Allister Coetzee has named his side for their Vodacom Super Rugby clash against the Crusaders at DHL Newlands on Saturday evening.
Pat Cilliers starts at loosehead prop and comes in for the suspended Steven Kitshoff in a move that could be described as very risky considering the strength of the Saders scrum.
Another change in the front row sees Deon Fourie start at hooker for the injured Tiaan Liebenberg, which means Lions loanee Martin Bezuidenhout will start on the bench.
A move that should please most Stormers supporters sees experienced Brok Harris take up his place on the bench which means Coetzee has decided to finally unleash his secret weapon for this crucial fixture.
The free running Harris can slot in either side of the scrum but it is his ability in the backline that will cause much confusion amongst the Crusaders backs. 😈
The DHL Stormers team is as follows:
15. Joe Pietersen
14. Gio Aplon
13. Juan de Jongh
12. Jean de Villiers (captain)
11. Gerhard van den Heever
10. Elton Jantjies
9. Dewaldt Duvenage
8. Duane Vermeulen (vice-captain)
7. Rynhardt Elstadt
6. Siya Kolisi
5. Andries Bekker
4. De Kock Steenkamp
3. Frans Malherbe
2. Deon Fourie
1. Pat Cilliers
Bench:
16. Martin Bezuidenhout
17. Brok Harris
18. Don Armand
19. Nizaam Carr
20. Nic Groom
21. Damian de Allende
22. Jaco Taute
Tweet
Let’s go Stormers let’s go!! 😎
“The free running Harris can slot in either side of the scrum but it is his ability in the backline that will cause much confusion amongst the Crusaders backs” 😆 You are a funny guy Weasel !
I won’t count the Stormers out, but the lack of physicality in the front row and backline will be a major hurdle.
@Big Fish (Comment 2) :
I try!
Just saw an interesting stat from their game against the Kings.
‘All but 1 of the Crusaders 7 tries against Kings scored by forwards, and 3 of the 9 tries scored in this game came from rolling mauls!’
@Big Fish (Comment 2) : @wpw (Comment 3) :
Funny guy, but seriously that front row looks very weak without Tiaan and Kitshoff. Deon doesn’t scrum well and playing Pat out of position against Franks and Crockett? The Stormers better try and keep scrums to a minimum of anders gaan hulle afkak!
Crusaders by 3!
@Pokkel (Comment 4) :
Come to think of it the Stormers will also have to avoid line-outs because Deon Fourie can’t throw for shit! 😈
Brok, probably the most underrated flyhalf in SA.
Hopefully Taute has got his ballast sorted this week. Must’ve been off balance last week, hence kicks going directly into touch.
I’m worried about Gio, all those knocks to the mellon can’t be good for one.
@McLovin (Comment 7) : I heard it cost them in the region of 2 bar to get him for the season…oops 😈
@McLovin (Comment 6) :
Brok the Rock!! Legend amongst the brokebacks!
@West Indies Cricket Board (Comment 9) : Still early days. A kick on the nuts like he got will rattle any man.
@Pokkel (Comment 10) : Legend amongst everyone.
How there isn’t a ‘Make Brock a Bok’ facebook campaign is beyond me. 😉 😈
@McLovin (Comment 12) :
In your dreams! 😈
@McLovin (Comment 13) : 😆 😆
Poor call leaving Taute out the starting 15. He should be at 15.
Given how anonymous de Jongh was last weekend, de Allende should be tried at 13. He should never have been displaced to the bench in the first place given the form he showed in his last Stormers start.
@McLovin (Comment 11) : lol. I hear you
Let see – counting for the Crusaders:
1. Fourie at hooker – negates the Stormers line-out and scrum
2. Home away from home
3. Their record in Cape Town
Against:
1. No Carter, Read, McCaw
2. Fourie at the breakdown
3. Someone made fire under Bekker’s backside.
4. The secret weapon on the bench – the best prophalf in the world
So should be fairly evenly matched
Rob no article on the ex Royal Marine killed at the Sharks game? Granted its not exactly rugby news.