Stephen Nell

Cape Town – Will Stormers coach Allister Coetzee make the contentious decision on Wednesday to keep Sireli Naqelevuki in his starting line-up for Saturday’s Super 14 rugby match against the Hurricanes at Newlands?

Gio Aplon has recovered from flu and is available again to be selected from the start on the right wing, but Naqelevuki performed so well in the 33-0 win over the Highlanders that Coetzee has been left with a selection poser.

“Sireli was outstanding and his work-rate incredible. He popped up everywhere on the field,” said Coetzee.

“He also ran flat-out when he carried the ball. In the process he sometimes kept two, three or four defenders busy.”

Coetzee will also pick his side with Saturday’s opponents in mind, and the Hurricanes have very physical backs.

Aplon shone from broken play as a substitute for Joe Pietersen in the weekend’s win. However, on 74kg he is 40kg lighter than Naqelevuki. With that in mind, Coetzee may keep him as a substitute for the weekend.

The best way to beating the Hurricanes may well be to prepare a pressure cooker in which their backline players are not afforded much space.

“We have to make sure that we meet the physical challenge and keep possession well because they are very dangerous from broken play,” said Coetzee.

“The Cheetahs starved them of possession very well. The Hurricanes prefer broken play and you have to stick to your structure and keep possession. It will be very important to retain possession this week.”

One of the big positives against the Highlanders was also the Stormers’ lineout play.

If they can repeat that against the Hurricanes, it can be an important weapon to disrupt the rhythm of a team with dangerous runners such as Ma’a Nonu, Conrad Smith, Cory Jane and David Smith.

If the Stormers want to take the war to the trenches, Naqelevuki’s physical presence may be a wise option.

His statistics against the Highlanders tell an interesting story.

He carried the ball 10 times – together with Bryan Habana the most in the team – and gained 99m. He broke five tackles and got over the advantage line six times.

As far as his defence is concerned, Naqelevuki made eight tackles and missed two – the same statistic as Jaque Fourie.

He was also single-handedly responsible for winning a quarter of the Stormers’ turnovers.

Naqelevuki engineered three turnovers – two at the breakdowns and one by tackling an opponent into touch. In total the Stormers won 12 turnover balls.

Aplon also has key strengths, especially with his attacking skills in space. He also has an educated left boot.