This is the 7th in the series of Stormers Squad Contenders for Super Rugby 2014. We do 2 articles per week per South African Super Rugby participating franchise.

We discuss the players IN the Super Rugby Group, and not all the options beyond that.

In this Article we look at the contenders for MIDFIELD in the DHL Stormers 2014 Super Rugby group, and whether they could force their way into Bok contention.

The Contenders:

Name: Juan Leon “Juan” de Jongh:

Position Centre Height 1.75m Weight 85kg Date of Birth 15 April 1988 Place of Birth Paarl Provincial Debut 2009 Provincial Caps 39 Provincial Points 70 Super Rugby Debut 2010 Super Rugby Caps 57 Super Rugby Points 45 Test Debut 2010 v Wales Test Caps 14 Test Points 20

Juan de Jongh is a product of Hugenote Primary School and Hugenote High School.

He started his career in 2006 with Boland and represented them at Under 18 level. In 2007 he moved to Western Province where he started at Under 19 level. He remained loyal to Western Province and the Stormers since then. He has represented Western Province and the Stormers on all levels and has proven his worth through and through. He made his debut for the Springboks in 2010 after he was part of the 2009 Springbok squad, but did not get to play.

De Jongh is difficult to place here. Should he start alongside Jean de Villiers or should he come from the bench as an impact player, with Jean de Villiers and Damian de Allende as the starting pair. De Jongh has the talent to start in most sides throughout the world, but the only weakness I feel he has is that he tends to be a bit selfish with ball in hand.

His playing career is as follows:

• 2006 – South Africa – SA Schools U/18 B, Boland – U18 Coca Cola Craven Week
• 2007 – Vodacom WP – ABSA Under 19 Competition
• 2008 – Vodacom Stormers – Vodacom Super 14, Maties – Varsity Cup, WP – MTN test
• 2009 – Western Province – Vodacom Cup, Maties – Varsity Cup, Vodacom Western Province – ABSA Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies, Vodacom Western Province – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Springbok squad member – Vodacom Outgoing Tours
• 2010 – Springboks – Vodacom Incoming Tours, Vodacom Stormers – Vodacom Super 14, Springboks – Vodacom Tri-Nations, Vodacom Western Province -ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
• 2011 – Springboks – Castle Tri-Nations, DHL Stormers – Vodacom Super Rugby, DHL Western Province – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Springboks – IRB Rugby World Cup 2011
• 2012 – DHL Stormers – Vodacom Super Rugby, DHL Western Province – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Springboks – The Rugby Championship, Springboks – Castle Outgoing Tours
• 2013 – DHL Stormers – Vodacom Super Rugby, Springboks – Castle Lager Incoming Series, DHL Western Province – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Springboks – The Rugby Championship

Name: Jean de Villiers:

Position Centre Height 1.90m Weight 100kg Date of Birth 24 February 1981 Place of Birth Paarl Provincial Debut 2001 Provincial Caps 73 – (50 for Western Province and 23 for Munster) Provincial Points 190 Super Rugby Debut 2005 Super Rugby Caps 96 Super Rugby Points 135 Test Debut 2002 v France Test Caps 96 Test Points 125

Jean de Villiers is a product of Paarl Gymnasium and the University of Stellenbosch (Maties).

He could be seen as the “Super Hero” in this team, he has done it all and seen it all and has quite a few jerseys to prove it. He has been loyal to Western Province since the start of his career in 2001, except for a brief stint with Munster in the 2009 / 2010 season. He represented Western Province and the Stormers on all levels. He has also represented South Africa on all levels and is the current Springbok captain. He was part of the South African Under 19, Under 21, Sevens and National squads. He was also part of the 2003, 2007 and 2011 World Cup squads. He has more than proven his worth in all teams. In 2005 and 2008 he was nominated for SA Player Of The Year, he was voted Player’s Player Of The Year in 2008 and to top it off he was also nominated for Super 14 Player Of The Year in 2008.

De Villiers is without doubt going to be starting at No 12 (inside centre) for the Stormers. If he has a great season like last year, this will be great for the Stormers, spectators and the Springboks. He is slowly heading to the end of his career now and it seems the Springbok coach wants to keep him until the next World Cup. So, let’s hope he can keep his form and fitness up till then.

