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Stormers dismiss bugging claim

Adnaan Mohamed

Cape Town - Stormers coach Allister Coetzee had to hastily snuff out rumours this week after it was reported that the Cheetahs change room had apparently been “bugged” during the Super 14 encounter at Newlands last Saturday.

Cheetahs' coach Naka Drotské decided not to go take his team into their change room at half time.

The Free Staters rather chose to spend the 10 minute break on the Newlands pitch in front of 43 000 hostile Stormers-fans sparking suspicions that the men from Bloemfontein feared that their change room might be bugged.

The Stormers beat the Cheetahs 21-8, but reports of the change room incident took a bit of gloss off the victory.

Coetzee said after announcing his 26-man touring squad in Langa on Tuesday: “It has never happened while I have been a part of the Western Province and Stormers set-up and it will never happen.

“I think it is unethical. There is definitely no reason to believe that we would make ourselves guilty of something like this. I don’t know where the rumour comes from.

“I also don’t think that Naka Drotské, his captain, Juan Smith, or any of his players will do something like that on purpose.”

The Stormers coach said he has no idea why the Cheetahs decided not to use the change room during half-time.

“Our cloak rooms are big and spacious. It’s really very, very nice. All the other visiting teams use it when they come to Newlands. So, I really don’t know why they decided to stay on the field during the break,” added Coetzee.

According to Drotské there was nothing sinister in his team’s decision to stay on the field.

“It’s something that we often do. I asked the senior players and they chose to stay on the field. We always do it. We’ve done it at Ellis Park because they have a long tunnel and have also done it while playing in New Zealand. I am tired of all the stories between me and Rassie (Erasmus) whenever we play against the Stormers or Western Province,” said Drotské.

Erasmus currently holds the position of senior professional coach at the Stormers (a fancy name for director of rugby). Both he and Drotské have a long history as players and coaches at the Cheetahs.  Both of them also played for the Cheetahs and the Springboks. Erasmus is a former Cheetahs coach. While coaching the Cheetahs, Drotské was his assistant.
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