Taute: I'm hungry and desperate
Springbok Jaco Taute could be the major benefactor if Stormers coach Allister Coetzee decides to rest some players for the final round-robin match of their Super Rugby campaign.
Taute missed the majority of the season due to a lengthy knee injury but has undergone strenuous rehabilitation and has slowly made his way back to full fitness after turning out for Western Province in the Vodacom Cup.
Speaking to the media, he said he is "hungry and desperate" to get back into the Stormers jersey at centre – a position he has taken a liking to since moving to the Cape from the Lions in 2013.
"I just want to get on the field and build momentum to be able to give my best. I'm very hungry and desperate to get back into the Stormers jersey after going through strenuous rehab on the knee. The operation at the beginning of the year was basically just to clean up the wear and tear. It had nothing to do with ligaments so I feel I've worked incredibly hard and feel really good.
"I played inside centre for the whole of last year's Currie Cup and feel things went really well, so I've built up more momentum in the position. I'm also more used to it now, so I'd really like to continue to build on that. I'm not saying I'd never play fullback again but for now my focus is on the position I played during Currie Cup," he said.
Stormers backline coach Robbie Fleck believes Taute's future is "very solid and has a huge amount of value to add to the squad" as the Stormers look toward the play-offs.
"Jaco [Taute] has huge value to offer and, in my opinion, his future is very solid. He proved to be one of the players of the season in the 2014 Currie Cup campaign and we found his best position at inside centre. He can cover outside centre and fullback as well but I think he is best suited at No.12.
"He brings a bit of grunt to our backline and has massive experience, great leadership abilities, is a great communicator and has proved himself by working his way back into form. It's important that we give him, and other players returning from injury, game time before the playoffs so that we are able to select from a full-strength squad – It is looking like we are heading that way at the moment," Fleck said.
SHould he crack the nod, Taute knows he will be in for a tough time at the Shark Tank and feels the Stormers will head to Durban with only one thing on their minds – victory.
"Every time you represent the Stormers you have to give the best you have and not just make up the numbers. Even if some guys are rested [against the Sharks], those who crack the nod will give their best and go out to win the game," Taute stated.
By Tauriq Ebrahim
@Tagels03
@rugby365com