His playing career is as follows:

• 1999 – South Africa – FIRA U19
• 2000 – South Africa – FIRA U19
• 2001 – Fedsure Western Province – Vodacom Cup, South Africa – SANZAR U21
• 2002 – Western Province – Vodacom Cup, South Africa – IRB U21 World Cup, Western Province – Bankfin Under 21, Investec Western Province – Bankfin Currie Cup, South Africa – Commonwealth Games Sevens, Springboks – Outgoing Tour
• 2003 – Investec WP – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Springboks – Rugby World Cup Warm-ups
• 2004 – Western Province – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Springboks – Vodacom Tri-Nations, Springboks – Vodacom Outgoing Tours
• 2005 – Springboks – Vodacom Outgoing Tours, Investec Stormers – Vodacom Super 12, Springboks – Vodacom Incoming Tours, Investec Western Province – ABSA Currie Cup Qualifying Round, Springboks – Vodacom Tri-Nations, Springboks – Nelson Mandela Challenge, Investec Western Province – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
• 2006 – Springboks – Vodacom Outgoing Tours, Springboks – Vodacom Tri-Nations, Vodacom Stormers – Vodacom Super 14, Springboks – Vodacom Incoming Tours
• 2007 – Springboks – Rugby World Cup warm-up matches, Vodacom Stormers – Vodacom Super 14, Springboks – Vodacom Incoming Tours, Springboks – Vodacom Tri-Nations, Springboks – IRB Rugby World Cup 2007
• 2008 – Vodacom Stormers – Vodacom Super 14, Springboks – Vodacom Incoming Tours, Vodacom WP – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Springboks – Vodacom Tri-Nations, Springboks – Vodacom Outgoing Tour
• 2009 – Vodacom Stormers – Vodacom Super 14, Springboks – British & Irish Lions Tour, Springboks – Vodacom Tri-Nations, Springboks – Vodacom Outgoing Tours, Munster
• 2010 – Munster, Springboks – Vodacom Incoming Tours, Springboks – Vodacom Tri-Nations, Vodacom Western Province – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Springboks – Outgoing Tours
• 2011 – Springboks – Castle Tri-Nations, DHL Stormers – Vodacom Super Rugby, DHL Western Province – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Springboks – IRB Rugby World Cup 2011
• 2012 – DHL Stormers – Vodacom Super Rugby, Springboks – Castle Incoming Tours, DHL Western Province – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Springboks – Castle Outgoing Tours
• 2013 – DHL Stormers – Vodacom Super Rugby, Springboks – Castle Lager Incoming Series, DHL Western Province – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Springboks – The Rugby Championship, Springboks – Castle Lager Outgoing Tour, Barbarians vs Fiji

Name: Michael George “Michael” van der Spuy:

Position Centre Height 1.81m Weight 89kg Date of Birth 20 February 1991 Place of Birth Bethlehem Provincial Debut 2011 Provincial Caps 24 Provincial Points 25 Super Rugby Debut Super Rugby Caps 0 Super Rugby Points 0 Test Debut Test Caps 0 Test Points 0

Michael van der Spuy is a product of Truida Kestell Primary School, Grey College and Stellenbosch University (Maties).

He started his career in 2010 with Western Province at Under 19 level. He has gone on to represent them at Under 21, Vodacom Cup and Currie Cup levels.

Van der Spuy is most likely not going to see much game time, unless injuries occur. He finds himself in a squad with good talent and experience at centre and two of them are current Springboks as well. It would be good too see young players like Van der Spuy in action, but it is doubtfull that it will happen.

His playing career is as follows:

• 2010 – Western Province – ABSA Under 19 Competition
• 2011 – Vodacom Western Province – Vodacom Cup, Maties – Varsity Cup, DHL Western Province – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Western Province – ABSA Under 21 Competition
• 2012 – DHL Western Province – Vodacom Cup, DHL Western Province – ABSA Under 21 Competition
• 2013 – DHL Western Province – Vodacom Cup, DHL Western Province – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division

Name: Damian de Allende:

Position Centre Height 1.89m Weight 101kg Date of Birth 25 November 1991 Place of Birth Cape Town Provincial Debut 2012 Provincial Caps 24 Provincial Points 30 Super Rugby Debut 2013 Super Rugby Caps 14 Super Rugby Points 0 Test Debut Test Caps 0 Test Points 0

Damian de Allende is a product of Milnerton Primary School and Milnerton High School.

He started his career in 2010 at Under 19 level for Western Province. He represented Western Province at Under 21 level in 2011 and then at Currie Cup Level in 2012, to find himself in the Super Rugby squad in 2013.

De Allende is a great talent and I can see green and gold in his future. He still needs another season or two to mature and with the right guidance and coaching could become a big name world rugby.

His playing career is as follows:

• 2010 – Western Province – ABSA Under 19 Competition
• 2011 – Western Province – ABSA Under 21 Competition
• 2012 – UCT – Varsity Cup, DHL Western Province – Vodacom Cup, DHL Western Province – ABSA Under 21 Competition, DHL Western Province – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
• 2013 – DHL Western Province – Vodacom Cup, DHL Stormers – Vodacom Super Rugby, DHL Western Province – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division

Starters:

The Stormers does not have a shortage of quality centres. The big question however, is what the coaching staff will do iin their selections.

My pick would be to play Jean de Villiers at No 12 (inside centre) and Damian de Allende at No 13 (outside centre), with Juan de Jongh on the bench as an impact player with regular game time.

Rotation between these three players could keep them fresh and injury free, so this is a good combination for the Stormers.

The next Article in the range will deal with the Stormers Back Three.