Super Rugby round seven
Allister Coetzee laments Stormers' lineout
ESPN Staff
March 31, 2013
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The Stormers' Duane Vermeulen braces for a tackle, Stormers v Crusaders, Super Rugby, Newlands Stadium, Cape Town, March 30, 2013
Duane Vermeulen cost his team with a yellow card © Getty Images
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Stormers coach Allister Coetzee has hammered his forwards for the lineout errors he blamed for the side's "very disappointing" first home loss of the Super Rugby season, to the Crusaders.

The Crusaders arrived in Cape Town without inspirational captain Kieran Read (injured), Dan Carter (paternity leave) and Richie McCaw (season-long break), and they further lost key players Owen Franks and Johnny McNicholl to injury during the game. But they showed spirit and resolution to keep the Stormers at bay after conceding the hosts an early 11-0 lead, eventually winning 19-14.

The Crusaders' forwards, in particular, produced an incredibly effort to dominate the set-pieces, a fact not lost on Coetzee.

"This team stands for physicality, which we brought," Coetzee said. "I think we showed unbelievable attitude, and defended like Trojans - even with 14 men - but you can't play this game if your set-piece doesn't function. We battled with our lineout, which is why we couldn't put them under pressure with ball in hand. We knew it would happen - once we lost a couple of lineouts, they'd hit it up in the middle and put the ball behind us and kick it out even - as they could contest the next lineout.

"But it wasn't just a simple throwing issue. A number of things didn't go our way … but hopefully it's something we can fix. The positive for me is that you can't coach attitude, and the guys showed a big desire out there to fight back. You can coach lineouts, and you can get it right."

The Crusaders defeated the Stormers with resolute defence (video available only in Australia)
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