Le Rou'x-factor' not the only concern
Stormers coach Allister Coetzee believes that the Cheetahs side is so much more than just Willie Le Roux, with a number of other Springboks to look out for.
Le Roux has been one of the most talked about players during this years Super Rugby competition and has been responsible for a number of electrifying moments that have led to Cheetahs tries.
He will be on the wing for the Cheetahs instead of at fullback – where he played for the Springboks – but Coetzee knows that he is a threat no matter where he starts.
Coetzee said:"Willie [Le Roux] is a quality player with a variation of attacking skills."
He seems to pop up all over the park when he plays and adds so much dimension to the attack of the Cheetahs and Coetzee is aware that the Cheetahs have become a much better side because of it.
"[Knowing] where they want Willie to be and to fit in at first receiver from broken play and also second receiver from set-piece [is important] but we have to make sure we don't watch Willie only."
The forward pack of the Cheetahs has been a revelation in Bloemfontein this year and it shows with five of their forwards being selected for the South African squad. Coetzee is wary of the strength of their forward pack and this could be seen as the reason they came unstuck in their first clash in Bloemfontein.
"They know their role and responsibilities and they are a confident side.
"They generate good quality possession from line-outs and scrums and they scrum particularly well.
"That last scrum against the Cheetahs was an issue of attitude more than anything and we just let ourselves down badly," Coetzee added.
Juan De Jongh returns to rugby after being part of the Springbok set-up but not playing any rugby. He will be very excited to get out and play against his fellow Springbok Robert Ebersohn.
"Juan De Jongh is well rested and he is conditioned physically. He is in a good space and is obviously hungry to get on the field again so I am looking forward to his performance.
"He is coming up against Robert [Ebersohn] and Johan Sadie – who are a good combination – and him and Damien [De Allende] are looking forward to the match," said Coetzee.
The Stormers' chances for a play-off spot are all-but-done but that does not mean that the side has nothing to play for. They have underperformed this season and improving on their current position as well as maintaining their fine home record are of vital importance to Coetzee.
"We have our motivation and we want to improve on our long position in Super Rugby and we want to finish strongly.
"We have only lost one game at home and we have got a great record at home and when we play at home we want to make sure we keep that record intact," he added.
The showdown between Deon Fourie and Heinrich Brussouw will be something to look out for and Fourie knows that his opposition flank has a lot to prove to the national selectors.
"The whole year he [Brussouw] has had a point to prove and I think he is doing well at the moment. I have played against him at flank and we know what his capabilities are and it is going to be an incredibly tough challenge," Fourie said.
By Nick Tatham
