The Stormers will be keeping a close eye on Sharks lock Eben Etzebeth in Saturday’s United Rugby Championship (URC) derby in Cape Town after his display of flair and pace against Leinster.
Like a true backline player, Etzebeth faked the rushing defence of former Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber, hit a gap and set off on a run that would have made the lock look like a 100m sprinter.
After making plenty of metres, he could have gone further up the field but decided to pass to the real speedster, Edwill van der Merwe. It freed Etzebeth up to receive the pass again, and he handed it to his captain André Esterhuizen while being tackled for the midfielder to score a spectacular try.
That is the type of warning shot the Sharks have fired the way of the Cape side ahead of their first coastal clash of the new season.
However, Stormers veteran utility forward Deon Fourie says they are preparing for what Etzebeth and his teammates will bring.
“It’s amazing when you get older what you can achieve,” the 40-year-old Fourie said with a smile.
“I think he’s in good form at the moment. He was struggling over the last two years with injuries and concussion and stuff, so he’s in a good spot now, and you can see it from when he played for the Boks and last weekend.
“He’s enjoying it, and it’s all the old Eben.”
Defence coach Norman Laker warned that they have to brace themselves for an attacking onslaught from their coastal rivals.
In the last two URC matches, the Sharks have ended up on the winning side, so the Stormers will be out for revenge come Saturday. They will be playing their first match in their new ‘Men in Black’ kit, which will make the occasion even more special.
Stormers wary of Sharks’ attacking threat
Laker said they will keep a close eye on the likes of Etzebeth.
“If Eben carries the ball, you don’t move off him. Whether he fake-passes or not, you stay on him,” Laker said with a laugh.
“The Sharks are a quality outfit. JP Pietersen has done a phenomenal job with them since he took over. They beat us last year at DHL Stadium. I think that was his first game in charge, or second game, I’m not 100% sure, but what he’s done with the Sharks is phenomenal. There’s a lot of respect for him.
“I don’t think they will move off what they’re doing, because what they are doing is working for them. It’s going to be a big game.”
