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CAPE TOWN — Stormers coach Allister Coetzee confirmed yesterday that Schalk Burger will be rested for Saturday’s Super Rugby clash against the Cheetahs at Newlands.
The decision falls in line with Saru’s request to rest their contracted players at regular intervals in preparation for this year’s Rugby World Cup.
Burger will likely be replaced by Nizaam Carr as Michael Rhodes will need another week to recover from his hamstring injury. “We will obviously be roping [Sikhumbuzo] Notshe in for the squad,” said Coetzee.
Under the Saru guidelines, Burger must also rest one more time before the playoffs while Duane Vermeulen, Eben Etzebeth and Frans Malherbe (twice) are also due for rests.
But Coetzee could not confirm when he would, or indeed if he would, rest all of these players in the closing conference weeks. Making specific reference to Malherbe, the coach said that there had been contact with the national setup on how best to move forward.
“I’m mindful of the fact that he still needs to rest twice,” said Coetzee.
“If he doesn’t get the opportunity to rest twice I don’t think it would be a train smash for him personally … it will get clearer for me after this game.
“We want to see where we are in the competition and then we make arrangements according to that. It is nowhere where this resting plan is a compulsory thing. It’s never written in stone.
“Our plan and our relationship with the player is of such that we want to make sure that we manage and we look after the wellbeing of the player … it’s been going well.” — Sport24
