Rassie Erasmus has brought in a direct replacement for the suspended Schalk Burger.
Previous speculation was that Erasmus might shift Luke Watson around to the side of the scrum and bring in Robbie Diack at no 8. Diack has indeed come into the squad, but he will be wearing the number 19 jersey with youngster Pieter Myburgh coming straight into the starting lineup at 6.
The rest of the team remains unchanged, with both JD Moller and Gcobani Bobo cleared to play, despite injury fears earlier in the week. Lock Francois van der Merwe drops out of the 22 to make way for Diack in the only other change.
Burger, meanwhile, has seen the light (or maybe watched the replay) and issued a formal apology to Willie Roos, after the former’s unsportsmanlike conduct saw him banned for two weeks. From the apology, I think we can deduce that the Stormers have decided not to appeal against the original verdict, possibly since they know full-well how lighlty Burger actually got off!
Here is the Stormers team:
15 Jantjes, 14 Chavhanga, 13 Bobo, 12 de Villiers (capt), 11 Naqelevuki, 10 Grant, 9 Januarie, 8 Watson, 7 Louw, 6 Myburgh, 5 Bekker, 4 Fondse, 3 Mujati, 2 Liebenberg, 1 Moller
16 Brits, 17 Harris, 18 Skeate, 19 Diack, 20 Conradie, 21 Aplon, 22 des Fountain
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Thanks I got my wishes. Altho abit green sure as hell he’ll keep a few Crusaders busy.
Not much change in the Stormers lineup and all I’ll hope is that they play with passion and pride.
Hope they’ll do it for Schalk!
PB – he needs to keep a FEW Crusaders busy – at least 6.
I hope they keep it below 30 🙄
Maybe score more than that too 😆
Hope they’ll do it for Schalk!
27.02.08 14:16:17 – PaarlBok Edit
Make sure it is FOR and not LIKE. 😉
Ja you’d be surprise. The Crusaders aintat ease at Newlands but the way they mors with the Bulle I cant fight with you guys.
Must say I am impressed thus far with the Stormers defensive line and pattern. Please dont tell me they have better attackers then the Sharks. 🙄
Heard the same story two weeks back, last week also. This will be their big one, if they can get past this one with respect and credit, the Stormers good time just around the corner.
Anyone going?
KSA Pieter Myburgh will be like Schalk and with youth energy.
Jessie why do I feel like a lonely Stormers supporter out here. 😳
Sorry PB – we are just pulling your chain. I will most definitely be shouting for the Stormers. They are my brother’s team after all.
PB – you are the most VOCAL Stormers supporter, but not the only one 🙂
This from the Stormers HP:
Schalk speaks
– Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Schalk Burger, in his personal capacity, today released a statement to the media.
“On 25 February 2008 I was found guilty of unsportsmanlike behaviour by a SANZAR Judicial Committee as a result of an incident which occurred during the match between the Stormers and the Sharks on Saturday 23 February 2008,” read the statement.
“My action on the field was as a result of my anger and frustration about the decisions of the touch judge and referee which I regarded and experienced at the time as incorrect and unfair. Accordingly I responded to the yellow card which was awarded to me in a manner that was unsportsmanlike and unprofessional and which led to the finding that I made myself guilty of unsportsmanlike behaviour.”
“During my hearing I made it clear to the Judicial Committee that I acted in an unsportsmanlike manner which could not be justified even in the light of what I regarded at the time as the extreme poor quality of the decisions of the concerned match officials. I accept that it is not open to me or any other player to criticize a match official for any decision or to act in any unsportsmanlike manner as a result thereof.”
“I apologise to these match officials and the public for my conduct.”
“Although my Stormers team mates and I are disappointed that I will miss the next two matches, I accept the decision of the Judicial Committee. I truly regret my actions and trust that other players will also in future refrain from such conduct. Hopefully the frustrations and complaints of professional players regarding contentious decisions of match officials will be addressed in future through other effective channels.”
I, for one, like Schalk – and think the Stormers are going to miss him this week. Such a pity!