Stormers ready for 'predictable' Bulls
The Stormers know what to expect from the Bulls when the two sides clash in their Super Rugby match in Cape Town on Saturday, according to head coach Allister Coetzee.
“I have seen how the Bulls have been playing for years now and I can’t see that they will change their style,” Coetzee said on Monday.
“They have a massive kicking game that takes in hard chases and up-and-unders. We have all seen how effective it has been for them.
“Their execution will be the same, even when they don’t play at altitude, and then one can expect their chase to be better. Their aerial skills are phenomenal.”
The Bulls, who trounced defending champions the Reds 61-8 at the weekend, sent shock waves through the Super Rugby world and Coetzee accepted that his side would be underdogs on home soil this week.
The Stormers, by all accounts, were lucky to come away with a win against the Lions in Johannesburg on Saturday, but Coetzee said he was pleased they had kept their unbeaten record intact.
“We don’t feel guilty about our position [as an unbeaten team] because we’ve worked hard to be where we are now,” Coetzee said.
“The players are in a good space and it is a good thing that we can learn while we’re winning.”
The Stormers have a few green horns like Nick Koster, Siya Kolisi, Eben Etzebeth, Steven Kitshoff, Scarra Ntubeni and Frans Malherbe in their match-day forwards contingent.
Collectively they have less than 20 Super Rugby caps but Coetzee was confident of going to battle with them.
“I’m pleased to say that they at least know what to do, and I’m confident in their ability at this level,” he said.
“I was pleased to see how Scarra made those tackles when he came on as a substitute [against the Lions] and it confirmed that we have the back-up that we can draw on.
“Our Vodacom Cup team is also unbeaten and those players are ready to step up when needed, and that will be the case as this competition unfolds.”
Coetzee said the selection process ahead of the Bulls encounter would have to be accurate.
“The selection must have the right balance and mix.
“With Rynhardt Elstadt ready for Super Rugby now it is a selection headache, more so because other locks have also become available this week.”
“When you play against a side like the Bulls there is no room for error.
“We also have to be physically up for it, especially since we know what’s coming.
“My feeling is that Saturday’s game will be a good advertisement for South African rugby.”
SAPA
