Perfect timing for Vermeulen break

 

The SA Player of the Year was always going to have to miss the first game of the Stormers tour against the Highlanders, having played five straight games at the start of the season, but having four wins under the belt and plenty of loose forward depth at his disposal does make it easier for Coetzee to give him the time off.

 

The plan was always to give Vermeulen an extended break with the bye this week followed by a week off in Dunedin, as part of SARU's request that top Springboks be given regular games off to manage their workload this season ahead of the World Cup.

 

Coetzee admitted that it may be tougher to rest Vermeulen when there is more pressure on later in the season, but for now he is happy to stick to the plan.

 

"It is a plan that we have had long ago, irrespective of the situation.

 

"Where the challenge will come with the resting is when you are in a tight spot and whether you are going to continue with the plan," he said.

 

Another factor which makes it easier to do without Vermeulen is the long line of loose forwards who are fighting for a starting place in the squad at the moment.

 

"Because he is a category A guy, he has got to get a longer break and I am happy because in the loose forward department it is only Rhynardt [Elstadt] that we have lost, we have got Schalk [Burger] back so we have got sufficient depth there. 

 

"We have got the next Springbok eighthman in our squad as well in Nizaam [Carr] so it is really pleasing to have loosies like Michael Rhodes coming back," said Coetzee.

 

The Stormers coach said that with Vermeulen out of the mix, his biggest concern is finding the right balance in his loose trio, with vice-captain Juan de Jongh poised to take over the leadership role.

 

"Mikey [Rhodes] was really on form, he has played great rugby before he got injured, but I am not 100 percent sure if he will be at that level again.

 

"The big thing is we must not pick three guys who are similar. Schalla and Nizaam basically bring the same thing as passing and linking loosies. You need to have a hard-running loose forward and a line-out option and an abrasive guy because we will be without Duane [Vermeulen] so we will need that," he said.

 

Vermeulen will lead a squad with no selection surprises and a playing group which includes hooker Mbongeni Mbonambi, prop Oli Kebble, lock Eben Etzebeth, flank Mike Rhodes and wing Johnny Kotze – all of whom did not play against the Chiefs at the weekend, while the only player unavailable because of injury is flank Rynhardt Elstadt (broken leg – suffered against the Blues in Round Two).

 

Coetzee is keen to see how the leadership group cope without Vermeulen for the first game under the guidance of Currie Cup-winning skipper De Jongh.

 

"This is a great opportunity to see the depth of our leadership group and how they operate. We lacked a bit of composure in the second half against the Chiefs and they must learn from that.

 

"I think that is where Schalk is still important in terms of being a pack leader who has got all the experience, and maybe that is something we will consider when we select the team.

 

"Juan has done well in the Currie Cup, the halfbacks Nick Groom and Louis Schreuder have been leaders and Damian [de Allende] is really stepping up," he added.

 

The Stormers coach dismissed talk that locks Jean Kleyn and Eben Etzebeth are leaving for France, explaining that Kleyn has recently signed a new two-year contract and Etzebeth's current contract only expires next year.

 

"Not according to my knowledge, he [Kleyn] has signed and Eben's contract is until 2016, that is how I understand it," he said.

 

Stormers touring squad: Ruan Botha, Schalk Burger, Manuel Carizza, Nizaam Carr, Demetri Catrakilis, Kurt Coleman, Damian de Allende, Juan de Jongh, Eben Etzebeth, Nic Groom, Huw Jones, Oli Kebble, Steven Kitshoff, Jean Kleyn, Vincent Koch, Cheslin Kolbe, Siya Kolisi, Johnny Kotze, Dillyn Leyds, Frans Malherbe, Mbongeni Mbonambi, Siyabonga Ntubeni, Michael Rhodes, Louis Schreuder, Kobus van Wyk, Alistair Vermaak, Duane Vermeulen (captain).