The Stormers have announced their team to take on the Hurricanes at Newlands on Saturday night, with a few surprises in the line up. Rynhardt Elstadt will not be considered and Eben Etzebeth will be making his Super Rugby debut in partnering Andries Bekker in the second row.
Duane Vermeulen will start on the side of the scrum with Nick Koster preferred at the back of the scrum, with Schalk Burger completing a strong loose trio.
Gary van Aswegen, as anticipated, will play in the pivot position while the team wait on Peter Grant to return from Japan. Bryan Habana will play outside Jean de Villiers in the centres, with the back three of Aplon, van den Heever and Pietersen full of running, but slightly small in stature.
15 Joe Pietersen
14 Gerhard van den Heever
13 Bryan Habana
12 Jean de Villiers
11 Gio Aplon
10 Gary van Aswegen
9 Dewaldt Duvenage
8 Nick Koster
7 Duane Vermeulen
6 Schalk Burger (c)
5 Andries Bekker
4 Eben Etzebeth
3 Brok Harris
2 Tiaan Liebenberg
1 Steven Kitshoff
16 Siyabonga Ntubeni
17 Frans Malherbe
18 De Kock Steenkamp
19 Siya Kolisi
20 Louis Schrueder
21 Burton Francis
22 Marcel Brache
Tweet
It’s already been announced.
15 Joe Pietersen
14 Gerhard van den Heever
13 Bryan Habana
12 Jean de Villiers
11 Gio Aplon
10 Gary van Aswegen
9 Dewaldt Duvenage
8 Nick Koster
7 Duane Vermeulen
6 Schalk Burger (c)
5 Andries Bekker
4 Eben Etzebeth
3 Brok Harris
2 Tiaan Liebenberg
1 Steven Kitshoff
16 Siyabonga Ntubeni
17 Frans Malherbe
18 De Kock Steenkamp
19 Siya Kolisi
20 Louis Schrueder
21 Burton Francis
22 Marcel Brache
@hendrikp (Comment 1) :
Where did you find it?
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 2) :
Somewhere you lot would never look.
Keo. http://www.keo.co.za/2012/02/22/super-rugby-round-1/
There are folks out there that would love to see Vermuelen at 7
@hendrikp (Comment 3) :
Thanks though,article amended..
Ok then, i should refresh before i post
I’m glad AC has seen the light, and finally given Koster the 8 jersey, while moving Vermeulen to the side of the scrum.
I felt like banging my head against the wall all of last season when they played Koster on the side of the scrum for some stupid reason.
This is a poor article, there is no mention of the great depth that the Stormers have at loose forward.
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 5) :
All good
@KSA Shark © (Comment 8) :
😆 relentless u are.
Its good to see Bekker back playing again.
Looks a very good backline if one looks at each player individually.
Guess it will depend on how Aswegen gets the backline going.
Whats counting in the Stormers favour is that the Canes are not a great looking side.
Also not much on the bench to speak of …
@KSA Shark © (Comment 8) :
Yes. Should definitely mention how they have many CC & SR capped loose-forwards, compared to the Sharks loosies who are talked up, but haven’t played anything above age-grade rugby 🙄
Just saying.
@hendrikp (Comment 7) : Well done Hendrik. You’ve stuck your neck out often here at SW.
I know you’ve been saying for a while now. Vermeulen is a 7. Give Koster the reigns at 8.
The same questions will be asked of the Stormers again this year…can they be consistent in their performances. Looks a decent side but its a long comp and I just wonder how much of an effect injuries etc can/will be…
Not sure Habana at centre is a good move. Hasn’t got much vision. Can’t imagine him handing the ball of to someone in support etc.
Should’ve put future Springbok captain JP du Plessis at centre. 😎
@csb (Comment 11) : Apparently there is a clause in Bekker’s contract that he has to start every game or not play at all.
Something about getting into some major shit at home the last time he was seen on the bench.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 8) :
Legandary comment! 😈 😉
Big jump for Etsebeth. Another player we can expect big things from in the years to come. I’m really excited about this selection.
Not impressed by the Stormers backline bench. Thought the could have done better. The Schreuder / Groom ranking system is really unpredictable. Personally I prefer Groom. Brache is a very avg player but still way better than Francis – not sure how he makes the squad.
@beet (Comment 13) :
I’m not against Vermeulen as a 7, but heck, if you’ve got a loosie that can make breaks from set-phase, is up there as possibly your best ball-carrier & links well with the backline, why would you give him less time with ball in hand and ask him to play a somewhat defensive role!!
It’d be like playing Kankowski on the blindside. We all know it just doesn’t work…
Might have been Rassie though. Had this idea of all 3 loose-forwards being ‘hybrid’… sadly doesn’t quite work that way.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 16) :
😆
@beet (Comment 18) :
Their only other choice from the 30 (above Brache) would have been Danie Poolman. Otherwise they would’ve had to look at players from last seasons U20 team.
Personally more of a fan of Schreuder. He needs a bit of confidence to get himself going, but he’s a better athlete & seems to have the brains to become something really good.
Is it just me or is no one else surprised that Deon Carstens didn’t even make the bench?? 😯
@wpw (Comment 22) :
A bit, but you won’t see Kitshoff & Malherbe starting in the same XV I don’t think.
Carstens will play a big part. Not being shafted IMO.
@beet (Comment 18) :
Hey beet,
I am quite sure Brache made the bench because he can cover centre and fullback. 😕
According to Keo, Carstens was not included because he has not played tighthead for a reasonably long time now.
