This is the 6th in the series of Stormers Squad Contenders for Super Rugby 2014. We do 2 articles per week per South African Super Rugby participating franchise.

We discuss the players IN the Super Rugby Group, and not all the options beyond that.

In this Article we look at the contenders for FLYHALVES in the DHL Stormers 2014 Super Rugby group, and whether they could force their way into Bok contention.

The Contenders:

Name: Demetri Catrakilis:

Position Flyhalf Height 1.77m Weight 85kg Date of Birth 6 July 1989 Place of Birth Johannesburg Provincial Debut 2011 Provincial Caps 40 Provincial Points 494 Super Rugby Debut 2013 Super Rugby Caps 15 Super Rugby Points 151 Test Debut Test Caps 0 Test Points 0

Demetri Catrakilis is a product of Saheti Primary School, St John’s College, University of Johannesburg (UJ) and University of Cape Town (UCT).

He started his career in 2006 when he represented the Lions at Under 18 level. He has grown quite a lot from there and has gone on to represent Western Province in the Currie Cup and the Southern Kings at Super Rugby level.

Catrakilis showed his true value as a player in last season of Super Rugby where he was a shining star in a struggling Southern Kings side and was also responsible for majority of their points in the 2013 season.

Catrakilis has however not had the brightest stays at Western Province and Allister Coetzee has come into question a lot regarding this matter. He is virtually the No 2 flyhalf in South Africa behind Morné Steyn, however at Western Province he seems to be undervalued and quite a bit lower in the pecking order.

The whole of South Africa will most likely be baffled if Demetri Catrkilis is not the starting flyhalf at the DHL Stormers this season. The big question is what does Catrakilis still have to do to prove to Allister Coetzee that he is the only starting option at flyhalf or will Allister Coetzee still stare blindly to Peter Grant, who should be 4th in this team’s pecking order.

His playing career is as follows:

• 2006 – Lions – U18 Academy Week
• 2007 – Lions – U18 Academy Week
• 2008 – Golden Lions – ABSA Under 19 Competition
• 2011 – DHL Western Province – Vodacom Cup, UCT – Varsity Cup, DHL Western Province – ABSA Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies, DHL Western Province – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
• 2012 – DHL Western Province – Vodacom Cup, DHL Western Province – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
• 2013 – Southern Kings – Vodacom Super Rugby, Eastern Province Kings – ABSA Currie Cup First Division, Southern Kings – Super Rugby Promotion / Relegation, DHL Western Province – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division

Name: Kurt Kendall “Kurt” Coleman:

Position Flyhalf Height 1.77m Weight 85kg Date of Birth 29 January 1990 Place of Birth Knysna Provincial Debut 2011 Provincial Caps 33 Provincial Points 244 Super Rugby Debut 2011 Super Rugby Caps 6 Super Rugby Points 31 Test Debut Test Caps 0 Test Points 0

Kurt Coleman is a product of Knysna Primary School, Grey High School and Stellenbosch University (Maties).

He started his career in 2008 when he represented Eastern Province at Under 18 level. He made his move to Western Province in 2009 and has remained loyal to Cape Town. He first represented the Stormers in Super Rugby in 2011.

I feel that Coleman and Catrakilis should be number 1 an 2 in this team’s starting lineup at flyhalf. Coleman is a young and talented player and has a bright future ahead of him.

Let’s just hope that Allister Coetzee can look past Peter Grant in his team selection.

His playing career is as follows:

• 2008 – South Africa – U18 Elite Squads, Eastern Province – U18 Coca-Cola Craven Week
• 2009 – Western Province – ABSA Under 19 Competition
• 2010 – Western Province – ABSA Under 21 Competition
• 2011 – DHL Western Province – Vodacom Cup, Maties – Varsity Cup, DHL Stormers – Vodacom Super Rugby, DHL Western Province – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Western Province – ABSA Under 21 Competition
• 2012 – DHL Western Province – Vodacom Cup, SWD Eagles – ABSA Currie Cup First Division, DHL Western Province – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
• 2013 – DHL Western Province – Vodacom Cup, Stormers – Vodacom Super Rugby, DHL Western Province – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division

Name: Peter John ” Peter” Grant:

Position Flyhalf Height 1.86m Weight 89kg Date of Birth 15 August 1984 Place of Birth Durban Provincial Debut 2004 Provincial Caps 55 Provincial Points 281 Super Rugby Debut 2006 Super Rugby Caps 90 Super Rugby Points 819 Test Debut 2007 v Australia Test Caps 5 Test Points 0

Peter Grant is a product of Port Shepstone Primary School, Maritzburg College & the University of Stellenbosch (Maties).

