Stormers coach Allister Coetzee has named a strong line-up to face the Burmbies at Newlands this weekend, with Springboks in Juan de Jongh (outside centre) and Tiaan Liebenberg (hooker) back in action.
There’s some bad news to go with the good, though, as Peter Grant will join Bryan Habana on the sidelines – the flyhalf has sustained an ankle injury that will keep him out for 3-4 weeks.
Joe Pietersen is as fullback, with Gerhard van den Heever replacing Habana on the left wing. Jaco Taute, though, will play off the bench this week after recovering from his rather nasty testicular injury. In other backline changes, Dewald Duvenage starts at scrum half for Nic Groom, who is benched, while captain Jean de Villiers switches inside, replacing Damian de Allende, to make room for de Jongh.
Stormers: 15. Joe Pietersen, 14. Gio Aplon, 13. Juan de Jongh, 12. Jean de Villiers (c), 11. Gerhard van den Heever, 10. Elton Jantjies, 9. Dewaldt Duvenage, 8. Duane Vermeulen, 7. Rynhardt Elstadt, 6. Siya Kolisi, 5. Andries Bekker, 4. De Kock Steenkamp, 3. Frans Malherbe, 2. Tiaan Liebenberg, 1. Steven Kitshoff.
Replacements: 16. Deon Fourie, 17. Pat Cilliers, 18. Don Armand, 19. Nizaam Carr, 20. Nic Groom, 21. Damian de Allende, 22. Jaco Taute
Stormers have a truly vrot record against the Brumbies at Newlands. 2 wins from 7.
Actually a pretty vrot record overall. 3 from 14.
Please whip them convicts!
I reckon if the Brumbies can even half replicate that attacking display against the Stormers, they will be serious contenders for the cup this year.
They pretty much guaranteed a spot in the top 6 anyway.
@Big Fish (Comment 3) : can I get a “hell yeah”?
@robdylan (Comment 5) :
HELL YEAH!
Go REBELS!! WOOHOO!!
Oops. Wrong thread!
Seems the selection of Duvenghage points to the Stormers trying to beat the Brumbies through a kicking game. If he box kicks every ball to the Brumbies, the Stormers will be in for a long bad day at the office.
@wpw (Comment 7) : LMAO Go Stormers!!!!!!!! woohoo right thread!
I do have one question. All those Stormers supporters who were touting Grant for Springbok honors in the 4 nations, how do you feel now with him being relegated to the bench, or in the case of this match out of the 22 altogether, in favor of Jantjes (a temporary signing from the Lions). Especially in light of all the crap the Sharks get for playing players from out of their region.
Did someone say Franco???? lol