Stormers out to sharpen up

 

The Stormers host the Cheetahs at Newlands on Friday night, and Coetzee is keen to use the outing to ensure that his frontline players are fully prepared for the demands that await them this season.

 

"It is the best possible team that we can field, I know the Cheetahs have had one game against the Bulls and they will view this as another good preparation game.

 

"That is what we need – to get some of that sharpness you have got to play against Super Rugby franchises as well," he said.

 

Coetzee is still without the services of a few key players who are recovering from injury, with Springboks Nizaam Carr, Damian de Allende and Siya Kolisi all in danger of starting the season cold without any game-time in the warm-ups. 

 

De Allende has torn his quadricep whilst Kolisi is still battling a hamstring niggle and Carr has only just started training again after recovering from a viral infection, whilst Jaco Taute has been ruled out for four to six weeks due to his problematic knee.

 

"Damian has got a Grade One tear in his quadricep, so it is not a long-term thing and he should be fine by next week.

 

"Jaco went to see a specialist who put a scope on his knee which has put him out for four to six weeks. It is basically wear and tear of the knee, there is nothing structurally wrong.

 

"Nizaam has had this viral infection and started again on Monday. We need to build on his conditioning first, he has lost some weight in muscle mass so I can't tell you now if he will be ready for the Bulls or not," Coetzee explained.

 

While De Allende could have played at a push, Coetzee did not want to risk him as his only inside centre option with Super Rugby experience, but added that he is excited to see what young Huw Jones has to offer in the position.

 

"He did well towards the end of the Under-21 Currie Cup and we have been impressed with him. 

 

"I don't want to box him in, he is a centre and he has got good skills so I am not scared to use him as a 12.

 

"He has got a good pass, he carries well, he is a big strong boy so I am looking at him as a 12," he said.

 

The Stormers coach expects the adventurous Cheetahs to provide a tough examination of their defensive system, and he is hoping to see some progress from last week's first hit-out against South Western Districts in George.

 

"It will be a good challenge for us defensively, we know they play with a lot of width, a passing game, they come with good line-out ball and they have got tricks up their sleeve with an attacking kicking game.

 

"Last week's game was important to get the first contact session out of the way, and I think this week we will have to focus on a bit more detail of how we do things and get a bit sharper and get the basics right," he said.

 

Coetzee confirmed that South African-born England Sevens player Matt Turner has been training with the squad, but explained that he has just requested to train with the team and will have to start from the bottom if he wants to play for the Stormers.

 

"Matt Turner is in Cape Town and he is obviously back from his Sevens duties, he just came to ask if he could join us for training.

 

"At this stage there is no commitment from our side, he just wants to keep fit and train," he said.