In a move that will no doubt surprise everyone the Stormers have signed Canadian Jebb Sinclair on loan from London Irish.
The 8th man/flanker has been included on the bench for Saturday’s match against the Cheetahs which kicks off at 19:10 at DHL Newlands.
In other changes to the side Gio Aplon returns to the starting XV along with Jean de Villiers and the find of the season Eben Etzebeth takes his place in the second row.
The team is as follows:
15. Joe Pietersen
14. Gio Aplon
13. Juan de Jongh
12. Jean De Villiers (C)
11. Bryan Habana
10. Peter Grant
9. Dewaldt Duvenage
8. Nizaam Carr
7. Rynhardt Elstadt
6. Siya Kolisi
5. Andries Bekker (VC)
4. Eben Etzebeth
3. Brok Harris
2. Deon Fourie
1. Steven Kitshoff
Reserves:
16. Tiaan Liebenberg
17. Frans Malherbe
18. De Kock Steenkamp
19. Jebb Sinclair
20. Louis Schreuder
21. Burton Francis
22. Gerhard Van Den Heever
Referee: – Steve Walsh
Kick-Off: 19h10 Saturday 12 May
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Well, its not Flouw… Keen to see how Jebb goes.
So they let a guy like Rohan Kitshoff go, only to bring in some unknown Canuck?!
Strange..
But good team nonetheless, Cheetahs are in for a hiding..
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 2) : I’m fairly sure Kitshoff would’ve been leaving before this last minute signature. Kitshoff has clearly not been rated by the coaches and he doesn’t bring much experience. Which was the prerequisite the management was looking for.
Why not Nanyak Dala? He plays wing, flank and can cover eight too!
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 2) : besides that, Kitshoff could barely cut it at CC, but shining in the VC means he’s good enough for SR?
@molly (Comment 1) :
Me too.
I see everyone is moaning about Kitshoff leaving but I’ve seen him play and he ain’t that good.
In fact, he couldn’t even make the Namibian starting XV. 🙄
@molly (Comment 3) :
You have a point, I only saw the London Irish part now..
Will have to see if he can outshine JP du Plessis from the bench… Oh wait… 😉
@molly (Comment 5) :
@wpw (Comment 6) :
Hey hey hey..
I am only asking a question, not saying he deserves it more than anyone else?
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 8) : Sorry man, just seeing all the complaints on twitter as well. People clearly not giving it a proper think. VC is miles away from SR, and both Kitshoff and Nick Fenton-Wells didn’t make the step up in CC imo.
@molly (Comment 9) :
All I said was that it was a strange, non- South African thing to do..
I don’t know either player, and I couldn’t really care either, I’m just stating a weird and unusual occurence..
Clearly we are on a touchy subject here.. and in that case, I move along..
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 8) :
Hey Rich, I was actually referring to comments on twitter…not aimed at you mate! 😉
Ugh, waste of time and money. Goes away from their youth policy they employed last year, for a guy who won’t be here for more then a few games…
If it came down to it, they could’ve played Siya Kolisi at number-8. Or how about Rayn Smid. Sure a few of these guys are probably on par, if not better then this Canadian fellow.
Kitshoff may not be SR quality but is the Canadian any better? Has the Cannuck actually played much for London Irish this season.
What about all the other young flankers in the country? Surely someone else could have been drafted in.
@hendrikp (Comment 12) :
Dude, our pack is FULL of youngsters. It’s not like the Stormers coaches don’t back youth.
We need experience. What part of that do you not understand?? 🙄
@hendrikp (Comment 12) :
How’s that awesome loosie depth treating you? 😉
@Big Fish (Comment 15) : 😆
‘We’ve lost two No 8 options, and I wanted to find an experienced replacement,’ said Coetzee when asked why he didn’t promote one of the Vodacom Cup players. ‘I had to look around and I’m happy that Jebb is the kind of guy that will do a good job.
@Big Fish (Comment 15) :
@wpw (Comment 18) : Hands up all that can attest to Jebbs “experience”
@Salmonoid (Comment 19) : he has played 21 times for Canada and 5 for London Irish. The guy has hardly played
I dont Understand the reason behind this move? Rowan Kitshoff is International player and can defin fill the Gap Left by Burger and Co. Not a permanent solution but a fix for sure.
@garethkorb (Comment 21) : Love your avatar!! 😆
@garethkorb (Comment 21) :
Yeh it is a bit strange, particularly when you consider that Saracens and Stormers/WP have a gentleman’s agreement which allowed Brits to play in the play-offs last year. Surely someone like Justin Melck or Ernst Joubert or even Brits himself could have been acquired shortterm.
Even still I think it is best to back a player like Carr, sure he is inexperienced but if they are in the same situation next year, Carr will have that much more experience. Simples!
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 22) : Yea Its awesome, He is a Machine. Bismark met Chuck Norris and that was the End Of the Dinosaurs ha ha ha.
@Pat (Comment 23) : Yea I agree, Those players you Mentioned are far better they may not have the International experience but playing AVIVA Premiership is better than the Rugby games Canada plays in. Could this be a crack in the great Defense of The Stormers ?
@garethkorb (Comment 25) :
But he did play in the Aviva Premiership this season???
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 26) : those caps could have been earned in the LV Cup which is basicallyl ike your Vodacom Cup if not worse. Teams use this to blood their Academy players. First teamers are normally given a rest in this competition
@garethkorb (Comment 24) : No one like the battleship himself!!!! Just happens to be my all time favorite player! Well he shares that place with the Rolls royce Andre Joubert!
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 26) : Sorry Thats True London Irish are in the Premiership, My Apologies.
@slammerboy (Comment 27) :
He has played 8 times for the club
6 Games in the Aviva Premiership
2 Games in the Heineken Cup
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 28) : Yea, I have mad respect for him, he went from Understudy to arguably the Best hooker in the world !!!!! As for the ever green Jubba well he was a rock for us, he was my Hero Growing up, that game when he played with a injured hand against France in ’95 was a defining moment and got us into the Final where the rest is a Rugby History
@garethkorb (Comment 31) : We haven’t had a FB as good again! yes I remember that game with the broken finger all strapped up!
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 32) : @garethkorb (Comment 31) : ABSOLUTE LEGEND!!!
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 32) : Yea we need a commander at the Back, someone makes that position his own. Hopefully Riaan Viljoen comes right and fills those big boots. he has the Potential and defin has the big boot. 😉
@garethkorb (Comment 34) : Yes in the first couple of games I was starting to see a small resemblence especially in the way he joined the line, but then in the last couple of games he played in, he was out of sorts, just hope that was a small hitch! Especially if Lambie is not going to play FB for the Boks we really cannot have Meyer choosing crusty!
Me to I hope he just having a small bump in a long and successful career with the Sharks. He just needs the confidence to play his game. Riaan is the right guy for us just wait and see. And as for the Bok #15 well thats another topic all on its own
JUBA. What a legendd