The Stormers have been boosted by the news that Demetri Catrakilis and Kobus van Wyk have been cleared for selection ahead of their Super Rugby match against the Western Force at Newlands on Saturday.
Catrakilis has not played since breaking his nose against the Lions on 19 April, whilst Van Wyk’s wrist injury – suffered against the Highlanders on 3 May – has healed a lot quicker than initially anticipated.
Sport24
It was confirmed earlier that hooker Scarra Ntubeni will be out for at least eight weeks, whilst calls on the fitness of Brok Harris, Michael Rhodes, Schalk Burger and Jean de Villiers will be made before announcing the team on Wednesday afternoon.
Ntubeni fractured a metatarsal in his left foot in their defeat to the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday evening.
Rhodes will return to training on Tuesday and be assessed afterwards ahead of the clash against the Force, while Oli Kebble will undergo a concussion test on Wednesday to ascertain his availability for the match.
Prop Frans Malherb is still not available for selection and will not be available for selection.
The following squad players remain sidelined with injuries at present: Prop Steven Kitshoff (knee), hooker Tiaan Liebenberg (neck), locks Eben Etzebeth (foot), Jurie van Vuuren (shoulder), De Kock Steenkamp (groin), Rynhardt Elstadt (shoulder), Gerbrandt Grobler (shoulder) and Manuel Carizza (wrist), Sikhumbuzo Notshe (knee), scrumhalves Louis Schreuder (fractured thumb) and Godlen Masimla (wrist), Gary van Aswegen (groin), wing Sailosi Tagicakibau (calf muscle) and fullbacks Gio Aplon (elbow) and Ryno Eksteen (knee).
Well, at least it is a net gain.
I would keep Coleman at 10, but van Wyk will be a welcome return.
He can go to wing and Damian can slot into center and Grant can go back to Japan
@ nortierd:
Coleman for rest of the season.
@ Tuff Gong:
Agree
Seems like AC messed up by not rating Swiel and letting him go to waste at the Sharks.
With the current way the Stormers are starting to play, Swiel would have been right at home
@ nortierd:
Long list of mediocre 10’s over the past decade:
Louis Koen
Chris Rossouw
Braam Van Straaten
Peter Grant
Rated Van Aswegen but the injuries got the better of him.
Was very impressed with Coleman on Saturday.
@ Tuff Gong:
Yep, and what makes it worse is the list of mediocre 9’s they had to play with as well.
Gary is too injury prone, but Coleman is playing well, maybe it’s because they are at least having some attacking intent and their mindset is different.
Can’t understand why AC MUST find a spot for Grant every week, he has flopped at 10, 12 and 15 so far.
Guess he must just get game time at 9 and wing then he might be dropped
@ nortierd:
Quite bizarre that WP couldn’t find and nurture one decent scrummie over the past few seasons.
Should never have let Niel De Kock go. Bolla was decent and Ricky weight/fitness was an issue down here.
@ Tuff Gong:
Was also thinking de Kock was the last decent 9 we have had.
Been a while
impressed with what Ive seen of De Allende
looks a talent
@ nga puhi:
Morning Pops
Yes, he has come into his own this year. He and De Jongh can form a mean center combination in future
I agree with Nortie and Tuff Gong… Coleman to start.. Catrakillis on bench and Grant to Japan or somewhere futher.
Imo it will be a backward step to start with Catrakiles… it makes no sense to bring a player who offers nothing on the attack back into the team at this stage when they seem to be moving towards a more attacking style of play.
I do not believe Coleman is the long term answer though and think Robert du Preez will be the player to step up next season .. he more or less has it all.. big boot, strong, attacking mindset, good defender, good distributor….only needs a bit of experience.
@ robzim:
Will be good if Dobbo gives Du Preez game time in the CC so we can see how he goes.
If we continue with this more positive and attacking game plan it really bugs me that they let Swiel go.
This game plan suits him perfectly and imagine a Damian or Juan running off him.
@ robzim:
#11 Hi robzim seems like you want to sideline Catrakillis would be interesting if this happened as earlier I was speculating on the Edinburgh article about him possibly being on Solly’s shopping list if he is looking for a flyhalf…
coleman at fly and damian at 12… do it AC
@ nortierd:
Yip.. Starting backs I would like to see this weekend (assuming jean is still unfit)
9. Groom
10 Coleman
11. Kolbe
12. De Allende
13. de Jongh
14 van Wyk
15. Taute
I see in the Cape Times Rob Fleck is very happy with the new gameplan.. he reckons it suits his natural philosophy as a coach much better than the previous gameplan .