He first came into prominence in 2002 when he represented Natal at Under 19 level. He made his move down to Cape Town in 2003 and remained there until a few seasons ago when he left for a Japanese-based Club. He however returns yearly to still form part of the Stormers Super Rugby squad every season.

I feel that Grant should be No 4 in the pecking order in this squad, at flyhalf. He was good a couple of season ago, there are however younger and better players in the side at present. Allister Coetzee however likes to push on Grant’s button when it comes to Super Rugby. I think that if this is the case, that it will not be a good thing for the Stormers.

His playing career is as follows:

• 2002 – Natal – U19 Competition
• 2003 – South Africa – IRB FIRA-AER U19 World Championship, Investec WP – ABSA U20 A Section
• 2004 – Western Province – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Investec Western Province – ABSA U20 Competition Section A
• 2005 – Investec Western Province – Vodacom Cup, Investec Western Province – ABSA Currie Cup Qualifying Round, Investec Western Province – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
• 2006 – Vodacom Stormers – Vodacom Super 14, Vodacom Western Province – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
• 2007 – Vodacom Stormers – Vodacom Super 14, SA Emerging Springboks – IRB Nations Cup, South Africa – Vodacom Tri-Nations, Vodacom Western Province – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Springboks vs Barbarians – Vodacom Outgoing Tour
• 2008 – Vodacom Stormers – Vodacom Super 14, Springboks – Vodacom Incoming Tours, Vodacom WP – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Springboks – Vodacom Tri-Nations
• 2009 – WP – MTN test, Vodacom Stormers – Vodacom Super 14, Vodacom Western Province – British & Irish Lions Tour, Vodacom Western Province – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
• 2010 – Vodacom Stormers – Vodacom Super 14, Kobelco Steelers in Japan
• 2011 – DHL Stormers – Vodacom Super Rugby, Kobelco Steelers in Japan
• 2012 – DHL Stormers – Vodacom Super Rugby, Kobelco Steelers in Japan
• 2013 – Stormers – Vodacom Super Rugby, Kobelco Steelers in Japan

Name: Gary Jacques “Gary” van Aswegen:

Position Flyhalf Height 1.78m Weight 87kg Date of Birth 18 February 1990 Place of Birth Petoria Provincial Debut 2010 Provincial Caps 13 Provincial Points 86 Super Rugby Debut 2011 Super Rugby Caps 15 Super Rugby Points 30 Test Debut Test Caps 0 Test Points 0

Gary van Aswegen is a product of Standerton Primary School & Standerton High School.

He started his career in 2006 when he represented Mpumalanga at Under 16 level. He remained in the province and represented the Pumas in 2007 and 2008 and made his move to Western Province in 2009.

Van Aswegen has had very bad luck in Super Rugby and in rugby in general with various injuries hampering him. He however finds himself in a squad with two very talented young flyhalves and in my opinion should be the 3rd choice flyhalf in this squad.

It will also help Van Aswegen quite a bit if his body can last more than 3 games, should his button be pressed on.

His playing career is as follows:

• 2006 – Mpumalanga – U16 Coca Cola Grant Khomo Week
• 2007 – Pumas – U18 Academy Week
• 2008 – South Africa – U/18 Elite Squadss, Pumas – U18 Coca-Cola Craven Week
• 2009 – Western Province – ABSA Under 19 Competition
• 2010 – Western Province – Vodacom Cup, Vodacom Western Province – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Western Province – ABSA Under 21 Competition
• 2011 – DHL Western Province – Vodacom Cup, DHL Stormers – Vodacom Super Rugby , DHL Western Province – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Western Province – ABSA Under 21 Competition
• 2012 – DHL Stormers – Vodacom Super Rugby, DHL Western Province – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
• 2013 – DHL Western Province – Vodacom Cup, DHL Stormers – Vodacom Super Rugby, DHL Western Province – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division

Starters:

Under all circumstances this is a no brainer in the minds of supporters out there, but not in the mind of the DHL Stormers coaching staff. Demetri Catrakilis needs to start at flyhalf and Kurt Coleman should be the bench option. Allister Coetzee however tends to swim against the tide at times.

My starting combination will be as mentioned above, with Gary van Aswegen as my 3rd choice.

Do not be surprised if Peter Grant gets the nod however, with Kurt Coleman on the bench, as this is possibly just how Allister Coetzee sees it.

Only time will tell how selections will be handled in this team but since doing these articles, it would seem as though the DHL Stormers coaching staff are making a lot of work for themselves.

The next Article in the range will deal with the Stormers midfield.