Stormers Super 14 preview: Bryan Habana, Jaque Fourie make difference

By Greg Clark
Fox Sports rugby commentator
February 04, 2010.

One man doesn't make a team. But if anyone is going to make a difference to the Stormers' chances of reaching the semi-finals for the first time since 2004, it'll be prized recruit Bryan Habana.

The Springboks flyer decided to leave the Bulls and take on a new challenge in Cape Town.

And he値l have classy Boks centre Jaque Fourie inside him, after the midfield man finally got sick of playing in a losing team like the Lions.

Fourie is a perfect replacement for Jean De Villiers, who痴 moved to Ireland.

Schalk Burger is expected to lead the side in 2010, with De Villiers gone, and he値l be looking to have a big tournament now that Heinrich Brossouw from the Cheetahs has seemingly convinced the Springboks selectors that he痴 a better option as openside flanker.

Rassie Erasmus is director of coaching and has the overall say on tactics, but Allister Coetzee will be in charge of training and match preparation. Former player Robbie Fleck has also joined the coaching staff as backs coach.

The Stormers have a great chance to get some points on the board early as they start with a game against the Lions in Johannesburg and then have five home games in a row.

They値l also fancy their chances of picking up a win or two in Australasia, with games against Western Force, the Blues, the Chiefs and Queensland Reds scheduled. But they値l need to be at their best in the final weeks because they play the Crusaders, the Sharks and the Bulls.

Fox Facts: Stormers

Home ground: Newlands Rugby Stadium
Coach: Allister Coetzee
Best Super 12/14 finish: Third 2004
Last season: P13 W5 D0 L8 F235 A249 BP7 Pts27 (10th)

Squad:

Andries Bekker, Schalk Burger ?(C), Wicus Blaauw, Bolla Conradie, Lionel Cronje, Juan de Jongh, Willem de Waal, Dylan des Fountain, Dewaldt Duvenhage, Schalk Ferreira, Adriaan Fondse, Deon Fourie, Jaque Fourie, Peter Grant, Eusebio Guinazu, Bryan Habana, Brok Harris, Conrad Jantjes, Ricky Januarie, Fabien Juries, Nick Koster, J.C. Kritzinger, Tiaan Liebenberg, Francois Louw, Hilton Lobberts, J.D. Moller, Pieter Myburgh, Sireli Naqelevuki, Morgan Newman, Joe Pietersen, Anton van Zyl, Duanne Vermeulen

Gains: Lionel Cronje (Cheetahs), Bryan Habana (Bulls), Jaque Fourie (Lions),Eusebio Guinazu (Boland Cavaliers, Fabian Juries (Cheetahs), Anton van Zyl (Lions), Tiaan Liebenberg (Toulon)

Losses: Jean De Villiers (Munster), Luke Watson (Bath), Tonderai Chavhanga (Lions), Schalk Brits (Saracens), Percy Montgomery (retired), Gcobani Bobo (Newcastle), A.J. Venter (retired), Brian Mujati (Northampton)


Stormers' Head-To-Head Records

Week 1, v Lions (away)
H2H: Played 12: Won 8, Lost 4 +
In Johannesburg: Played 6: Won 4, Lost 2 +

Week 2, v New South Wales Waratahs (home)
H2H: Played 12: Won 6, Drawn 1, Lost 5 +
In Cape Town: Played 6: Won 3, Drawn 1, Lost 2 +

Week 3, v Brumbies (home)
H2H: Played 12: Won 2, Drawn 1, Lost 9 -
In Cape Town: Played 6: Won 2, Drawn 1, Lost 3 -

Week 4, v Highlanders (home)
H2H: Played 13: Won 4, Drawn 1, Lost 8 -
In Cape Town: Played 7: Won 3, Lost 4 -

Week 5, v Hurricanes (home)
H2H: Played 12: Won 6, Lost 6 =
In Cape Town: Played 6: Won 3, Lost 3 =

Week 6, v Cheetahs (home)
H2H: Played 4: Won 2, Lost 2 =
In Cape Town: Played 2: Won 1, Lost 1 =

Week 7, Bye

Week 8, v Western Force (away)
H2H: Played 4: Won 3, Lost 1 +
In Perth: Played 2: Won 1, Lost 1 =

Week 9, v Blues (away)
H2H: Played 12: Won 4, Lost 8 -
In Auckland: Played 6: Won 2, Lost 4 -

Week 10, v Chiefs (away)
H2H: Played 12: Won 7, Lost 5 +
In Hamilton/Mount Maunganui/Pukekohe/Rotorua: Played 6: Won 3, Lost 3 =

Week 11, v Queensland Reds (away)
H2H: Played 12: Won 8, Lost 4 +
In Brisbane: Played 6: Won 3, Lost 3 =

Week 12, v Crusaders (home)
H2H: Played 13: Won 3, Lost 10 -
In Cape Town: Played 6: Won 3, Lost 3 =

Week 13, v Sharks (away)
H2H: Played 12: Won 6, Lost 6 =
In Durban: Played 6: Won 3, Lost 3 =

Week 14 v Bulls (home)
H2H: Played 12: Won 6, , Drawn 1, Lost 5 +
In Cape Town: Played 6: Won 3, Drawn 1, Lost 2 +