Gaffie to get run at fly-half
Andrew Koopman
January 30, 2002

Sharks coach Rudolf Straeuli plans to give talented utility-back Gaffie du Toit an extended run at flyhalf in matches leading up to this year's Super 12 competition.

With the Sprinbok No 10 spot left vacant after the departure of Braam van Straaten to England and the fall from grace of incumbent Louis Koen, who has not been offered a national contract for 2002, the race for the pivot position is wide open.

Another contender, Du Toit's Sharks teammate Butch James, is injured and will miss the entire Super 12.

The Sharks' other option at flyhalf, Herkie Kruger, is also currently injured, although he is expected back on the field soon. This opens the way for Straeuli to give former Springbok Du Toit a decent run at No 10.

"Gaffie will get a chance in every game, but when Herkie is ready he will also be tried out. I must then decide who will take over from Butch in the Super 12.

"It will be a critical choice for me, as flyhalf is a very important position. For now I'm going to give Gaffie an extended run at flyhalf as we need to boost his self-confidence," Straeuli explained.

If Du Toit, who was axed and publicly humiliated by then coach Nick Mallett after the Dunedin debacle when the All Blacks hammered the Boks in 1999, can do justice to his undoubted talent at flyhalf, he can lay claim to the Springbok No 10 jersey as well.

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