Erasmus's mixed bag for Stormers

Editor

Stormers coach Rassie Erasmus produced a mixed bag of news on Monday, as his team stepped up training for the opening round of the Super 14.

Stormers coach Rassie Erasmus produced a mixed bag of news on Monday, as his team stepped up training for the opening round of the Super 14.

The good news was that captain Jean de Villiers has been cleared to face the defending champion Bulls at Newlands on Saturday.

However, on the flipside was the confirmation that fullback Conrad Jantjes has been ruled out with an injury.

But for the Stormers the biggest news is the return of their captain, who missed the entire pre-season build-up as he continued his rehabilitation from the bicep injury suffered at the World Cup last year.

De Villiers also sat out training last week due to a hamstring strain, but on Monday he took a full part in training – much to the delight of the coaching staff.

The centre will be leading out the team against the Bulls in the traditional North-South derby.

However, the absence of Jantjes, who has been ruled out with a hand injury he picked up in training late last year, is a big setback.

“The only guys who are definitely out are Connie [Conrad Jantjes] and [prop] Eddie Andrews,” Erasmus said, adding that De Villiers is “100 per cent”.

“Conrad is actually fine, but we feel in terms of match fitness it is just one week too soon. He lacks a bit of match fitness, that's all.”

Erasmus, who joined up with the Stormers from the Cheetahs at the end of last year, will be revealing his first team on Wednesday.

It is expected that a number of his new signings – former Bulls lock Adriaan Fondse, Lions prop Brian Mujati, Lions scrumhalf Enrico Januarie and Lions wing Wylie Human – will feature in the starting XV against the Bulls.

Erasmus warned against the high expectations on the Stormers so early in the season, with a new coach and a host of new players.

“A coach would never come in and get everybody on the same wavelength immediately,” he said in an interview on the Stormers website.

“It is a process, so there will be hiccups. That won't be because of a lack of commitment or a lack of effort though. People should expect mistakes, but hopefully we can minimize those to the minimum.

“You cannot expect everything to be perfect after being together for only two, three months.”

Asked about the fitness and conditioning of his players a few days before the big kick-off, Erasmus expressed satisfaction with the hard work put in by the squad.

“I think we are on par as far as fitness and conditioning are concerned. It is up to the players now to adapt to the higher intensity of Super 14 rugby. It is completely different to the intensity of a warm-up game.

“It is always a step up and we need to get used to it quickly. They will be fit enough. There are 13 hard games and they would have to press through the physical pain to adapt to that level and I am convinced we will be capable of doing that.”