Vodacom Stormers coach Rassie Erasmus announced his side for Saturday’s Vodacom Super 14 first-round match against the Sharks at Newlands on Wednesday.
The Stormers Website reports that the coach selected promising young utility player Nick Koster at left wing in place of the injured Sireli Naqelevuki.
Springbok fullback Conrad Jantjes is back after missing both the warm-up games due to a groin injury. He takes over from Percy Montgomery, who is on the substitutes’ bench.
Schalk Burger also is in the starting XV after having missed out on the warm-up games against Saracens and Boland with an ankle problem.
Former Cheetahs loose-forward Duane Vermeulen will be making his Super 14 debut for his new side at No 8. His inclusion means that Springbok Luke Watson reverts to the substituets’ bench.
Saturday’s match will be a special one for Burger and Watson, who will be donning the Stormers jersey for the 50th time.
Captain Jean de Villiers commented: “We all play rugby to do well and to achieve milestones, so this is a fantastic milestone for the two of them. It is a great achievement for those two who have played at the highest level to play their 50th game for the Stormers.
“To have that type of experience in the side just makes it easier for me as captain and I wish them well on the rest of their careers.”
Vodacom Stormers:
15: Conrad Jantjes, 14. Tonderai Chavhanga, 13. Gcobani Bobo, 12. Jean de Villiers (capt), 11, Nick Koster, 10. Peter Grant, 9. Ricky Januarie, 8. Duane Vermeulen, 7. Francois Louw, 6. Schalk Burger, 5. Andries Bekker, 4. Adriaan Fondse, 3. Brian Mujati, 2. Schalk Brits, 1. JD Moller.
Reserves: 16. Deon Fourie, 17. Wicus Blaauw, 18. AJ Venter, 19. Bolla Conradie, 20. Joe Pietersen, 21. Percy Montgomery.
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15-Stefan vs Jantjies: Stefan takes it for this type of tight game
14-odwa vs koster: odwa takes it on experience
13-adi vs bobo: evens depends on bobos catching skills.
12-frans vs jean: jean will have to take this on experience and leadership
11-jp vs tonderai: jp has a better all round game.
10-ruan vs grant: what i have seen so far grant has no chance.
9-rory vs rickie: too tight to call.
8-ryan vs duane: ryan has the edge here
7- deysel vs schalk: deysel as schalk is a liabilty. his disciplinary record overshadows his skill.
6- botes vs louw: louw might be better in the tight, but botes defence will even it up.
5-sykes vs bekker: bekker gets this due to his lineout ability
4-johan vs fondse: johan by a mile
3-jannie vs mujati: both can get moggie but jannie has the edge
2-bis vs brits: no comparison.
1-beast/deon vs moller: moller comes third to both of these
ksa where is the question?
There are only 21 names on that list?
Is Watson going to be added as an afterthought again. 😉
@KSA Shark © (Comment 3) : watson is on the rugby365 list
@try time (Comment 1) : Deysel over Schalk? 😆 🙄 😆 🙄 😆
@try time (Comment 1) : Adi vs Bobo…evens?????? How do you figure that?
is experience and leadership all Jean has over Frans? How about All round playing ability?
@try time (Comment 4) :
maybe the Stormers’ Webmaster doesn’t want Watson in the team 😆
@Pokkel (Comment 6) : simple, i don’t rate adi as a starting centre. he defends well, but his skill is making breaks. in the first 60 it is far to tight for him to be successful. bobo is strong and is impressive if he holds onto the ball.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 8) : would you?
@KSA Shark © (Comment 8) : and its mentioned in the copy above the team.
@molly (Comment 7) : That’s what I thought too.
i count 4 sharks discards in this team.
@try time (Comment 9) : He started pretty damn well for the Boks over last season, but you’re entitled to your opinion…for the rest I’m happy with the comparisons
@molly (Comment 7) : no i think frans has more talent than jean. frans just blows it with decision making. but what i saw in the warmup game frans is looking good. jean can be a liability when his interceptions fail.
@try time (Comment 9) : It is customary for him to drop at least one important ball a match.
