Taute’s experience vital for Stormers

Jaco Taute has always been known as a great team man, one of those guys who offer you just as much off the field as on it.

Cape Town – Jaco Taute has always been known as a great team man, one of those guys who offer you just as much off the field as on it.

And there was a feeling yesterday that those leadership characteristics, instead of his current ability as a Super Rugby fullback, won him the vote to start in the No 15 jersey for the Stormers in tomorrow’s match against the Rebels at AAMI Park in Melbourne.

Taute replaces Cheslin Kolbe, who is preparing with the South African Sevens side for the Olympics, in the Stormers side. Utility back Huw Jones has been groomed to take over that role in Kolbe’s absence, but he only joined the team on Wednesday after international duty with Scotland.

Taute, who made his name as a great attacking fullback with the Lions before moving to the Cape in 2013, has had an horrific run of injuries that halted his promising career.

Over the last few years, the Stormers and WP management have actually tried to turn him into an inside centre. So, it will be interesting to see if he can rediscover that old magic in the No 15 jersey. For now, though, it seems like his main job will be to guide a young Stormers back division.

“The fullback position has been a concern for a while as we knew Cheslin was leaving us, and with all the injuries, we’ve had to really dig deep and see who was around within the system,” coach Robbie Fleck said.

“I’m not just looking at the skill set of the individual, I’m looking at what is needed for this team. Right now this team needs a bit of leadership at the back, somebody who can communicate, and Jaco is the guy who can fill that role for us at the moment.

“With the young backline that we’ve got, we were looking for some experience and Jaco has played there in Super Rugby before. Yes, it’s been a while since he’s played at this level, but what this team needs right now is a bit of leadership, motivation and confidence coming from a senior player.”

Jones didn’t even make the 23-man squad, as Fleck decided to go with journeyman Scott van Breda on the bench.

Van Breda, who joined the union from the Southern Kings, has featured for Western Province as a flyhalf in the Currie Cup. So, he essentially also covers flyhalf, after Fleck decided to go with a rather surprising 6-2 split on the bench.

Since the number of replacements on a bench was moved from seven to eight, with one more prop joining the party, teams haven’t really gone with only two backs on the field.

Springbok squad member Sikhumbuzo Notshe joins Van Breda on a bench that also features two locks in JD Schickerling and Rynhardt Elstadt.

Stormers STARTING XV: Jaco Taute, Kobus van Wyk, Daniel du Plessis, Damian de Allende, Leolin Zas, Jean-Luc du Plessis, Nic Groom, Schalk Burger (capt), Siya Kolisi, Nizaam Carr, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Eben Etzebeth, Vincent Koch, Bongi Mbonambi, Oli Kebble; REPLACEMENTS: Scarra Ntubeni, Alistair Vermaak, JP Smith, JD Schickerling, Rynhardt Elstadt, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Louis Schreuder, Scott van Breda - The Star