|
Rassie hails Watson's attitude
08/01/2008 22:50 - (SA)
Stephen Nell, Die Burger
Cape Town - Fears about Luke Watson's attitude after he was given the boot as Stormers captain for the Super 14 competition are unfounded.
Coach Rassie Erasmus says he is "mad about" Watson's work ethic. "He brings something special to the team, on and off the field."
Erasmus expressed his appreciation of the Springbok flank when the Stormers trained in Durbanville on Tuesday.
Watson has a slight injury and the team's medical staff managed his participation in the workout but there was no question about his approach.
Frikkie Erasmus, commercial manager of the Stormers, said Watson had often led from the front at training.
"He'll probably be in the starting line-up with a mandate to 'play the situation' instead of specifically playing towards the ball, which will be Schalk Burger's job," Erasmus added.
Rassie Erasmus said the Stormers would play in friendly matches against Boland and Western Province's Vodacom Cup team on January 19 and February 2.
Different combinations
"We are doing enough match-specific training for two warm-up matches to be sufficient," the coach explained.
"One has an idea about who ranks where in which position but we will try out different combinations here and there in the first warm-up match."
Erasmus is confident that, with the exception of injured prop Eddie Andrews, all his players will be available for the second match.
Andrews has a back injury that may keep him out of contention for the first few Super 14 fixtures.
Centre and new captain Jean de Villiers, who has an arm injury, fullback Conrad Jantjes (thumb) and prop Brian Mujati (wrist) are likely to be available only for the second friendly.
Erasmus did not want to say too much about his team on Tuesday. It seems the talking will be done on February 16, when the Stormers play the defending Super 14 champions, the Bulls, at Newlands.
- Die Burger
|