@try time (Comment 15) : liability? You’re a funny man. 😆
Impressive team. Could not ask for more. Now lets go out and play the Tjarkies. 😎
@molly (Comment 7) :
how about the fact that Jean actually passes the ball to his teammates?? 😈
@Pokkel (Comment 14) : i like adi, but i saw him create more tries and opportunities in the second half than the first. (and secretly i had to show wp had some talent and adi was my sacrificial lamb)
@try time (Comment 1) :
😯 Broer you sure are one blind Tjark. 💡
@try time (Comment 15) : I don’t know about the warm-up , but Frans is no patch on Jean
@wpw (Comment 19) : if you count balls at your ankle a pass. jean’s weakness is his pass. thats the reason bobo battles to catch balls.
whoops… ok, so we now have two Stormers team announcements.
I quite like mine, though, since I wrote it myself… we’ll leave both up
@PaarlBok (Comment 21) : damn right. i wouldn’t be a sharks fan if i wasn’t.
@try time (Comment 13) :
please tell me that you aren’t considering Percy as one of our discards? We only had him for a season?
@try time (Comment 20) : I think the Sharks should swap Frans of Jean then you would want Adi to play the whole game
@try time (Comment 23) : Have you been drinking aftershave? 😀
Dare I say it, is TT a troll?
@molly (Comment 29) : and it’s taken you HOW long to figure that out?
I even know who the puppet master is, but I’m not saying anything…
@Pokkel (Comment 27) : no as i said earlier i am going to give frans his chance. he was solid against the bulls in the warmup and he has been getting specific training, i think he is due a turnaround. the only thing i worry about is the odd loose pass to no one. but jean evens that with his shockers at peoples ankles.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 26) : we had him at his best.
@try time (Comment 23) : ah hahahahahaha… yes, I’m sure Jacques Fourie would agree with you there.
I will just ignore my blind Tjarkie but myself could not have pick a better team like that one. Can see the scrip there. Fast and wide !
@robdylan (Comment 30) : I’m slow 😳
@try time (Comment 32) : like we had luke and aj at theirs.
@PaarlBok (Comment 34) : you’d better keep te error rate down while you’re doing it… Also not sure how you think you’re going to get past the best defensive back three in the country…
@try time (Comment 32) : And I suppose Bobo as well?
@try time (Comment 36) : did Luke have a best? 🙂
@try time (Comment 23) :
You are losing it bro. Jean was SA Player of the Year last year and he was miles ahead of Frans.
Frans’ last good game at center was in the RWC final and how long ago was that??? 🙄
@PaarlBok (Comment 34) : Koster on the wing is going to cost us, methinks. Thats my only concern… and AJ, but there’s no real solution for that, except maybe, buying properly.
3 days, 3 hours, 20 minutes to kick-off
@molly (Comment 38) : no bobo owed us a good season after sitting taking pay cheques every month. thats why i never mentioned him.
@PaarlBok (Comment 21) : Waarheid my broer!
@try time (Comment 31) : I really hope you are right. I think there is such a fuss over Frans,that he thinks he knows everything..he has a RWC medal and a CC at 21 and I sometimes get the idea that he thinks he’s Gods gift to man. I think he needs a serious head shrink and become a team player and he could be one of the great SA players
@wpw (Comment 40) : didn’t i say jean is better? as a sharks supporter though i am allowed a little bias.
@Pokkel (Comment 45) : and a hair cut 🙄
@robdylan (Comment 37) : We can play at pace like Newlands havent see before. Watch dat!
@robdylan (Comment 39) : i said luke’s best. not best in general. there is an ocean of difference. 😆
@Pokkel (Comment 45) : remember jp last year. he was in the same boat. jp obviously learns faster than frans.
i don’t think the stormers have the team to last the full eighty. my gut feel is they will lose it in the last ten minutes.
Jeez i just read the Cape Times and Bali was whining on about the scrum…are you okes scared?
I was also part to a telephone conversation last night involving a Sharks player who was adament they were going to thump the stormers at Newlands and they weren’t in the slightest bit worried.
arrogance. pure and simple.
