Publications
Partners
Stephen Nell
Cape Town – Jan Daniel Moller was a non-playing reserve when the Stormers last played in a Super rugby semi-final in 2004, but his performances this year have suggested he intends being much more than his team’s Player 23 come semi-final weekend.
Moller started the season as the Stormers’ third choice at loosehead prop, but has made a telling contribution at an important time with Wicus Blaauw and JC Kritzinger out injured.
Blaauw and Kritzinger should be available again in the next week or two for the Stormers.
Moller will therefore have to use his opportunities to show that he belongs in the squad ahead of them if, as expected, they advance to the semi-finals.
“I was the Stormers’ player 23 for the semi-finals in 2004 because Eddie Andrews’s knee was a little sore. It was my first trip overseas and I watched the game from the stands. So I’m Jan (Player 23)!”
Moller made his Super rugby debut in 2005 – against the Highlanders – and last month played his 50th Stormers game off the bench against the Reds.
The 27-year-old loosehead prop just wants to enjoy every moment and not talk about the competition for places that there will soon be for the Stormers’ No 1 jersey.
“I’m on the wrong track if I start thinking about myself,” he said.
“I play every game that comes my way and the future will look after itself.”
His immediate future is a front-row battle with the Sharks’ combination of Tendai Mtawarira, John Smit and Jannie du Plessis.
The Sharks combination shares 127 Tests between them, while the closest any member of the Stormers’ front row have come to a single Test was Tiaan Liebenberg’s game for the Springboks against the Barbarians in 2007.
However, Liebenberg and Brok Harris appear to be well on course for their Test debuts.
The same probably does not apply to Moller yet this year, but you don’t pick up looseheads with 50-plus Super rugby caps at your local supermarket.
Moller expects a tough scrum battle against the Sharks.
“They have an international front row that has played numerous Tests, so it’s going to be a challenge,” he said.
“In this competition there is a good chance that you’ll be up against a player with Test experience every weekend. It’s a chance to measure yourself against the best on each occasion.
“I think Jannie is an honest scrummager and a very good tighthead. That’s why he plays for the Springboks.”
Schalk Burger, who captains the Stormers, is the only remaining member of the team that contested their 2004 semi-final against the Crusaders in Christchurch. However, the Stormers’ focus is not on a semi-final that they are yet to reach.
“There’s a lot of excitement, but the thing that this team is doing well is just to focus on the next task,” said Moller.
“Everybody knows strange things happen in the Super 14. If you start thinking about a semi-final now, it can end up biting you in the bum.
“The important thing is to focus on the weekend and look at where we are after it. Things sometimes work out in a funny way.”
Indeed, because there is not a Jan for every team like JD Moller. The Stormers are thanking their lucky stars.
Cape Town – Jan Daniel Moller was a non-playing reserve when the Stormers last played in a Super rugby semi-final in 2004, but his performances this year have suggested he intends being much more than his team’s Player 23 come semi-final weekend.
Moller started the season as the Stormers’ third choice at loosehead prop, but has made a telling contribution at an important time with Wicus Blaauw and JC Kritzinger out injured.
Blaauw and Kritzinger should be available again in the next week or two for the Stormers.
Moller will therefore have to use his opportunities to show that he belongs in the squad ahead of them if, as expected, they advance to the semi-finals.
“I was the Stormers’ player 23 for the semi-finals in 2004 because Eddie Andrews’s knee was a little sore. It was my first trip overseas and I watched the game from the stands. So I’m Jan (Player 23)!”
Moller made his Super rugby debut in 2005 – against the Highlanders – and last month played his 50th Stormers game off the bench against the Reds.
The 27-year-old loosehead prop just wants to enjoy every moment and not talk about the competition for places that there will soon be for the Stormers’ No 1 jersey.
“I’m on the wrong track if I start thinking about myself,” he said.
“I play every game that comes my way and the future will look after itself.”
His immediate future is a front-row battle with the Sharks’ combination of Tendai Mtawarira, John Smit and Jannie du Plessis.
The Sharks combination shares 127 Tests between them, while the closest any member of the Stormers’ front row have come to a single Test was Tiaan Liebenberg’s game for the Springboks against the Barbarians in 2007.
However, Liebenberg and Brok Harris appear to be well on course for their Test debuts.
The same probably does not apply to Moller yet this year, but you don’t pick up looseheads with 50-plus Super rugby caps at your local supermarket.
Moller expects a tough scrum battle against the Sharks.
“They have an international front row that has played numerous Tests, so it’s going to be a challenge,” he said.
“In this competition there is a good chance that you’ll be up against a player with Test experience every weekend. It’s a chance to measure yourself against the best on each occasion.
“I think Jannie is an honest scrummager and a very good tighthead. That’s why he plays for the Springboks.”
Schalk Burger, who captains the Stormers, is the only remaining member of the team that contested their 2004 semi-final against the Crusaders in Christchurch. However, the Stormers’ focus is not on a semi-final that they are yet to reach.
“There’s a lot of excitement, but the thing that this team is doing well is just to focus on the next task,” said Moller.
“Everybody knows strange things happen in the Super 14. If you start thinking about a semi-final now, it can end up biting you in the bum.
“The important thing is to focus on the weekend and look at where we are after it. Things sometimes work out in a funny way.”
Indeed, because there is not a Jan for every team like JD Moller. The Stormers are thanking their lucky stars.
