Jaque Fourie was always going to be doubtful for this game as coach Allister 
Coetzee was concerned about his condition immediately after the loss to the Chiefs in Hamilton last weekend. Fourie has predictably been ruled out of the match, but he has been joined on the sidelines by his regular midfield partner Jean de Villiers.
Not only that, first choice flyhalf Peter Grant has also had to withdraw with the ankle injury that has plagued him since Hamilton, leaving the Stormers with a new-look backline from flyhalf to outside centre.
Fortunately for the Stormers Lionel Cronje played almost three full matches in succession for the Stormers while Grant was absent, and two of them were big games against the Sharks and the Crusaders. He appears to have a superior passing game to Grant, so if he can show good temperament in what will be his first start for the Stormers overseas, he could present interesting possibilities for the young midfield outside him.
However while Juan de Jongh is a Springbok and Johann Sadie is undeniably a player with a lot of potential and his coach keeps stressing that he has the X-factor, they haven’t played together before and the injuries have left three players in their early 20s, two of them who were in the under-21 team just last year, playing next to each other in a match the Stormers have to win in order to retain touch with the tournament front-runners.
The only change to the pack sees the return of the physical CJ van der Linde at tighthead prop. It is interesting to note that while the Stormers have announced a 5/2 split between forwards and backs on the bench, which they say is because of the predicted wet weather conditions, they have named Nick Koster in jersey No 22. Koster of course did play wing in his first season of Super Rugby before he suffered a serious injury in 2009.
Coetzee has also surprised by retaining Ricky Janurie at scrumhalf for a game which might be played in the wet. It could be that the selection is directed by Januarie’s proficiency as a cover tackler, something that might be necessary with Grant, Fourie and De Villiers all out of the game.
Stormers team:
Conrad Jantjes, Gio Aplon, Johann Sadie, Juan de Jongh, Bryan Habana, Lionel Cronje, Ricky Januarie, Duane Vermeulen, Francois Louw, Schalk Burger (captain), Andries Bekker, Rynhardt Elstadt, CJ van der Linde, Deon Fourie, Wicus Blaauw.
Reserves:
Tiaan Liebenberg, Brok Harris, Steven Kitshoff, Anton van Zyl, Dewaldt Duvenage, Danie Poolman, Nick Koster.
The team is: Zane Kirchner, Bjorn Basson, Jaco Pretorius, Wynand Olivier, Francois Hougaard, Morné Steyn, Fourie du Preez, Pierre Spies, Dewald Potgieter, Deon Stegmann, Victor Matfield (c) , Bakkies Botha, Werner Kruger, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Dean Greyling. Replacements: Gary Botha, Rossouw de Klerk, Flip van der Merwe, Danie Rossouw, Derick Kuün, Francois Brummer, Gerhard van den Heever.
Ai, ek weet nie of dit die regte beginspan is nie. Dit was presies die voorspeler pak wat pak gekry het in die CB semi laasjaar teen die Sharks. Sou begin het met Gary, Flippie en Danie. Help nie Alberts het reeds skade aangedoen, en dan word Danie opgestuur nie. En hoekom vir Dippies drop wat nou so goed saam met WO begin speel het ….. dalk om te sien wie die beste oupa buitesenter in die land is ?
Dis ‘n GOEIE ding. Die spelers so geen kans gehad het sonder beserings aan die begin span nie. Juan de Jongh was laas jaar een van SA se beste spelers, en het vanjaar nog skaars begin.
Johann Sadie was nog altyd ‘n senter, en IMO is baie beter as meeste van die ander opsies wat die WP/Stormers in die afgelope paar jaar probeer het (Des Fountain, Bobo ens.)
Lionel Cronje was met sy aankoms on die Kaap gesien as die volgende groot held in SA rugby. Maar ‘n onderonsie rondom Nuweland en die teenwoordigheid van beide De Waal en Grant het dit moeilik gemaak vir hom om te settle laas jaar.
Die ouens kan nie ‘n GROTER geleentheid kry nie. WP het baie bele in hul jong spelers bele die afgelope paar jaar, nou moet hulle incash.
Dis dalk ook ‘n goeie ruskans vir Fourie en De Villiers.
@ bdb:
FL het dieselfde verhouding met Jaco Pretoors as wat PdeV met januarie het. Magtag man laat die ouens vir hul plek werk.
Maar dan weer rus maar die jonge Dippies , die oue tehuis manne sal mekaar seker kan uitsort.
Mmm….I wonder how these backline changes will impact on the reknowned defensive system, because the Blues will surely test that.
Ons sal ma moet wag en sien, ne?
a word of caution to luke
..
“dealing with a journalist, is like dancing with a dobermann … you’re never sure whether it will lick your face or rip your throat out!!” 😀
#5
oops wrong thread!!
was supposed to go under the luke and keo marriage thread!! 😳
Juan de Jongh is able enough, so too Lionel Cronje… the weaknesses in my mind would be Januarie, Sadie & Habana… in the Stormers backline.
… and maybe the compounded effect of taking this backline out of it’s usual comfort zone and structure.
Jaque Fourie & Jean de Villiers have scored most of the Stormers tries thus far this season, both out! Who will score in their absence?
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