adminJOHANNESBURG – Victorious Stormers coach Allister Coetzee is expecting some of his big name players back for Saturday’s Vodacom Super Rugby derby against the Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth. According to the supersport.com website, Springbok skipper Jean de Villiers missed the 28-3 win over the Cheetahs at Newlands this past weekend as he rested the sternum injury that plagued him in the build-up to the last Incoming Tours Series Test against Samoa in Pretoria.
As Coetzee reflected afterwards, even if De Villiers had been fit to take his place against the Cheetahs, he probably wouldn’t have done so as the captain’s wife Marlie gave birth to the couple’s second daughter at the weekend.
But De Villiers, now a father second time over, will be ready to play against the Kings, and will lead a team that had confidence significantly boosted by the impressive win over the play-off contenders from Bloemfontein. It certainly was sweet revenge for the Stormers, as they considered themselves unlucky to lose to the Cheetahs through a late penalty in the first round game before their overseas tour.
Also expected back is big blindside flank Rynhardt Elstadt, who can also be accommodated at lock, and Springbok prop Pat Cilliers.Talking of flanks, Siya Kolisi appears to have touched another level since making his Springbok debut a few weeks ago, and the Stormers can’t complain about either his form or his level of commitment as they head into the last two matches. -Supersport.
Online Reporter
derick.khumalo