Will play in a friendly this weekend versus Griquas, hopefully on the tighthead side to get himself match-fit & back into scrummaging in that position, presumably against Janro van Niekerk which will be a good challenge.
@hendrikp (Comment 12) : the only reason they have some caps under there names was because of your injury toll last year, otherwise they would still have been vodacom cup players.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 16) : good done
@wpw (Comment 24) :
Having Poolman on the bench wouldn’t have left them with many options. I mean they already have 4 wingers in the starting line-up!
With Brache they’ll have some cover if injury strikes, or a few options in case of substitutions. I don’t like it, but it’s pretty much the only thing that could’ve done.
Overall very satisfied. Would’ve been nice if Juan was fit, but that’s about the only thing I can complain about.
And very glad Etzebeth is getting a run straight off.
@MJ (Comment 26) :
Besides the point. These guys played some good rugby at a higher level.
I believe Fenton-Wells was even up for Varsity Cup Player of the Year. Beats playing a bit of U20 rugby, don’t you think?
Plain and simple, a lot of this Sharks ‘massive loose-forward depth’ is a myth. Half of them will end up playing First Division CC or playing somewhere in Europe.
@wpw (Comment 24) : Aplon and vd Heever can also cover 15. I guess Brache must be doing a lot right on the training ground. It’s just hard to believe that the Stormers have gone from great depth at centre to this situation in 1 year.
Etzebeth,get the feeling that even on his return Elstadt might do a bit of bench duty,Etzebeth seems to have everything,also rate Groom higher than Schreuder,he seems to be a player more in the Duvenhage mould,solid without being spectecular,Groom has a bit of that Hougaard X-factor,takes on the odds which I like in a scrummy. Hell Schreuder looked like rubbish at the u20 WC in 2010,but than again so did Elton Jantjies. Schreuder though hasn’t quite kicked on ever since. Wish they could somehow find space for Nizaam Carr,my favourite young loosie in SA right now
@hendrikp (Comment 29) : probably because the sharks don’t get that much injuries, we only need 5/6 for the season,unlike the stormers who’ll need about 11.
Saturday night you mean?
Onward Space Monkeys!
For Greater Glory And Chocolate Pie for All!
@KSA Shark © (Comment 8) : That comment seems to do the trick each time 😉
@Ludz (Comment 31) : That sounds about spot on
@KSA Shark © (Comment 8) :
looking forward to facing this team in Round 2…
@robdylan (Comment 38) : 😎 😎 😎 😎
@KSA Shark © (Comment 16) : brilliant, jys op jou stukke bru…
@Clayton,haha just about hey,Marcel Brache must well and truly be doing something right at training,I would’ve picked JP du Plessis at 13,Habana I don’t know,hope van den Heever can go back to that form of the 2010 super 14,best right wing in SA that year and don’t tell me JP Pietersen Sharkies. He had Bok written all over him
Stormers have some flyhalf and loosie worries.
Finally someone saw the light and shifted Seabiscuit to 7. Let’s see if Koster’s ‘nads finally dropped and he can tackle the big boys. Awesome runner, but often been found wanting on defence.
@Ludz (Comment 41) :
Yes, vd Heever and JP du Plessis will defo be Boks this year. Proven class there.
@Big Fish (Comment 43) :
Love it!
@Big Fish (Comment 42) :
You think Duane wil be effective from the side of the scrum? Both Keegan and Coetzee are better flankers..
Vermeulen in form would outplay Kanko on his current form..
Can’t wait to see more from Schrueder, I think he has huge potential ,also like Groom ,both are good up and coming players.
Not a bad back row at all ,Duanethemullet is probably better suited to blindside than number 8 .
The weak link is probably Koster ,but with the quality and size of his 4-7 he should show some good form, without doubt his make or break season.
@Talent (Comment 46) :
Koster will Kanko the carrot if he is even in a little bit of form..
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 45) :
I wouldn’t say that Keegan and Marcell are better flankers just yet. I know they have proven time there, but IMO Seabiscuit’s physicality in the tight and big defence are much better suited to 7, while he lacks the pace, vision or linkage skills for 8.
You can have a monster 8 who is just a go-forward guy, especially if your scrum sucks, but such players will always lose out to more rounded 8’s.
@Big Fish (Comment 48) :
Do you know if Vermeulen has any experience at flank?
I’ve always liked Vermeulen, but he has gone backwards in recent seasons..
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 45) : Kanko on form is a true world beater. Koster can be deadly but not much to show for all the hype…yet.
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 49) : He started out at flank for the Cheetahs
@beet (Comment 51) :
Oh okay..
Will be interesting to see how he goes against the Sharks
@Ludz (Comment 41) : Hey Ludz. Hang in their mate. Altho ur still a teenager and some guys wanna shoot down your opinions, there are still others like myself who enjoy reading the alternative viewpoints around here.
Much respect.
Beet. Haha,don’t worry sir,I knew what I was signing up for when I joined Sharksworld,so I take it all in my stride. Remember telling Muzi on rugby365 that if you write anything that might be contradictory to what Sharks fans believe than you’re in for a tough time on this website,but it’s all good. It’s actually enjoyable
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 49) :
I am yet to see Vermeulen go backwards!! 😈 😉
@wpw (Comment 55) :
You will have to wait until next weekend’s game.. 😉
@Ludz (Comment 54) :
Where is Muzi lately!?