Springbok Pat Cilliers will make his second start of the 2013 season, after being named at loosehead prop for the DHL Stormers’ Vodacom Super Rugby clash against the Crusaders at DHL Newlands on Saturday (kick-off 19:10).
Cilliers comes in for the suspended Steven Kitshoff in the No.1 jersey in one of two changes to the Stormers starting line-up that claimed a 35-22 win over the previously unbeaten Brumbies this past weekend.
The other change is also in the front row, with hooker Tiaan Liebenberg (elbow) a late injury-victim.
Currie Cup-winning captain Deon Fourie will start in the No.2 jersey for the DHL Stormers, with Martin Bezuidenhout being named amongst the replacements once again.
Bezuidenhout, who is on loan from the Lions this season, will be joined on the bench by the experienced Brok Harris (77 Super Rugby appearances) – who, in turn, will be part of a Stormers matchday squad for the first time this year
Speaking about the challenge of facing the Crusaders, who have beaten the Stormers in their last three encounters, coach Allister Coetzee said: “They’re a top quality side – they’re the Crusaders after all, a side that’s won many (Super Rugby) competitions.”
The DHL Stormers team to take on the Crusaders 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
Replacements:
16. Martin Bezuidenhout
17. Brok Harris
18. Don Armand
19. Nizaam Carr
20. Nic Groom
21. Damian de Allende
22. Jaco Taute
Referee: Craig Joubert
* Lock Andries Bekker will be playing in his 99th match for the DHL Stormers.
Good team still. Though think without Liebenberg and Kitshoff, Stormers scrum might struggle against a very good Saders scrum. Stormers lineouts are still their advantage though.
SB, why the asterisk asgainst Bekker’s name? Any reason for that? Hope he is okay and not carrying a niggle of sorts. He is your king pin in the Lineouts.
Crusaders are clear favourites as they basically have the home ground advantage, what with the Cape Town All Blacks and Cusaders Fan Club & all.
Crusaders by 33!
Crusaders team:1. Wyatt Crockett2. Corey Flynn3. Owen Franks4. Luke Romano5. Samuel Whitelock6. George Whitelock (c)7. Matt Todd8. Luke Whitelock9. Willi Heinz10. Tyler Bleyendaal11. Johnny McNicholl12. Ryan Crotty13. Robbie Fruean14. Tom Marshall15. Israel DaggReserves16. Ben Funnell17. Joe Moody18. Dominic Bird19. Jordan Taufua20. Andy Ellis21. Adam Whitelock22. Zac Guildford
The beginning of the end for Pat Cilliers methinks.
Why do the Stormers insist on plundering players from other provinces and then stuffing them up?
Cilliers, apart from anything else is a more than capable TIGHTHEAD prop who has played for the national side.
South Africa has VERY FEW international quality TIGHTHEAD props, and now the “brains trust” in Cape Town are going to try to convert one of them into a loosehead.
Before long he’ll be getting his head shoved up his rectum on a regular basis no matter what side of the scrum he’s on.
The props who can play equally well on either side of the scrum are few and far between.
Maybe Proudfoot knows something I don’t.
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