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Stephen Nell
Cape Town - Let Tiaan Liebenberg absorb the Bulls' pressure from the start and then send Deon Fourie on as an impact player in the second half of Saturday's Super Rugby match at Newlands.
That is the advice that former Stormers and Springbok hooker Charl Marais has given for Stormers coach Allister Coetzee, who has the unenviable task of having to choose a hooker between Liebenberg and Fourie.
Liebenberg started his first Super Rugby game of the season against the Melbourne Rebels last Friday. He was injured in the pre-season friendly match against Boland, allowing Fourie to make his mark in the position.
The opportunity Liebenberg was given against the Rebels would have been valuable in helping him regain match-fitness, while Fourie would also have enjoyed a break.
But now the Bulls are coming to Cape Town and Coetzee has a big selection call to make.
"It's a tough one," admitted Marais.
"I taught Tiaan at Grey in standard 6 and 7 - he was a naughty little bugger with a freckled-face and played flyhalf then - so I may be biased. He brings attitude, but that break with which Deon created Jean de Villiers's try at the weekend was brilliant.
"Your headache against the Bulls is the lineouts because they have Victor Matfield. Deon's throwing has not always been spot-on, but neither has Tiaan's.
"When Tiaan was sent on against the Blues he really got stuck in and shoved a few guys around. That is perhaps the attitude you want against the Bulls. Deon makes a bigger impact when he comes on.
"It’s a very tough call, but I'd play Deon off the bench. You could give him more than 20 minutes to make an impact. He makes a bigger impact because he's more explosive. Tiaan could play in the first half and absorb the pressure."
The Stormers have previously used Fourie effectively as impact player against the Bulls.
In 2009, for example, his pace yielded a try within a minute of being sent on in the second half of the Stormers' 10-14 defeat at Loftus after he replaced Schalk Brits.
However, it was the Stormers' tactic to up the tempo late in the game as they were playing at altitude. Saturday's match is being played on the coast and could be played according to their normal pattern.
Fourie is also more than capable of standing his ground in the physical exchanges. He was, after all, part of the Western Province front row that created a pushover try for Luke Watson in a Currie Cup match at Newlands in 2009.
Coetzee will also have to look at the strategic use of his bench as it will require a 22-man effort - rather than just 15 - to cope with and exert pressure to the end.
Marais expects a thrilling match.
"I will back the Stormers. They're having a very good season. The backline is looking good and the forwards can stand their ground. There will be little in it, whichever way it goes."
Cape Town - Let Tiaan Liebenberg absorb the Bulls' pressure from the start and then send Deon Fourie on as an impact player in the second half of Saturday's Super Rugby match at Newlands.
That is the advice that former Stormers and Springbok hooker Charl Marais has given for Stormers coach Allister Coetzee, who has the unenviable task of having to choose a hooker between Liebenberg and Fourie.
Liebenberg started his first Super Rugby game of the season against the Melbourne Rebels last Friday. He was injured in the pre-season friendly match against Boland, allowing Fourie to make his mark in the position.
The opportunity Liebenberg was given against the Rebels would have been valuable in helping him regain match-fitness, while Fourie would also have enjoyed a break.
But now the Bulls are coming to Cape Town and Coetzee has a big selection call to make.
"It's a tough one," admitted Marais.
"I taught Tiaan at Grey in standard 6 and 7 - he was a naughty little bugger with a freckled-face and played flyhalf then - so I may be biased. He brings attitude, but that break with which Deon created Jean de Villiers's try at the weekend was brilliant.
"Your headache against the Bulls is the lineouts because they have Victor Matfield. Deon's throwing has not always been spot-on, but neither has Tiaan's.
"When Tiaan was sent on against the Blues he really got stuck in and shoved a few guys around. That is perhaps the attitude you want against the Bulls. Deon makes a bigger impact when he comes on.
"It’s a very tough call, but I'd play Deon off the bench. You could give him more than 20 minutes to make an impact. He makes a bigger impact because he's more explosive. Tiaan could play in the first half and absorb the pressure."
The Stormers have previously used Fourie effectively as impact player against the Bulls.
In 2009, for example, his pace yielded a try within a minute of being sent on in the second half of the Stormers' 10-14 defeat at Loftus after he replaced Schalk Brits.
However, it was the Stormers' tactic to up the tempo late in the game as they were playing at altitude. Saturday's match is being played on the coast and could be played according to their normal pattern.
Fourie is also more than capable of standing his ground in the physical exchanges. He was, after all, part of the Western Province front row that created a pushover try for Luke Watson in a Currie Cup match at Newlands in 2009.
Coetzee will also have to look at the strategic use of his bench as it will require a 22-man effort - rather than just 15 - to cope with and exert pressure to the end.
Marais expects a thrilling match.
"I will back the Stormers. They're having a very good season. The backline is looking good and the forwards can stand their ground. There will be little in it, whichever way it goes."