You can only fail 😈
@try time (Comment 1) : What position do you hold at the Sharks HQ? 😆
Or did you trip and fall and lose both eyes recently 😈
@Worcestershire Sauce (Comment 53) : i’d rather have tripped and lost both eyes than support the stormers. 😆
@Worcestershire Sauce (Comment 53) : It was a brain injury.
😉
@Worcestershire Sauce (Comment 52) : which player?
should be a great game, sharks have it in the tight 5, but stormers have the better loosies, backs about even.
at newlands without BJ and Beast, wonder if an upset on the cards.
in sharks favour, the mighty bismark and the way the pack is drilled with plum.
@McLovin (Comment 55) : 😆
@try time (Comment 54) : 😯 So it might be safe to assume you are in fact blinded by your team
@robdylan (Comment 56) : Wouldn’t be fair to say to be honest.
@try time (Comment 51) :
you’re probably correct…cos they can’t rely on that retirement home they call a bench…
@Worcestershire Sauce (Comment 53) : 😆 😛
@cab (Comment 57) :
It WILL be a great game.
So are you saying that if the Stormers win you will regard the result as an upset…even though they are playing at home…with their full strength squad? 🙂
@Worcestershire Sauce (Comment 58) : thats why i where sunglasses when i watch the sharks, cos their talent is blinding. 😆
@KSA Shark © (Comment 60) : and i thought you were a sharks supporter. typical ref, no spine. 😆
@try time (Comment 62) : Sure that what they all say – you just want to check out the dancing girls without anyone noticing 😆
@Worcestershire Sauce (Comment 64) : got me, but i am male. can’t hold that against me. 😎
@blackshark (Comment 61) :
lol, damn right, the sharks are the CC champs and have held our S14 flag highest for the last few years, they are favourites, but Stormers team looking good.
@cab (Comment 66) : hey cab maybe you can help? what position did loffie play in?
Sauce
I can tell you one thing boet. I am gonna enjoy giving it to these palookas come Saturday evening after we’ve won the game!!!
😈
@try time (Comment 65) : 😀
@wpw (Comment 68) : That or being drowned in arrogance and told you so’s 😆
@try time (Comment 63) :
I use blubber to hold my body upright. MUCH more flexible than a spine would be.
@wpw (Comment 68) : typical stormer supporter. kick the man when he is down. if you guys lose i’ll at least show some humility. my war is with you now. when the game is over the better team has won and it is time for us to jibe eachother about the following weeks games. gloating is for losers.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 70) : 😆 and i suppose you don’t get back ache.
TT
I can’t believe you are going for Oom Stefan ahead of the Bok incumbent in Jantjes?? 😯
Some more Sharks bias there or dare I say, arrogance?? 😈
@Worcestershire Sauce (Comment 58) : you could email me
@KSA Shark © (Comment 70) : 😆
A new breed of human : the ref 😆
@wpw (Comment 68) :
@Worcestershire Sauce (Comment 69) :
I promise that I will be magnanimous in Victory when we win if you guys promise to do the same if you win. 😉
@try time (Comment 71) :
All in good fun mate!!!
I MUST gloat cos its been a while since we beat you pansies!!!
@KSA Shark © (Comment 76) :
‘when’ we beat you guys?? hehehe
You don’t have a humble bone in your body hey??? 😈
the only reason the Stormers crew are so up in arms about supposed Sharks “arrogance” is that they can’t believe how badly they’re being beaten at their own game 🙂
@wpw (Comment 73) : i said this type of game. as an opening game you would rather have a stefan in your team to steady things from the back. had this game been later in the season and the teams are opening it up a bit more then conrad is the man. i feel rassie should rather have gone for percy to start. this game is about territory for the forwards to fight it out.
@wpw (Comment 77) :
@KSA Shark © (Comment 76) : No deal. Its gonna get ugly 😈
@robdylan (Comment 74) : Wasn’t my phone call. Just discussed the contents of it. Its not my info to reveal.
@wpw (Comment 73) : but rassie is showing his hand with his selection. he is aware that the sharks will want to keep the game amongst the forwards, so he is trying to counter that be taking it to the backline. only problem is it is early season and players are rusty. it could backfire.
