Carel's son has 'x-factor'

Cape Town - Jean-Luc du Plessis is set to make his Super Rugby debut for the Stormers against the Sharks this weekend, and coach Robbie Fleck is expecting big things. 

Du Plessis (21), son of legendary Springbok and Western Province wing Carel, has been named on the Stormers bench for Saturday's Newlands clash after Robert du Preez injured his knee against the Cheetahs. 

Kurt Coleman is promoted to the starting line-up, but there will be a large group of Stormers supporters keen to see how the son of a Bok great performs when given his chance. 

Coach Robbie Fleck is confident. 

"Jean-Luc will bring something different. He’s got a bit of x-factor, he’s got a good boot, a good distribution game and he communicates really well," the Stormers coach said.

"He’s a young kid whose keen to show what he’s made from.

"He’s a talented individual and a player that I coached last year in the U-21s and we’ve got a good relationship. He’s a talented flyhalf and certainly a player that can mix it at this level.

"I’m looking forward to see how it goes … he’s been training hard and just been waiting for his opportunity and obviously he’s got it now. It’s important that he goes in there nice and confident and does the basics well and if he does that then you’ll see there’s something there."

Coleman, meanwhile, has an opportunity of his own in the absence of Du Preez. 

The 26-year-old spent last season behind Demetri Catrakilis in the pecking order, and he started this season behind Du Preez. 

Now, he has a chance to make the No 10 jersey his own for an extended period.

"He's confident ... he's a good player," said Fleck. 

"It's important for him to take that confidence through to this game. There are a lot of eyes on the flyhalf position ... he's got to run the show for us, slot his goals and have an error-free game."

Kick-off on Saturday is at 17:15.