Cape Town - The Stormers go into their friendly encounter against the Cheetahs at Newlands on Friday (kick-off 7pm) looking to shake off the rust and improve on the continuity that was somewhat down on expectations during the 34-3 win over the South Western Districts Eagles last weekend.
On that occasion Stormers attack coach Robbie Fleck bemoaned these two factors - during a balmy night in George - as the chief reasons for the Cape franchise not being able to perform close to optimal levels during the first of three pre-Super Rugby outings.
“We’ll be much sharper and better disciplined through the phases with ball in hand, “ Fleck said on Thursday.
“Basic errors can be somewhat erased with more game time... the game against SWD was our first since last year. Had we been sharper we would have been good for a few more to add to the five unanswered tries we scored, but having said that, I was still pleased with the performances from the back division.
“Tonight we will be more clinical for sure and I expect the boys to start producing to the levels they are capable of. I’m sure the fans will be in for lots of fast-flowing action from two SA Conference rivals who for sure want a positive result in the build-up to the next edition of the Super Rugby season.”
Two former Stormers players - JP du Plessis and Michael van der Spuy - will run on for the Cheetahs and both exciting backs will want to show their former teammates up. “I expect these young talents may want to prove a point to their former paymasters, so let’s see how the centre pairing goes against their opposite numbers [the Stormers’ Juan de Jongh and new cap Huw Jones]. Jones fills in for Damian de Allende, ruled out due to a slight quadriceps tear,” added Fleck.
“I see talent aplenty among both sets of backs and I think the game, should it open up like I think it will, could end up being a high-scoring affair. I’m a big fan of Cheetahs rugby when they spread it amongst backs and forwards going forward, but these days they play a more tight, structured game plan, so we will be on guard with our stuff.”
The home side welcomes back Bok lock Eben Etzebeth after a lengthy absence due to injury. Etzebeth turned out for the Boks during their end-of-year tour to the United Kingdom and showed he is not far from full fitness. The towering second-rower will undoubtedly be the go-to man in the lineout set-piece and the enforcer in the physical skirmishes.
There will also be a return for first-choice flyhalf Demetri Catrakilis, which sees back-up pivot Kurt Coleman relegated to the bench along with Maties star Robert du Preez (player of the tournament in the 2014 Varsity Cup), who got a bit of game time in the No 10 jersey against SWD. Du Preez is a tall powerful front-foot player much in the mould of his former Bok dad (also Robert) who terrorised opposition defences around the scrum and breakdown fringes.
Coetzee has a potential star on his hands in Du Preez who seemed anything but that in the eyes of the Sharks who parted company with the halfback after bringing him through their academy.
There is another star in the making in the form of UCT utility back Johnny Kotze, who played a starring role for the WP under-21 side last season.
An exciting 80-minute encounter is anticipated and the home side will be expected to win this one, with one more friendly before their Super Rugby opener away to the Bulls on February 14.
Teams:
Stormers: Cheslin Kolbe, Kobus van Wyk, Juan de Jongh (vice-capt), Huw Jones, Dillyn Leyds, Demetri Catrakilis, Nic Groom, Duane Vermeulen (capt), Michael Rhodes, Rynhardt Elstadt, Manuel Carizza, Eben Etzebeth, Vincent Koch, Scarra Ntubeni, Steven Kitshoff.
Replacements: Bongi Mbonambi, Alistair Vermaak, Wilco Louw, Jurie van Vuuren, Jean Kleyn, Neil Rautenbach, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Louis Schreuder, Kurt Coleman, Johnny Kotze, Robert du Preez, EW Viljoen
Cheetahs: Clayton Blommetjies, Cornal Hendricks, JP du Plessis, Michael van der Spuy, Danie Dames, Willie du Plessis, Tian Meyer, Willie Britz (capt), Teboho Mohoje, Jean Cook, Carl Wegner, Armandt Koster, Ewald van der Westhuizen, Martin Bezuidenhout, Caylib Oosthuizen.
Replacements: Stephan Coetzee, Danie Mienie, Coenie Oosthuizen, Francois Uys, Lood de Jager, Tienie Burger, Shaun Venter, Francois Brummer, Francois Venter, Raymond Rhule, Willie le Roux
Cape Argus