Despite Willem de Waal coming through last weekend’s warmup game against Boland, Stormers coach Allister Coetzee has opted to start with Peter Grant at flyhalf for this weekend’s opener against the Lions in Joburg.
Juan de Jongh, impressive in the recent Neo-Africa Tri Series, retains the number 12 jersey and will partner Jacque Fourie in an exciting midfield. Ricky Januarie will be on the bench, with Dewald Duvenage preferred as a starting scrumhalf option. In a somewhat surprising move, last year’s Baby Bok flyhalf Lionel Cronje has been picked on the bench, with de Waal not in the squad at all.
The side, in fact, shows no changes at all to the unit that downed the Sharks two weeks ago, with captain Schalk Burger passed fit to lead in the number 6 jersey. De Kok Steenkamp continues to be preferred to Anton van Zyl in the second row. The young lock will be making his Super 14 debut.
Stormers team:
15 Joe Pietersen, 14 Gio Aplon, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Juan de Jongh, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Peter Grant, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Francois Louw, 6 Schalk Burger (capt), 5 Andries Bekker, 4 De Kock Steenkamp, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 Wicus Blaauw.
Subs: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 JC Kritzinger, 18 Anton van Zyl, 19 Pieter Louw, 20 Ricky Januarie, 21 Lionel Cronje, 22 Sireli Naqelevuki
Thank heavens, De Waal looked horrible against Boland.
Getting so excited!
Lets go Stormers Lets go!!
Sharks team to be anounced Saturday at 17:30…between then and kick-off 3 more changes will me made…ie. if we wanna know the make up of the Sharks team, watch the game…
@FireTheLooser (Comment 3) :
i look forward to seeing the emergence of Lionel Cronje to lead that backline. After seeing the Lions team selected i have Stormers by 8…..
But very nervous.
Stormers team looking good. Bulls looking deadly as usual. But local derbies, eish u never know which way they’ll go… Will 2010 see Snor’s wish for 3 SA sides in the semi-finals come true? I can believe it.
@FireTheLooser (Comment 3) :
I hate the first weekend of superbru, one never can tell what will happen.
Take the Lions, if there is ever a team to blindside you this year, that’s the team, way to easy to not take them serious.
@robdylan (Comment 4) : Ma’ boyeeee, you’ve made my day…
No Ricky Mac D ?? I thought he did so well for the Ospreys?
@FireTheLooser (Comment 9) : glad you’re happy, dude
I think the Lions without Buys` scrumming should get hammered.
Then again, first round . . . you just don`t know.
I will sit down tonight and make a few predictions. Not gonna be easy.
Hey Sharksworld, I like the changes happening around here, very impressive.
@FireTheLooser (Comment 14) : we aim to please
@robdylan (Comment 15) : Why your pic has a cup and a police badge and two vet sterre? Hope that cup is coming home this year though…
@FireTheLooser (Comment 16) : hover your cursor over them
Cool site changes, every i look Beast is shaving his neck.
@robdylan (Comment 17) : Personally, i think my awe-inspiring match reports should upgrade me at least to a currie-cup player..
@CapeShark (Comment 19) : you already have a little “author” icon. Post some more and you’ll get there in no time
@robdylan (Comment 17) : What?! you won the whole thing or just your group?
WTF?????
http://www.sharksrugby.co.za/news/general/100211/Steve_Meyer_Retires
Oh man, this is getting me seriously down…
@CapeShark (Comment 23) : goodness me. That’s sudden!
@FireTheLooser (Comment 21) : the Sharksworld pool
@CapeShark (Comment 22) : That would not be cool. Surely thats a mistake, must be some other Meyer
@molly (Comment 26) : No it’s on the sharksrugby website, I don’t want to speculate so i won’t, but it’s shoddy timing to hand in your resignation!
@CapeShark (Comment 27) : especially after all the effort in getting him here. Maybe he got injured again or something. Either way, has to be something big to make it so sudden.
@molly (Comment 28) : Bums me out, i thought he had a lot of promise, and i don’t think Monty has the goods for Super 14. But i guess now, we have no choice…
I blame it on Straeuli…dunno why, might have forced him into a kamp staaldraad porno or something…kotch man, this is not good!