@ robzim:
Just a thought, how much has the gameplan changed though? They are willing to gie the ball more air, but where they punished the bulls was their counter attack, wheris in the past, the counter would be spoiled by either kicking away of not passing, and when there is a counter with momentum, andries bekker and kitchoff isn’t there to fark it up with their crash balls.
Will be interesting to see how they fare against the force, a defense orientated team that focuses on limiting mistakes.
#13
@ Bullscot:
Hi Bullscot….Lets see what the decisionmakers at the Stormers decide… the local journo’s seem to have different views… some still prefer the Cat to start ahead of Coleman due to his better kicking game.
I also think he would do well for Solly’s team in European conditions.. could even make the Scottish national team together with Cornell du preez in a few years time 🙂
add to that Kolisi, the Stormers old defense orientated gameplan suited him more, so while they wanted to be more expansie, the player combinations just was not right, eben at lock is a huge loss, and the other locks they have lost they mostly just lost experience. Kitchoff has DEan Greyling disease, if he gets on the wrong side of the ref, he will be penalised non stop.
The current backline as a combo looks great, but the addition of schalk has been vital, he has been crucial in many tries lately with his offloads, while the other loosies wouldn’t.
Personally I think they are playing with better player combinations, to make use of counter attack opportunities.
nortierd wrote:
kia ora Bortie, not sold on De Jongh myself personally, but wont the boks have JDV and Fourie anyways?
and JDJ is playing the best rugby of his career atm compared to last year where he contributed to a stifling backline, I am really enjoying it and hope he can keep it up.
@ robzim:
That backline will work
@ nga puhi:
Yes, but this combination is for the WP/Stormers
@ MacroBull:
I just hope they do not revert back to a defence orientated game and try to outmuscle the Force… with the lack of grunt amongst the available tight forwards it will be damn difficult to achieve.
nortierd wrote:
they need more than just a couple of decent centres boet
@ robzim:
agreed, versatile strategy has its place, but the force will be tough to take on, I think this will be determined by the ref and how he judges hodgson who is an incredibly dodgy opensider.
I feel so bad for Scarra, he played well on Saturday, I actually think his injury and this stage of the competition is the worst one to swallow this year for the Stormers, eerything was gelling so nicely.
The rumble from the bottom of the log! 🙂
Things suddenly are looking good for the Stormers,,,, 😉
I did watch the Stormers – Bulls from a recording, basically it seemed that Joubert ensured a face saving for the Stormers (my opinion only) by denying the Bulls a runaway win, 16 points difference seemed a modest margin indeed
Colman hit on Visser in the air was a Yellow no doubt, good job Craig!
It seemed the ARU flexed muscles to ensure a fair chance for their Force’s tour of SA by forcing a Kiwi Ref for their matches, that will make the odds at Newlands difficult this weekend
@ nga puhi:
Lol, yes, but we got to start somewhere
@ MacroBull:
I am sure the Bulls felt the same about ‘Scara’ when he left the field 😉
@ nortierd:
26
Nortjie
According to AC, there is a new start every weekend for the Stormers?
🙂
@ MacroBull:
24
Flynn from the Saders is joining Toulouse?!
bye bye Chiliboi?
You can bet the Stormers will be in a race to get his services, I can see a monumental battle for the starting spot in the Lineup!
🙂
@Hondo
I think he is getting confused with new players every week and a new start 😉
I’ve always said that I wouldn’t mind losing so much if we at least try to play positive rugby.
It’s losing while being ultra defensive and boring that irritates me.
We see it now with the Sharks.
All those home games with Peyper and Lourens and no complaints about Jake and the game plan.
Now that they are still playing the same boring game, but being beaten, the Shark supporters on some sites are turning on Jake and the way they are playing.
I suppose that if they should by some miracle win the SR Jake will be hailed a hero and all these negative comments made now will be forgotten
@ Hondo:
Those guys play so much rugby, I doubt Chilliboi played every game though, those french try to have 2 good players per position.
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