Coetzee added that he would not be too concerned if Kolisi and Carr were not fit in time for their final pre-season game as the coach believes that the pair will be ready to face the Bulls in the Stormers’ opening Super Rugby match at Loftus in 18 days’ time.
“Both are quality players, they are both Springboks. There is no doubt in my mind they will be ready in time for the Bulls.”
A slight tear to the quadriceps has ruled centre Damian de Allende out of the Cheetahs match and despite saying the injury was nothing serious, Coetzee has called in former Ikeys pivot Huw Jones.
Jones was first lined up to come off the bench but with his promotion to the starting XV, Robert du Preez will be coming into the squad.
“Huw has done well since he joined up with the side and he really has impressed us so far. He is quick, has good ball skills and his kicking ability is really good as well.
“As I said, Damian’s injury is not a serious one, so the chances are that he could return to play against Boland.”
Coetzee will be looking to give more playing time to some of his fringe players against Boland as he looks to fine-tune his options prior to the start of the Super Rugby season.
Montpellier-bound Demetri Catrakilis will return to the number 10 jersey, pushing Kurt Coleman to the bench.
“Dimmy is sharp and back to full fitness so he will get a run out. The nice thing with this squad is that we have a lot of competition for places in the squad. “There is a fight for flyhalf, Scarra (Ntubeni) and Bongi (Mbonambi) at hooker and also there is a lot of competition in the loose forward positions... and we still have to get Schalk (Burger) back.”
Stormers team v Cheetahs
15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Kobus van Wyk, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Huw Jones, 11 Dillyn Leyds, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Duane Vermeulen (captain), 7 Michael Rhodes, 6 Rynhardt Elstadt, 5 Manuel Carizza, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Steven Kitshoff
Replacements:16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Alistair Vermaak, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Jurie van Vuuren, 20 Jean Kleyn, 21 Neil Rautenbach, 22 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 23 Louis Schreuder, 24 Kurt Coleman, 25 Johnny Kotze, 26 Robert du Preez, 27 EW Viljoen
Cape Argus