Stormers season preview

After three losses at the start of 2008 - Stormers will be hoping for an improved start in 09.

South African outfit aiming for better start to season

After three losses at the start of last season - the Stormers engineered an amazing comeback to miss the final four by a whisker. This year their canny coach Rassie Erasmus will again have to pull the rabbit out the hat if his team are to reach the play-offs but, as usual, the Stormers have sufficient ammo in the pack and have an experienced back-line. The Stormers simply have to win their home games this year, and the Cape franchise kick off with three of them at Newlands. And of those, a critical game is against the Sharks - a semi-final candidate for 2009. A win against their local rivals and a follow-up against the Reds will give them a confidence boost before they take on the Blues. The Stormers certainly won't want to be travelling to Loftus Versfeld for the first away game having struggled in the previous three. The Stormers' goal will be a simple one: start 2009 like they ended 2008. For the record, the Stormers have not lost since Easter Saturday last year. Strengths: The Stormers should benefit this season from the experience picked up by a number of players who were part of most of the Springbok international campaign in 2008. There is plenty of versatility available to the Stormers' at the back, with Peter Grant quite capable of playing inside centre should the conditions require Willem de Waal to play fly-half, and Percy Montgomery also boasts experience in the number ten jersey. Weakness: While they have a plethora of quality loose forwards, and have been boosted by the signing of Duanne Vermeulen, their lack of lock and prop cover is a real concern and could come back to bite them. Noteworthy signings: Hilton Lobberts (Bulls), Duane Vermeulen (Cheetahs) and Paul Bosch (Bulls). Noteworthy losses: Naas Olivier (Griquas), Alistair Siegelaar (Lions), Ross Skeate (Toulon), Francois van der Merwe (Toulon), Paul Delport (Sevens), Corne Uys (Cheetahs). Player(s) to watch: Emerging star Nick Koster impressed with limited game time in his rookie season with the Stormers and Western Province, and is now poised to play a more significant role in the Stormers' 2009 Super 14 campaign. The 19-year-old loose forward (who is set to play on the wing to start with) has been tipped for stardom, and has a string of respected critics, including World Cup-winning Springbok coach, Jake White, who selected him in his Barbarians squad for their match against Australia last year. Stormers: Andries Bekker, Wikus Blaauw, Gcobani Bobo, Schalk Brits, Schalk Burger, Tonderai Chavhanga, Bolla Conradie, Jean de Villiers, Dylan des Fountain, Dewaldt Duvenhage, Schalk Ferreira, Adriaan Fondse, Deon Fourie, Peter Grant, Conrad Jantjes, Ricky Januarie, Francois Louw, JD Moller, Brian Mujati, Pieter Myburgh, Sireli Naqelevuki, Morgan Newman, Luke Watson, Percy Montgomery, Kick Koster, JC Kritzinger, Hilton Lobberts, Joe Pietersen, AJ Venter, Duanne Vermeulen. Schedule:
14 February v Sharks, home
20 February v Reds, home
28 February v Blues, home
7 March v Bulls, away
14 March v Lions, home
28 March v Crusaders, away
4 April v Waratahs, away
11 April v Brumbies, away
18 April v Hurricanes, away
24 April v Highlanders, away
2 May v Chiefs, home
9 May v Western Force, home
16 May v Cheetahs, away.