The Stormers are angry and they will take it out on the Rebels when the two sides meet in their Super Rugby clash in Melbourne on Friday.
That’s the warning coming from Stormers No.8 Jaco Coetzee after they lost all three of their matches on their tour of Australasia to date.
Having suffered defeat at the hands of the Hurricanes and the Blues in New Zealand, coach Robbie Fleck’s team also went down to the Reds in Australia last weekend to drop to the bottom of the South African Conference.
But while they have hit rock bottom Down Under, Coetzee says they owe it to themselves to smash the Rebels as they look to finish off their tour on a high.
Coetzee explains: “It’s annoying not to be able to pull through.
SEEKING A WIN: Robbie Fleck. Photo: Ryan Wilkisky/Backpagepix.
“We don’t lose sight of the goal - and that is to win the next match. We are angry and we owe it to ourselves to beat the Rebels. We must win. This is a very important game this weekend and it’s going to be a very good one for us.”
The Capetonians, though, have to do so without captain Siya Kolisi, who has returned to Cape Town to sit out this week.
With a number of their star players also unavailable, Coetzee is adamant that the youngsters in the squad can “stand up” and get over the line.
He says: “There is pressure [because of Kolisi’s absence], but not that much.
NOT IN THE CAMP: Stormers captain Siya Kolisi. Photo: Backpagepix.
“He has a big role to play in the squad and I look up to him. But it’s an opportunity to step up and stand our ground.”
Coetzee, a natural No.8, has also been used as an openside flanker at the union.
And he says he will pack down in the No.6 jumper again if that means he gets to play.
He adds: “I am very happy to start at No.8, it’s a real privilege to start for the Stormers.
BIG ASSIGNMENT: Stormers ready for Rebels. Photo: Backpagepix.
“I was very open to the move to six - there were a few aspects of my game that needed work and I worked on my skills on the ball and groundwork. It helped me to play at No.8 as well and now I can play as a six and an eight.”