Different headache for Stormers

 

The Cape side have not played in a Super Rugby play-off since they went unbeaten in 2012 only to lose out to a Sharks side that had travelled to Australia and back.

 

That team was missing several key players through injury, which is certainly not the case this year with Siyabonga Ntubeni the only player ruled out of their South African conference showdown with the Lions next week.

 

The hooker will be out for ten days after he suffered a calf tear in the emphatic 42-12 victory over the Cheetahs at Newlands, and with the likes of Michael Rhodes and Kobus van Wyk available for selection this week Coetzee looks to have quite a lot of depth at his disposal ahead of the play-offs this time around.

 

The Stormers coach admitted that it was nice to so many options for the last two games before the knock-outs, with Springboks Duane Vermeulen, Eben Etzebeth and Schalk Burger all due one week each off.

 

"It is good to be in a position with all of your players back at this stage of the competition. We have gone unbeaten before and then we were scrambling for players.

 

"We still need to rest Duane [Vermeulen], we still need to rest Eben [Etzebeth] once, but we have still got two games to do that," he said.

 

The competition in the loose trio is especially encouraging, with Siya Kolisi, Sikhumbuzo Notshe and Nizaam Carr all impressing against the Cheetahs to give Coetzee something to think about.

 

"It is not easy for me, we have got Michael Rhodes and Schalk Burger coming back and the loosies really played well.

 

"If you are playing behind a tight five that is solid like ours then your loosies can really do their job," he said.

 

With Seabelo Senatla scoring his first two Super Rugby tries and Dillyn Leyds getting a double last week it is also going to be interesting to see where the returning Kobus van Wyk fits in.

 

While pleased with the way his team managed to put the Ceetahs away at Newlands, Coetzee said that they can still be more ruthless in their finishing.

 

"The players have really stepped up in all departments. The focus was there.

 

"I think we did the basics very well, we played in the right areas, we didn't force things and adapted to the conditions, and when we had to put pressure with ball in hand we did that.

 

"Of course there were a few opportunities out there that we didn't finish but it is still a work in progress.

 

"They say the road to success is always under construction. There is never a complete game but we try our best to get close.

 

"We need to finish more, we are creating enough opportunities. One thing that was frustrated was that our attacking ball was slowed down, that is something we need to work on," he added.

 

Coetzee also paid tribute to Naka Drotske who finished his career as Cheetahs coach at Newlands on Saturday.

 

"Naka Drotske has been a real servant of Cheetahs rugby, he has done a helluva lot with little resources over the years.

 

"From his playing days I can just pay tribute to Naka and I'm sure Cheetah rugby will miss him," he said.