Ton is not enough for Grant
Peter Grant is determined to use his 100th game for the Stormers to prove that he still has plenty to offer.
Grant has played second fiddle to Kurt Coleman who has been preferred at flyhalf for the Cape side in recent weeks, but gets the chance to underline his qualities as a playmaker against the Force at Newlands on Saturday.
With the Stormers at the bottom of the table and right out of contention for the play-offs coach Allister Coetzee feels that it was only right to give Grant the chance to start in his 100th game and rejected the claim that it is a sentimental selection.
"One has got to understand that Peter Grant has been a stalwart for Western Province and the Stormers over the years.
"Peter's experience is vital in this match, it has got nothing to do with sentiment. It is about the culture in this team as well which is also important.
"I believe in giving people second chances and I believe that Peter Grant will be more confident. There is no player who wants to have a poor performance in such a milestone and I am sure he will give extra for the team on Saturday," he said.
Coetzee explained that although Coleman has been impressive recently, they will not necessarily be worse off with the experienced Grant at the helm.
"If you look at the kicking stats of the two players it is not like one is superior to the other. Peter is an experienced player, he will do a job for us on Saturday and Kurt will do a job coming 0ff the bench again," he said.
Grant said that he will not be going back to play in Japan again and hopes to finish his career in Cape Town.
"I don't have any plans to move on, I am finished up with Japan, my contract comes up at the end of the year so I will be talking to Gert [Smal] and Western Province," he said.
The former Springbok pivot said that he appreciates the opportunity to run out in the No.10 jersey at Newlands in his 100th game, and hopes to show everyone that he still has what it takes at this level.
"It is a big milestone for me, I have been in the nervous nineties for a while now so I am very excited.
"I am very glad at being able to start and wear the No.10, my preferred jersey this weekend as well and also fortunate to be at Newlands.
"Last year I came back hoping to reach it and I hit a bit of a wall with a few injuries, so I have been in the nineties for a while and now that I have got it I have got no plans to sit back," he said.
He explained that having been sidelined through injury for most of the last year he is feeling physically fresh although his form has not been where he would like it this season.
"I was quite lucky in that I had about a year sabbatical and took a bit of time to recover. I am feeling great this season I must be honest, I haven't been in the best form of my life but I am in some of the best condition.
"I have been working really hard at that and I think that all of the older guys tend to do that, the older they get the harder they have to work to stay in shape and my body is holding up nicely," he said.
With the Stormers at rock bottom there will not be much pressure on Grant this weekend, so it is a good opportunity for him to show the value of his experience and prove that he is worth keeping around.
"I am confident, we are in a situation where we have nothing to lose and we are just going out there to enjoy ourselves and I definitely think that will work in my favour," he said.
By Michael de Vries
