Stormers coach Rassie Erasmus has dismissed as insignificant the reaction of a large part of the Newlands crowd, who on Sunday jeered controversial loose forward Luke Watson on a number of occasions during his team’s 43-33 victory over English Premiership club Saracens.

The Saturday Star, Pretoria News, The Independant and the Sunday Argus reported last weekend about the possibility of Luke Watson getting a cold reception from the Newlands crowd. They quoted SA Rugby Blog editor-in-chief Andrew Norman as saying:

“…many of the bloggers had not forgiven Watson. ‘The comments are not of a good nature. A lot of the hate has not yet subsided, he’s still in deep trouble.’

Norman said Watson had been “crucified” before a hearing was even held, adding that he might be booed or jeered.

“In English Premier League Soccer, a player is booed when he even touches the ball. That won’t be a good thing for the Stormers or for South African rugby.”

While some of the spectators cheered when Watson scored a try, another larger portion jeered the flank – in what is clearly a reaction to his comments at a rugby function last year when he said he was so disgusted with wearing the Springbok jersey that he wanted to vomit on it.

Playing at No.8 in the Stormers’ first Super 14 pre-season game – in preparation for the start of the Super 14 competition next month – Watson appears to have made piece with his teammates, many of them Springboks.

That is certainly the message from the coach, Erasmus, but not a sentiment shared by the crowd.

Erasmus was adamant that the controversial loose forward does have the support of his teammates.

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The 25 000 spectators that flocked to Newlands on Sunday got their money’s worth for this pre-season warm-up, with the two teams stacking up nine tries. The Stormers eventually came out on top by beating the English Premier side Saracens 43 – 33.

The half-time score was 24-16 in favour of the Stormers, who in the first half looked like the team with the more ammunition and deserved to be ahead. That Newlands can prepare itself for a bumper Super 14 season was evident with such a big crowd rocking up to see their heroes in action.

The Stormers will be happy with the performance, although they know that they would have to up the intensity levels considerably in the competition proper. They showed good skills on the attack and although there were a few defensive lapses the tackling was generally good.

They held their own in the scrums – except maybe for the last 15 minutes or so after a few changes were made to the pack – and lineouts and their loose play was good.

It was not the ideal start to the match for the Stormers, as Saracens right wing Kameli Ratuvou was the beneficiary of a pretty fortunate bounce – and for Stormers wing Tonderai Chavhanga a very cruel one as he completely missed the ball – after a kick ahead from scrum-half Justin Marhsall.

Fly-half Glen Jackson converted. With barely 3 minutes gone on the clock the home side was behind 7-3.

The Stormers, however, made their intentions clear with an intense onslaught on the visitors’ try-line which resulted in a penalty close to the Sarries try-line. Flyhalf Peter Grant made it 7-3.

In the 12th minute the Stormers attacked strongly again and scrumhalf Ricky Januarie was stopped short of the line but had enough presence of mind to hand the ball to wing Sereli Naqelevuki, who stretched and scored the first Stormers try of 2009. Grant converted to put his side in the lead (10-7).

Jackson, however, drew the scores level with a penalty in the 16th minute. A minute later former Natal Sharks centre Brad Barritt left the field in a shaken state after an illegal tackle on Grant.

Centre Gcobani Bobo, who showed impressive early-season form, darted through the defence from close range in the 19th minute after a good build-up from his mates. Grant converted to make the score 17-10 just before the first water break.

Jackson slotted penalties in the 23rd and 31st minutes to bring his side back into contention at 17-16.

A scintillating movement, in which number eight Luke Watson, full-back Percy Montgomery featured prominently, led to a great try by hooker Schalk Brits in the 38th minute. Grant again converted to make the half-time score 24-16.

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Rassie Erasmus have chosen the strongest possible Stormers team possible to face the English club Saracens in the friendly Super 14 warm-up match at Newlands on Sunday.

Percy Montgomery will get a chance to return to the Stormers No15 jersey in the absence of the injured Springbok fullback Conrad Jantjes and Schalk Burger will be out for another week with a foot complaint, otherwise the team looks a close replica of the one likely to start the Super 14 campaign against the Sharks on Valentine’s Day.

Duane Vermeulen, the star loose-forward newcomer from the Cheetahs, will start in the No7 jersey, with Francois Louw being entrusted with the task of taking over Burger’s openside duties for this match.

“As you know, in our side the No8 is the openside,” joked Erasmus, who has often expressed the opinion that numbers on the back mean little to the loose-forward configuration.

“Francois will have the job of doing most of the work of the openside flanker in this game, but they will help each other out and do a bit of both.”

Vermeulen is normally a No8, so it is interesting to see Luke Watson retained at No8. What will be even more interesting, however, will be to see what Erasmus does with his selection once Burger is fit again.

As anticipated, Erasmus is giving Tongan Alipate Fatafehi, who apparently showed some good touches in an opposed practice session against UCT last weekend, a chance to show what he can do in a match situation.

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Rassie Erasmus, Stormers coach might have a few tricks up his sleeve for the warm-up game against Saracens at Newlands on the 25th January 2009.

Nick Koster, who made his Western Province debut at No 8 last year, is training among the backline players. Erasmus could experiment with him on the wing.

Tongan sevens player Alipate Fatafehi also linked up with the Stormers for a trial this week. He stands 1.93m tall and weighs 112kg.

“He’s training with us this week. He’s a big guy that can play centre, wing and fullback,” said Erasmus.

He added that Fatafehi “might” stay on with the Stormers. At this stage he is set to leave Cape Town on Sunday.

That could depend on the impression he leaves on the Stormers coaching staff this week. If he stays on, he could be used against Saracens.

Erasmus is expected to pick a strong side for the game against the English club side. It’s possible that the number of substitutes allowed may not be limited to seven.

“Nick is 19, weighs 106kg and runs the 100m in 11 seconds. He is a great player in the making,” said Erasmus.

“There are currently plenty of loose forwards around that are big, strong and physical. I want to try a few things with Nick. He has the skills of a backline player.

“Perhaps he’s a little inexperienced, but physically he is the equal of any backline player in South Africa.”

If the experiment works, Erasmus may even use Koster there in the Super14, with Gcobani Bobo and Sireli Naqelevuki possibly competing for the No 13 jersey.

Naqelevuki did well for WP when he played centre in Bobo’s absence during last year’s Currie Cup.

A handful of Stormers are still struggling with injury niggles.

Flyhalf Willem de Waal (hand) and fullback Conrad Jantjes (groin) are likely to miss the game against Saracens.

Centre Jean de Villiers (groin) and flank Schalk Burger (ankle) both have niggles, but should be ready.

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