Scholtz in the deep end

29 April 2016 - 02:16 By Sbu Mjikeliso

This week he did it again when he threw Pieter Scholtz, a product of Hoërskool Diamantveld in Kimberley, into the adult end of the pool.Tighthead Scholtz will make his Super rugby debut against the Hurricanes at Ellis Park tomorrow, facing a team caked with World Cup-winning All Blacks."It's an opportunity for Pieter, who has been in our systems for a while now," said Ackermann."It will be best for Pieter to start and get stuck in immediately - but there is experienced cover in Corné Fourie and Van Rooyen on the bench."I think it would be fair to him to earn his first [Super rugby] cap in the starting team rather than the bench. If you bring him on with 20 minutes of the game remaining he'll be under pressure on debut at a late stage."He's got nothing to lose. He just needs to give his best to the team and to enjoy the moment."The Hurricanes lost a game they should have won against the Chiefs last weekend.In the Wellington game, Chris Boyd's team appeared in control but the Chiefs have a knack of getting points they don't deserve.As a result, assistant coach John Plumtree, who is no stranger to these parts, has willed the team to batten down the hatches for the clash against the Lions.Ackermann said although the Hurricanes would focus on defence, they still posed a counterattacking danger - with Julian Savea and Beauden Barrett in the lineup."Individually, the Hurricanes have got those All Black players you have to watch very closely and, like any New Zealand side, they are good on attack, but they also pride themselves on their defence," said Ackermann."We face a side that is dangerous when it gets turnover ball."Inasmuch as we are expecting a hard, in our face, defence, we must look after the ball well. Our ball-retention is going to be as important as our general attack. But I believe it's going to be a massive game on attack and defence for both sides," he said...

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