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Cape Town - Stormers coach Allister Coetzee is not worried about their apparent lack of a "fetcher" after the departure of Francois Louw.
The Stormers picked Schalk Burger at openside flank with Siya Kolisi filling the role of blindside flanker for their pre-season clash against the Lions at Newlands on Friday.
Burger excelled at blindside flanker last year with Louw doing most of the "fetching" at the breakdowns.
But with Louw no longer there the Cape side could come under some pressure at the breakdown area, since both Burger and Kolisi are more renowned for their ball-carrying ability than being specialist ball poachers.
However, Coetzee does not believe it will have an adverse affect on their fortunes this season. He told Die Burger newspaper that their systems won't let them down without Louw this season.
"Look, all players have to work at the breakdown. You can't wait for an openside flank to run from the other side of the field if you're already there.
"It therefore doesn't really matter if it's Siya or Schalk.
"Everyone has the same responsibilities at the breakdown area and I expect them to stay with our policy," said Coetzee.
Burger is also not too perturbed about the loss of Louw.
"Flo (Louw) is gone, yes, and we're still short of Duane Vermeulen (eightman) too.
"But it creates exciting opportunities for other players. We have a way of playing and know what to do," said Burger.
The Stormers could be tested at the breakdown area against the Lions as the Johannesburg-based outfit picked a specialist "fetcher" in Derick Minnie for the clash.
Teams:
Stormers:
15. Joe Pietersen, 14. Gio Aplon, 13. Juan de Jongh, 12. Jean de Villiers, 11. Bryan Habana, 10. Gary van Aswegen, 9. Louis Schrueder, 8. Nick Koster, 7. Siya Kolisi, 6. Schalk Burger (captain), 5. De Kock Steenkamp, 4. Eben Etzebeth, 3. Brok Harris, 2. Deon Fourie, 1. Steven Kitshoff
Substitutes: 16. Tiaan Liebenberg, 17. Deon Carstens, 18. Frans Malherbe, 19. Don Armand, 20. Reuben Johannes, 21. Nizaam Carr, 22. Nic Groom, 23. Burton Francis, 24. Marcel Brache, 25. Gerhard van den Heever, 26. Danie Poolman
Lions:
15 Jaco Taute, 14 Deon Van Rensburg, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Doppies La Grange (vice-captain), 11 Michael Killian, 10 Butch James, 9 Michael Bondesio, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Josh Strauss (captain), 6 Derick Minnie, 5 Franco Van der Merwe, 4 Hendrik Roodt, 3 Patric Cilliers, 2 Bandise Maku, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Substitutes: 16 Callie Visagie, 17 Caylib Oosthuizen, 18 Jacobie Adriaanse, 19 Stephan Greeff, 20 Ruan Botha, 21 Cobus Grobbelaar, 22 Doppies Le Roux, 23 Anthony Volminc, 24 Dylan Des Fountain, 25 James Kamana, 26 Andries Coetzee.
The Stormers picked Schalk Burger at openside flank with Siya Kolisi filling the role of blindside flanker for their pre-season clash against the Lions at Newlands on Friday.
Burger excelled at blindside flanker last year with Louw doing most of the "fetching" at the breakdowns.
But with Louw no longer there the Cape side could come under some pressure at the breakdown area, since both Burger and Kolisi are more renowned for their ball-carrying ability than being specialist ball poachers.
However, Coetzee does not believe it will have an adverse affect on their fortunes this season. He told Die Burger newspaper that their systems won't let them down without Louw this season.
"Look, all players have to work at the breakdown. You can't wait for an openside flank to run from the other side of the field if you're already there.
"It therefore doesn't really matter if it's Siya or Schalk.
"Everyone has the same responsibilities at the breakdown area and I expect them to stay with our policy," said Coetzee.
Burger is also not too perturbed about the loss of Louw.
"Flo (Louw) is gone, yes, and we're still short of Duane Vermeulen (eightman) too.
"But it creates exciting opportunities for other players. We have a way of playing and know what to do," said Burger.
The Stormers could be tested at the breakdown area against the Lions as the Johannesburg-based outfit picked a specialist "fetcher" in Derick Minnie for the clash.
Teams:
Stormers:
15. Joe Pietersen, 14. Gio Aplon, 13. Juan de Jongh, 12. Jean de Villiers, 11. Bryan Habana, 10. Gary van Aswegen, 9. Louis Schrueder, 8. Nick Koster, 7. Siya Kolisi, 6. Schalk Burger (captain), 5. De Kock Steenkamp, 4. Eben Etzebeth, 3. Brok Harris, 2. Deon Fourie, 1. Steven Kitshoff
Substitutes: 16. Tiaan Liebenberg, 17. Deon Carstens, 18. Frans Malherbe, 19. Don Armand, 20. Reuben Johannes, 21. Nizaam Carr, 22. Nic Groom, 23. Burton Francis, 24. Marcel Brache, 25. Gerhard van den Heever, 26. Danie Poolman
Lions:
15 Jaco Taute, 14 Deon Van Rensburg, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Doppies La Grange (vice-captain), 11 Michael Killian, 10 Butch James, 9 Michael Bondesio, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Josh Strauss (captain), 6 Derick Minnie, 5 Franco Van der Merwe, 4 Hendrik Roodt, 3 Patric Cilliers, 2 Bandise Maku, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Substitutes: 16 Callie Visagie, 17 Caylib Oosthuizen, 18 Jacobie Adriaanse, 19 Stephan Greeff, 20 Ruan Botha, 21 Cobus Grobbelaar, 22 Doppies Le Roux, 23 Anthony Volminc, 24 Dylan Des Fountain, 25 James Kamana, 26 Andries Coetzee.