@try time (Comment 80) :
I think Conrad is more solid than Stefan.
Stefan was cack during last yr’s S14 but his form picked up a bit in the CC.
The thing is, we not playing CC now are we???
i wouldn’t be surprised if percy starts with jantjies on the wing and koster as backup on the bench.
@wpw (Comment 84) : i agree stefan is one dimensional. he is kak on attack. but he is rarely caught out of position whereas jantjies often is.
@wpw (Comment 84) : i think conrad is more dangerous, but not solid. stefan is defensively better.
@wpw (Comment 78) :
and you missed the “IF” you guys win. 😆
I had to word that piece very carefully. 😛
@wpw (Comment 77) :
gonna be a while longer. 😉
@KSA Shark © (Comment 88) : Maybe he suffers the same kind of blindness as TT 😆
@Worcestershire Sauce (Comment 90) :
😆 😆
@try time (Comment 67) :
must have been scrummie? dunno if he played first grade tho. could be another kak year for us tho.
@Worcestershire Sauce (Comment 90) : nothing wrong with wearing blinkers. it hides the ugly women and kak teams.
@cab (Comment 92) : baldrick reckons he was a scrummie, but i am sure he played prop. oh well i’ll keep looking.
@try time (Comment 86) : ‘Stefan kak on attack’ I remember him beating Habana on the outside not so long ago.
Janjies to me is one dimensional…he only has one kick(up&under) and is I think it’s very easy to plan against him cause he only has one tactic….run like hell and kick an uppie
@KSA Shark © (Comment 91) : remind me not to go into battle with you. hell you turn on your allies like hitler. you claim to be a sharks supporter but you hang out with the stormers. i think you are a closet stormer fan. 😆
@Pokkel (Comment 95) : i remember frans playing a good game. doesn’t mean he is always good at it. more often than not stefan kicks good attacking ball away instead of offloading to a faster wing.
@Pokkel (Comment 95) : but before you think i am doing a ksa and turning on you, i agree stefan offers a lot more than does conrad.
@try time (Comment 96) :
🙂
Dude!!!!!!!! My wife is quite a hottie IMO, so it’s gonna have to be a Narnia style closet that. 😉
@try time (Comment 97) :
You were still on holiday when we were talking about the traing they did with Johns from league right?
His best attacking weapon. I expect to see even more of that from the Sharks this year.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 100) :
here you go.
http://www.sharksworld.co.za/2009/01/28/sharks-gig-a-lifeline-for-shunned-johns/
@KSA Shark © (Comment 99) : i’m lost why you bringing your wife into this fray? i try not to look at other guys wives. that’s something a bulls supporter would do.
a narnia style closet will be good. imagine walking through, and there are competent refs and honest politic…(ignore that rob will bust me again) people.
but i won’t need a narnia style closet to see sharks 2009 super 14 champions.
i’m lost why you bringing your wife into this fray?
To ascertain my heterosexuality. 🙂
We must already be in the closet when we watch Sa Refs at work then. 🙂
@KSA Shark © (Comment 100) : thats the training i alluded to earlier when i was defending frans. i think johns could be the key to sorting frans out. frans has the artillery he just doesn’t know when to use it. no point in using your bazooka on footsoldiers and your pistol on tanks. he needs to make the right moves at the right times.
and with 12 left to go before I get to 20k.
I am saying “My weekend has started I’m getting the %^&* outta here”
See ya all later.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 103) : i never doubted your sexuality. you aren’t the guy in black leathers. but i see where you were going with that now. 😆
as for the refs. sadly yes. it sucks that the boks and sharks will always get the worst refs. as both teams have the best refs registered with them.
OK… now I’m bored!!! 🙄
@try time (Comment 106) : I though the refs were merit appointments now ❓
Hey when do trades become effective in the FL game on JR?
@MorneN (Comment 109) :
After the lock of round 1.
So you can trade as much as you like now until the round is locked and only then will you start using one of your 10 trades.
@try time (Comment 1) :
Adi way better than Bobo
Ricky a few steps up on Kocki
Did I not have other comments on this thread?
Am I being censored?