Etzebeth: Stormers need 'attitude'

 

The Springbok lock, who has been unavailable to the Stormers due to an injury sustained in the end of year Tests, still believes the Stormers have what it takes to overcome the Brumbies this coming weekend but states that they need 'to get some attitude on defence and attack.'

 

"I must say, I am very positive about this [coming] weekend, I feel they can pull it off. [against the Brumbies on Saturday]

 

"They must just cut out the missed tackles and the unforced errors.

 

"They must also get some attitude on defence and attack, I do believe in them and have a strong [gut] feeling that we will win this one," Etzebeth said.

 

The Stormers progress in the tournament thus far has been hampered by injuries and the lock crisis especially has not gone unnoticed by the big Springbok.

 

"Maybe I set the example, of how to get injured and now they [the other locks] all break down.

 

"Not sure what it is, one year we had a bad run with flyhalves and this year it is at lock, it is bad luck, but you can't use it as an excuse – we have to carry on and play the next player in line," he said.

 

Etzebeth does not believe the lock crisis will hamper their line-out however, with the likes of loose forwards such as Duane Vermeulen, Nizaam Carr and Schalk Burger in the squad, jumpers are not the issue.

 

"There is a guy like Duane [Vermeulen], who is one of the best line-out loose forwards around, so I don't foresee a problem," he said.

 

Etzebeth is also clearly itching to get back onto the field but his scheduled return is still set for the end of May making him eligible perhaps only for the last game of the Super Rugby season when the Stormers face the Sharks.

 

"I hope to feature in the Stormers' last game against the Sharks, I could also look at that first Test against the World XV in the Green Point Stadium.

 

"The first three months there wasn't much rugby and I was on crutches, but now it is getting bad for me to sit at home watch the guys playing," he said.