Ollie's 'pupil' Coetzee steps in

Eduard Coetzee was quite happy to play second fiddle to Ollie le Roux while he learnt the intricacies of life at loosehead prop after joining the Sharks at the beginning of last season.

Now that Ollie's broken ankle has thrown Coetzee into the front line for Saturday's Currie Cup semifinal against his old province, the Blue Bulls, at Absa Stadium, the affable 115kg "Teddy" is determined to make the most of his chance.

"It's a great opportunity and I can't think of any team better to play against for such an important game," said the graduate of Pretoria's finest rugby institution, Seunshoerskool, or "Affies" as it is widely known.

Coetzee is no rookie, having made nine Super 12 appearances and played 13 times in the Currie Cup for the Sharks. But, he's aware that Le Roux is ahead of him in the pecking order.

"I came to learn from a great player like Ollie and I believe my rugby's improved a helluva lot since I left Pretoria," he said.

Frustrating

"Sometimes it can get frustrating sitting on the bench, but it was my decision to come to Durban in the first place and I knew the situation when I arrived here. You've got to keep things in perspective.

"It's going to be a big thing (taking over from Ollie), but I don't want to be known, as some have suggested, as the next Ollie. I would prefer to be seen as the first Eduard Coetzee."

Coetzee's links with fellow Sharks front-rankers John Smit and Deon Carstens go back to their schooldays. They may be youthful - Smit is the elder statesman at 24, Carstens and Coetzee are a year younger - but the trio boasts some pedigree.

Outcome

He explains how the friendly rivalry began: "John was a year ahead of me at Pretoria Boys High in 1996, the year he matriculated, and I was in standard nine. We played Craven Week together."

When asked the outcome of the schools game in 1996, Coetzee chuckled: "John was quite cocky before we played them that year, but to this day he still doesn't want to talk about it whenever I bring it up."

Coetzee recalls that Affies destroyed Boys High in a record 62-15 win that day.

His understanding with Sharks tighthead prop Deon Carstens, who is just three months younger, is almost as enduring.

The pair - Carstens represented Western Province - were in the same SA Schools team selected at the end of the 1997 Craven Week and they have since progressed through the same national junior teams.