A number of stalwarts who’ve been missing for varying periods through injury will return for the Stormers, when they take on neighbours Boland this weekend.
The game takes place at the Cape Town Stadium, rather than at Newlands, on Saturday and will see Jean de Villiers lead the team out, with Duane Vermeulen demoted to vice-captain after picking up a loss in his outing as skipper last weekend. Juan de Jongh’s injury sees Damian de Allende retained at centre, where he’ll partner de Villiers, with Dewald Duvenage taking over at scrumhalf after missing out on more than half a year’s action due to a broken leg.
Up font, Andries Bekker starts at lock alongside fellow Bok Eben Etzebeth, while Deon Fourie and Pat Cilliers are also given starts in the front row. Siya Kolisi and Rynhardt Esltadt take over on the flanks this week, with last week’s starting combo, Nizaam Carr and Don Armand, included on an extended bench.
Stormers: 15 Jaco Taute, 14 Gio Aplon, 13 Jean de Villiers (captain), 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Kurt Coleman, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Rynhardt Elstadt, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Pat Cilliers, 2 Deon Fourie, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Replacements – from: Martin Bezuidenhout, Frans Malherbe, Brok Harris, De Kock Steenkamp, Don Armand, Nizaam Carr, Nic Groom, Louis Schreuder, Pat Howard, Gerhard van den Heever, Joe Pietersen.
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So it looks like de Allende has made a real call for that 12 jersey! Although I suppose once de Jongh is back it will be Jean/Juan again.
Hi Maria, long time no chat, you well? (Cheetah4eva)
@Letgo (Comment 1) : Yep, Jean and Juan are the first choice pairing.
Coaches are a bit happy to be able to let De Allende have a go at 12 to see how it plays out.
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 3) :
Well at least with de Allende at 12 all backline moves will now only break down at 13. 😈
@Pokkel (Comment 4) : Funny thing is i see De Allende as a crash ball
Looks like Adi Jacobs is now playing for Boland. Wher’s Charlie?
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 5) : sad but true