Jantjies to awaken sluggish Stormers?
SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: Herschel Jantjies’ inclusion in the starting XV could be the catalyst that ignites a sluggish Stormers team at Kings Park.
Jantjies scored the match-winning try at the death against the Lions last weekend and he has received a lot of praise for his performance in the last 20 minutes of that match after replacing Jano Vermaak.
With Vermaak set to be out of action for four to six weeks with a knee injury, Jantjies will have an extended run in the No.9 jersey for the Stormers, starting against the Sharks on Saturday.
“He [Jantjies] made a big difference when he came on and that is expected of him,” said Stormers head coach Robbie Fleck.
“He is quick, he tests the defences around the edges, and he scored an outstanding try but for us, it was that ability to get the ball away nice and clean and quick and it gave our outside backs a bit of space, so for me he is going really well.
“I think he got a lot of confidence playing regularly in the Currie Cup and he had taken that form into Super Rugby.
“He has got a chance now. With Jano possibly out for four to six weeks, both he and Justin Phillips have got an extended run now to really get some form.”
While there is a lot of excitement around Jantjies, Fleck admitted losing the experience of Vermaak on the field is a blow.
“We are going to have to manage Jano as the season goes along. He is an experienced campaigner and you can’t buy that.
“He’s got a big role in terms of our whole group and also in terms of how we want to play. Part of his role is to groom these guys [Jantjies and Phillips] and get them experienced enough and help them develop into quality scrumhalves like Jano is.
“We were going to give those youngsters an opportunity along the way because we do have to look after Jano. Now that he is injured, these young kids have now been pushed up and they got that chance now,” Fleck added.
There will also be a spotlight on centre Dan du Plessis at Kings Park.
The 23-year-old has been plagued by injuries over the last few seasons, but he has a chance now to live up to his potential.
“I coached Dan at Under-21 level and he was an outstanding centre back then,” said Fleck. “He showed his talent with SA Under-20 at the [Under-20] World Cup.
“I think that he has been very unfortunate with injuries over the past couple of seasons like his cousin [Jean-Luc], but this is probably the best pre-season I’ve seen Dan have in a number of years.
“Every pre-season he has come in with a knee or shoulder injury but this time he has come through with flying colours and he has shown it in his training.
“He offers something different. He runs nice and hard, he’s got good angles of running and he is nice and fit, so he brings a lot of energy to the group.”
By Warren Fortune
@FortuneWarren
@rugby365com
