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Coetzee: Stormers are hurting

Cape Town - Stormers coach Allister Coetzee says his team is "hurting" after suffering a 21-15 defeat to the Waratahs in their Super Rugby clash at Allianz Stadium on Saturday.

"It wasn't the result we wanted, but I have to commend the players for the effort out there tonight," Coetzee told the iamastormer.com website.

"The bounce of the ball really does not favour us at this point in time, but one must give credit to the Waratahs.

"They kept their composure and they stuck it out to the end. It was a Test-match situation, it was a physical game, but they fronted up until the end."

VIDEO: Waratahs v Stormers, highlights

It was the Stormers' sixth defeat from 10 matches this season and their second loss on their tour of Australasia.

While the Cape Town-based franchise boasted the best defensive record in the competition, conceding 13 tries, they have not had the rub of the green on attack.

As impressive as their defensive efforts have been, they seemed toothless on attack with the worst try-scoring record - with only 13 five-pointers behind their names.

Coetzee said while the team were solid on defence and with their set pieces, mistakes cost them dearly against the Waratahs.

"What hurts even more is that we're making mistakes at crucial stages -costly errors - it happened last week and it happened again today," he said.

"Defensively we were outstanding and our set-piece functioned well. We knew we had to slog it out, but, once again, I think we beat ourselves."

The Stormers led 15-11 going into the final ten minutes of the game, but conceded a late converted try - followed by a penalty on full-time - to suffer a second narrow tour loss.

Following this defeat, the Stormers were languishing in 10th place on the overall Super Rugby log and would come under increased pressure with only six matches left in the regular competition.

Coetzee said injuries to three of his key personnel had impacted the game, and would have a serious effect going forward.

"We really threw everything at the Waratahs tonight, but it seems to not be going our way.

"We had the ascendancy going into those final 10 minutes but we suffered three big injuries - we lost Duane (Vermeulen), Rynhardt (Elstadt) and Deon Fourie.

"It came at a crucial stage of the game, we were leading 15-11... just one mistake at a line-out, we knocked on, they kicked the ball through and that's where they got their winning try."

Coetzee was sweating over the well-being of hooker Fourie (ribs) and loose forwards Elstadt and Vermeulen who both suffered knee injuries.

"It's not looking good at this point in time," Coetzee said.

"Duane hurt his knee, it looks like his MCL (Medial Collateral Ligament). Rynhardt is similar it seems, and it could be long-term.

"I am awaiting results on all those injuries, before we know the full extent. Those three are the big injuries after tonight's game."

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