DHL Stormers coach Allister Coetzee is to name his team for Saturday’s Vodacom Super Rugby clash with the Crusaders in the early hours of the morning South African time on Wednesday, and it will be interesting to see what choices he comes up with in some key areas.
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The arrival of Samoan wing Sailosi Tagicakibau and return of Peter Grant from Japan are just two changes to the landscape since Coetzee sat down to consider his options for last week’s home game against the Hurricanes. The other is the loss through a wrist injury that will keep him sidelined for eight weeks of Argentine lock Manuel Carizza, and the return from injury of Schalk Burger.
The latter was in fact named in the side to face the Hurricanes but was forced out the day before because of the injury that kept him from playing against the Lions. Deon Fourie did well in Burger’s place and apart from dotting down the winning try, he was a thorn in the side of the Hurricanes in the battle for breakdown ball.
Siya Kolisi played well as a blindside flank and looks at home when carrying the ball, so returning Burger straight to the starting team is not the fait accompli that some might think it is. He is vice-captain, and you get the sense skipper Jean de Villiers might appreciate his presence on the field as they are on the same wavelength on what game to play, something that might be debatable about the Stormers as a whole at present.
But the Western Province Currie Cup skipper must come into strong consideration for a starting place, as might Michael Rhodes. Rynhardt Elstadt hasn’t made a full fist of his return to lock as a replacement for Eben Etzebeth just as yet and Rhodes played well when he came on as a replacement against the Hurricanes.
De Kock Steenkamp should come back into the side as a straight swop for the injured Carizza, while against the Crusaders there could be a strong argument for the physically opposing and experienced Tiaan Liebenberg to be recalled at hooker. The lineouts didn’t go well last week and the Crusaders have one of the best formations in the competition.
There looks set to be a constant debate over the scrumhalf position during the course of the coming season, with Louis Schreuder under pressure to keep his place in the face of the challenge of the more incisive Nic Groom. Peter Grant’s return at flyhalf should be delayed until he has got reacquainted with the Stormers systems, and will be best utilised off the bench this week.
Tagicakibau must come into consideration for a starting place sooner rather than later but as in the case with Grant, that sooner shouldn’t be earlier than the second game against the Chiefs. Kobus van Wyk deserves another chance to start after his strong showing against All Black Julian Savea last week.
The Stormers were to get their first taste of life with Tagicakibau in their midst when they trained in Christchurch early Tuesday SA time, their first session after the long flight from South Africa.