Stormers coach Allister Coetzee has named a similar team to the team that beat the Lions last week to face the Sharks on Saturday. Young flyhalf Gary van Aswegen will retain the starting place ahead of Lionel Cronje and Elgar Watts in the absence of Peter Grant.
Other changes to the team are that of Schalk Burger and Jean de Villiers not playing due to their attendance of Butch James’ wedding. Wimpie van der Walt and Paul Bosch come into the squad for the Springbok pair.
Andries Bekker will captain the side in the absence of Schalk Burger.
Stormers – 15 Conrad Jantjes, 14 Gio Aplon, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Paul Bosch, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Gary van Aswegen, 9 Ricky Januarie, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Rynhardt Elstadt, 6 Wimpie van der Walt, 5 Andries Bekker (c), 4 De Kock Steenkamp, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 CJ van der Linde.
Subs: Siyabonga Ntubeni, Wicus Blaauw, Frans Malherbe, Adriaan Fondse, Pieter Louw, Ruan Kitshoff, Dewaldt Duvenage, Elgar Watts, Johann Sadie, Tim Whitehead, Danie Poolman, Lionel Cronje.
Imagine Butch and Schalk on a night out on the town together. Butch can steal the bus while Schalk drives it wearing his SAP cap
@Salmonoid (Comment 1) :
Have to agree.. That is a wedding that I would really like to attend!! lol
Absolutely shocking player management yet again by the geniusses at WP rugby.
Schmucks.
@Morné (Comment 3) :
After the Sharks game last night, surely the Stormers are now favourites to win Super Rugby?
Stormers beat Lions who beat Sharks = Stormers the best?!
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 4) :
Stormers has been the pre-season champs for the last decade mate!
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 4) : Disagree . . . Kings beat the current champs so surely they are the best if you want to go down that route
Pity JdV isn`t playing. Might have been good for us!
I wonder how many Sharks will be attending the wedding?
@Morné (Comment 5) :
@Original Champion (Comment 6) :
Glad you guys can see the sarcasm in that comment.
@Morné (Comment 5) : certainly in the CT media.
@Morné (Comment 3) : It doesn’t make sense playing virtually the same team in both your warm-up matches.I wonder what the Sharks will do?
@Pokkel (Comment 10) : I say start with a second string side bring the A side on for the last 20 minutes or so maximum.
Will be disappointing to those of us going out to to Newlands but in the long run better for the Sharks. We can`t afford any more injuries!
@KSA Shark © (Comment 7) :
Smit is attending.
@Pokkel (Comment 10) :
Well it is what we come to expect from the idiots at WP rugby.
So wimpie replaces burger
Wouldve prefered 2 have jdv and jdj to face mb and aj ..
LETS GO STORMERS LETS GO!!
Ahoy mr wpw
@wpw: you gonna b @ the game?
Why not start tim whitehead at 12?
Paul Bosch vs Tim Whitehead.
I’d like to know who Coetzee considers to be the better of the 2. His team selection suggests Bosch but that could have been influenced by wanting to play versatile de Jongh at 13.
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 18) : Was thinking the same thing. Isn’t the answer: Bosch is a 12 and Whitehead a 13. Fourie is injured and de Jongh will start the SR as a 13.
@wpw (Comment 15) : JY SHAARRRAAAPP !!!
Easy Peasy
@bergshark (Comment 14) : Agreed. Might lead to false sense of confidence . . .
On the up side guys remember we lost to the lowly Griquas beginning of the CC season last year as well but still got the Cup!