The Stormers have full faith in Jurie Matthee as the flyhalf prepares to lead the attack against Leinster in Dublin on Saturday.
Matthee replaces star flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who suffered a serious ankle injury during the Vodacom URC quarter-final win against Cardiff that is expected to sideline him for three to six months.
But Stormers forwards coach Rito Hlungwani insists Matthee – who scored 15 points in their 35-0 opening-round victory over an understrength Leinster side in Cape Town – is ready for the challenge.
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“Jurie started at flyhalf [that day] and it worked really well for us,” said Hlungwani.
“Jurie is someone who is always ready to step in. He’s never really been out of the team and he has played tough games for us.
“We’re quite confident he’ll come in and do his job.”
The 25-year-old played a key role in the Stormers winning their first eight matches of the campaign, completing the full 80 minutes on five occasions, including away wins against Benetton, Munster and the Lions.
“We like players to play to their strengths. Jurie will fit in nicely,” said Hlungwani. “If certain things change because he’s playing to his strengths, that’s great, but there won’t be any major changes to our plan.”
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Leinster are unbeaten in nine matches at the Aviva Stadium this season, including a 59-10 quarter-final thrashing of the Lions. Their only home defeat this season came against Munster in round four at Croke Park.
Hlungwani said the visitors would focus on the fundamentals that have carried them to the semi-finals against the defending champions.
“You don’t want to play in your own half,” said Hlungwani. “You want to get into the opposition 22 and convert your opportunities. That’s been our focus for months and it remains the focus this week.
“If we want to stand a chance, we’ll have to limit their [22m] entries and take ours, and I’m sure they will try to do the same to us.”
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Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images
The post Stormers trust Jurie to do it his way appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
The Stormers have full faith in Jurie Matthee as the flyhalf prepares to lead the attack against Leinster in Dublin on Saturday.
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