Cape Town – Former Springbok prop Ollie le Roux may join the Stormers this week to bolster the team’s scrum before their Super 14 rugby match against the Waratahs on Saturday.
Le Roux, who scored two tries when the Irish side Leinster beat the Dragons 41-8 to win the Magner’s League at the weekend, is expected to report to the Stormers training on Tuesday.
The Cape franchise will need the 35-year-old veteran’s experience in the scrum more than his ability to score tries.
Stormers coach Rassie Erasmus has conceded that his team battled in the scrum when they beat the Brumbies 20-10 on Saturday.
“They put us under pressure,” Erasmus said. “We had expected the scrum to be one of the easier facets but our scrum was not solid enough.”
The Stormers have seen their depth in the front row eroded by serious injuries to loosehead prop JD Moller and versatile Eddie Andrews. Schalk Ferreira, who recovered from a neck injury only recently, is not yet as match fit as he should be.
Erasmus was forced to start the match against the Brumbies with Brian Mujati in the unaccustomed position of loosehead prop.
His only other options are inexperienced players such as Wicus Blaauw and Janro van Niekerk.
Make his debut for the Stormers
Wylie Human’s solid defence on the wing again emphasised the value of experience on Saturday.
Few people had expected Human to make his debut for the Stormers but he never put a foot wrong and came to the team’s rescue at least twice.
Former All Black flyhalf Tony Brown is also providing valuable input and he made an important contribution off the bench on Saturday.
Le Roux, who made his debut for the Cheetahs in 1993, will be expected to play a similar role. An experienced Test player, he has also played in crucial matches for the Sharks.
Erasmus inherited most of the players in his squad when he took over as coach at the start of the season. That is why he has turned to experienced players to help solve problems.
The Stormers are now fourth on the Super 14 points table and in a good position to reach the playoffs.
However, the pressure is on them and it will be no surprise to see Le Roux receive a call-up this week.
He will not only bolster the scrumming but will lend an experienced hand at a critical stage.
The Stormers have found themselves in a favourable position in May before. Now it remains to be seen of they can handle the pressure
Stephen Nell – www.news24.com
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Interesting move this… Rassie is obviously thinking…
Good move Mr Erasmus…. and on the subject of pensioners I must also apologise to Mr Human for questioning his selection – he had a good game.
Seems he made a fair few critics eat hat!
Lol… classic… GO STORMERS!
15 years at the top level especially as a prop… some achievement!
I wonder if he’ll sell the Stormers game plan to the opposition
Rassie always amazes me. GOOD MOVE this. 🙂
Yea agreed – a good move indeed. Our scrum looked way dodge on Saturday.
if you okes are going to beat the Tahs, you need to beat them good…I mean they must get 0
Ollie will increase his Number of caps as well if he plays.
He is currently 12th overall on 108 caps. and 2nd in Sa behind AJ venter.
Ollie is a back-stabbing po£s who would sell his soul to the highest bidder. I’m really not sure why everyone is so keen to have him back.
Because he is needed at the moment. his pay must be pocket money compared to what he is getting at Leinster
From 365.
Semi rule could scupper Ollie surprise
Stormers Commercial Manager Frikkie Erasmus has poured cold water on reports that coach Rassie Erasmus is lining up Springbok prop Ollie le Roux as front row cover.
The Stormers have been struggling somewhat in the scrumming department since loosehead prop JD Moller suffered a season-ending shoulder injury two weeks ago.
Erasmus has since used Schalk Ferreira and regular tighthead prop Brian Mujati at loosehead, but he is yet to settle on a stable front row combination in the absence of Moller.
Die Burger reported on Monday that Erasmus has lined up his old mate Ollie le Roux, a long-time Springbok and the Cheetahs teammate of the Stormers coach.
Such a move would seem to fit the bill for Erasmus, an astute and pragmatic rugby thinker who likes to spring surprises.
But Frikkie Erasmus spoke to rugby365.com and refuted the claims on grounds that Le Roux would only be able to help out the Stormers for two games at the most.
“Ollie is coming here more to visit Rassie, they’ve known each other a long time,” said the Stormers spokesperson.
“Now we see articles in the papers [about him playing for the Stormers], and it’s somewhat out of context. He [Le Roux] could have helped out in a game in certain circumstances, but it is in no way a fixed plan.
“We have to consider a SANZAR regulation that says [a player] must have played four games in the competition to be allowed to play in the semifinal.
“[Le Roux] cannot be used for a semifinal, so it doesn’t make sense to bring him here and letting him play,” explained Erasmus.
He went on to say that even if Rassie Erasmus wanted to bring in any other players in the short term as injury cover, the same rule would apply, and the incoming players would not be eligible for the semifinals, should the Stormers make it that far in the competition.
Le Roux has been in sensational form recently for his Irish club side Leinster, and he was instrumental in their march to the Magners League title, scoring two great tries to help his team to the crucial victory over Newport Gwent Dragons.
The Stormers are currently in fourth position on the Super 14 points table, and this coming weekend’s home match against the Waratahs will go a long way in deciding their semifinal status.
By Phil Coetzer
So that’s why the Sharks let Epi go… even if he had been eligible to play in the semis, he wouldn’t have been eligible.
Hang on, that didn’t come out well…
Ag, fuggit. You guys know what I mean 😉
so no chances of Butch taking a four-week “sabbatical” from Bath either 🙁
Ja but if Ollie can help get to the semis then so be it.
Not the biggest Ollie fan but if he can help thats cool with me, if its anyone else thats cool too!
Rob 😆
NOPE!!!!!!!!! He is going to win them a Challenge cup and Guiness Trophy
Clayton.
That was my initial thought as well. The problem with that is that none of the injured props will be abck by then. So if ollie playes now then some guy who was doing noting for 2 weeks suddenly has to play in a semi-final. OUCH
Surely there must be some kind of loophole. What if you have no props (or any other position for that matter) left who have played at 4 matches?
this does sound a little fishy… you might find that, as with most things, they make exceptions for the front row.
Makes no sense to me this regulation. Will be very difficult to enforce imho.
Will Human be allowed to play in the semi’s?
very good question that Racheltjie.
Something (loophole or something) we are not being told or aware of.
Wylie or won’t he? 😉
hehehe
bwaaaaahaaahaaa 🙂
Ok, so when are we organising this London pissup? Where do you live? Leytonstone or Wimbledon? 😉
Oh you’re a funny man. 😀 Never lived in Leytonstone, only go to Wimbledon if I want to watch some tennis.
I’m south of the river. Postcode SE28.
Where can one lay eyes on those SANZAR regulations? Tried google but not much luck.
that’s actually not too far from me 😉
dare I ask, where are you?
rachel
I have no idea. it is surprising that there isn’t even a Sanzar website.
There is a Super14.com site but that is not official
Thanks KSA. No sanzar site is a bit swak really. I’m searching, but thinking of rather looking for the holy grail. Probably easier.
if you watch DaVinci Code you may find the Sanzar Site. 😆
TN13… I’m in Sevenoaks in Kent
Kent the garden of England. 🙄
ja wohl… I spent a large portion of my morning mowing my little corner of said garden.
Truly is a beautiful part of the world, though… wouldn’t want to be anywhere else right now
You must have a large garden. Takes me about 5 min to mow mine. 😐
I’m off to bed. Sleep tight.
no – it’s not that big. Just haven’t cut it since we moved in, so the grass was about a foot long… mower motor kept overheating so I needed to take it slow.
OK, off to bed. Catch you tomorrow