Stormers coach Allister Coetzee has rubbished reports that John Smit is a target to replenish the hooker stocks in the Western Cape, while stating that they are looking at other local options.
Die Burger reports that Coetzee denied that John Smit was coming back to South Africa to join the Stormers on a loan deal. Coetzee currently has a hooker shortage with both Tiaan Liebenberg and Scarra Ntubeni out injured.
Coetzee added that Liebenberg should be ready for action by the third week of Super Rugby, but it is in their opening two weeks then that the Stormers have only one hooker, in Deon Fourie. The Stormers face the Bulls and the Sharks in the opening weeks, both away from home, before heading back to Cape Town to tackle the Chiefs in the third week, anything but an easy start for the Cape side.
Die Burger went further to state that Lions hooker Martin Bezuidenhout could be an option for Coetzee. Bezuidenhout has Super Rugby experience and is currently taking part in the Lions Challenge, and could be available in a loan deal to the Stormers, which would make him available to the Stormers for most of the Super Rugby season, until he returns to the Lions for the promotion/relegation clash against the lowest finishing South African team.
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Looks like the Lions has become the bench for the bench for all super rugby unions.
@Viking (Comment 1) : Hey, you are at a new job – stop hanging around on rugby sites and work to impress!
@King Shark (Comment 2) : Priorities my friend…I has it!!!
I bet John Smit found out he was rejected by Alistair Coetzee before he found out he was interested!!!
Time for Stormer loosies to man up. Last year deon helped them now it’s payback time and they must help him. Hands up who will play as his back-up hooker?
@JD (Comment 5) : Well Streamers supporters believe that Schalk can simply waltz back into the captaincy role, then obviously he’s also able to play any position on the field….including HOOKER 😈
@FireTheLooser (Comment 6) : Yes if the previous captain could do it then Schalk can to. HAHAHAHA 😈
Seems as if Stormers have secured JC Janse van Rensburg as a stand in hooker, with the option of extending his stay if they, and he, wish.
@Salmonoid (Comment 8) : You mean Martin Bezuidenhout.
@Salmonoid (Comment 8) : Not JC fool. Its Martin Bezuidenhout. 😳 😳 😳
@Pokkel (Comment 9) : Yeah, sorry didnt see your post before publicly flailing myself.
@Salmonoid (Comment 11) : I wouldn’t mind the Sharks getting a deal on JC v Rensburg.
@Pokkel (Comment 12) : Agree, but he sems to be the glue that is going to get the Lions back into top flight rugby so I think a crowbar is going to be necessary to get him dislodged from Jozzie.
The thought of a repeat of the line out fiasco of the CC final is enough to want to postpone the start of the new rugby season for a good couple of months (around about the time Bismarck is healed)
As the stormers don’t need Smit can’t the Sharks sign Smit on a loan till Bissy is playing again?