This is the fifth 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 SCRUMHALVES in the DHL Stormers 2014 Super Rugby group, and whether they could force their way into Bok contention.

The Contenders:

Name: Nicholas James “Nic” Groom :

Position Scrumhalf Height 1.73m Weight 83kg Date of Birth 21 February 1990 Place of Birth King William’s Town Provincial Debut 2011 Provincial Caps 49 Provincial Points 35 Super Rugby Debut 2011 Super Rugby Caps 11 Super Rugby Points 5 Test Debut Test Caps 0 Test Points 0

Nic Groom is a product of Rondebosch Boys Preparotory School, Rondebosch Boys High School and the University of Cape Town (UCT).

Groom started his career at Western Province back in 2008 at Under 18 level and has been loyal to Western Province and the Stormers.  Groom is no stranger to Super Rugby already, with 11 caps for the Stormers. He also has 49 provincial caps and two seasons of Varsity Cup behind him.

Groom will most likely see some game time, he is however likely to be the second choice scrumhalf in this Stormers squad behind Louis Schreuder.

His playing career is as follows:

• 2008 – Western Province – U18 Academy Week
• 2010 – UCT – Varsity Cup, Western Province – ABSA Under 21 Competition
• 2011 – DHL Western Province – Vodacom Cup, UCT – Varsity Cup, DHL Stormers – Vodacom Super Rugby, DHL Western Province – ABSA Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies, DHL Western Province – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Western Province – ABSA Under 21 Competition
• 2012 – DHL Stormers – Vodacom Super Rugby, DHL Western Province – Vodacom Cup, 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

Name: Louis Schreuder:

Position Scrumhalf Height 1.85m Weight 82kg Date of Birth 25 April 1990 Place of Birth Paarl Provincial Debut 2010 Provincial Caps 44 Provincial Points 15 Super Rugby Debut 2011 Super Rugby Caps 27 Super Rugby Points 5 Test Debut Test Caps 0 Test Points 0

Louis Schreuder is a product of Paarl Gymnasium and the University of Stellenbosch (Maties).

Schreuder started his career in 2006 at Under 16 level for Western Province. He was part of the Junior Springbok squad in 2010 and in 2013 he was also part of the Springbok squad for the Castle Lager Incoming and Outgoing Tour squads but is not yet capped. He would like to prove his worth in 2014 and give the Springbok coach some thinking to do at scrumhalf.

Schreuder will most likely be picked as the starting scrumhalf in most games and rightfully so. He is a solid defender and very potent on the attack. Many a brow will be raised should Schreuder not be picked as the starting scrumhalf.

His playing career is as follows:

• 2006 – Western Province – U16 Coca Cola Grant Khomo Week
• 2007 – Western Province – U18 Academy Week
• 2008 – South Africa – U/18 Elite Squads, Western Province – U18 Coca-Cola Craven Week
• 2009 – Western Province – ABSA Under 19 Competition
• 2010 – Maties – Varsity Cup, Western Province – Vodacom Cup, South Africa – IRB Junior World Championships, Vodacom Western Province – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Western Province – ABSA Under 21 Competition
• 2011 – DHL Western Province – Vodacom Cup, DHL Stormers – Vodacom Super Rugby, DHL Western Province – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Western Province – ABSA Under 21 Competition
• 2012 – DHL Stormers – Vodacom Super Rugby, DHL Western Province – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
• 2013 – DHL Stormers – Vodacom Super Rugby, Springboks – Castle Lager Incoming Series squad member, DHL Western Province – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Springboks – Castle Lager Outgoing Tour

Name: Johannes Haindly Joseph “Bolla” Conradie:

Position Scrumhalf Height 1.70m Weight 77kg Date of Birth 24 February 1978 Place of Birth Cape Town Provincial Debut 2000 Provincial Caps 136 Provincial Points 145 Super Rugby Debut 2002 Super Rugby Caps 77 Super Rugby Points 53 Test Debut 2002 v Wales Test Caps 18 Test Points 13

Bolla Conradie is a product of Kasselsvlei Primary School, Kasselsvlei Secondary School & Bellville South High School.

Conradie made his debut back in 1998 for Western Province Under 21 and at that time soon became a crowd favourite. Conradie boasts 136 provincial caps, 77 Super Rugby caps, 18 Springbok caps and he is also not bad at kicking to goal. He started his career at Western Province before making a move to the Boland Cavaliers in 2010. He found himself back in the Western Province Currie Cup squad in 2013.

Conradie will most likely not see too much game time. He is however a very capable replacement to have in your side should one of the regular scrumhalves pick up an injury.

His playing career is as follows:

• 1998 – Fedsure WP – Bankfin Under 21
• 1999 – Fedsure WP – Bankfin Under 21
• 2000 – Fedsure Western Province – Bankfin Currie Cup, Fedsure WP Pres A – SA Cup
• 2001 – Fedsure Western Province – Vodacom Cup, Fedsure Western Province – Bankfin Currie Cup
• 2002 – Stormers – Vodacom Super 12, Springboks – Incoming Tours, Springboks – Vodacom Tri-Nations, Investec Western Province – Bankfin Currie Cup, Springboks – Outgoing Tour
• 2003 – Investec Stormers – Vodacom Super 12, SA ‘A’ – Vodacom Incoming Tours, Investec WP – ABSA Currie Cup – Premier Division
• 2004 – Western Province – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Investec Stormers – Vodacom Super 12, Springboks – Vodacom Incoming Tours, Springboks – Vodacom Tri-Nations, Springboks – Vodacom Outgoing Tours
• 2005 – Investec Stormers – Vodacom Super 12, Springboks – Vodacom Incoming Tours, Investec Western Province – ABSA Currie Cup Qualifying Round, Investec Western Province – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
• 2006 – Vodacom Stormers – Vodacom Super 14, Vodacom Western Province – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
• 2007 – Vodacom Stormers – Vodacom Super 14, Springboks – Vodacom Tri-Nations, Vodacom Western Province – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
• 2008 – Vodacom Stormers – Vodacom Super 14, Springboks – Vodacom Incoming Tours, Vodacom WP – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Springboks – Vodacom Tri-Nations
• 2009 – Western Province – Vodacom Cup, Vodacom Stormers – Vodacom Super 14, Vodacom Western Province – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
• 2010 – Vodacom Stormers – Vodacom Super 14, Boland Kavaliers – Vodacom Cup, Boland – ABSA Currie Cup First Division
• 2011 – Boland Cavaliers – Vodacom Cup, Boland Cavaliers – ABSA Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies, Regent Boland Cavaliers – ABSA Currie Cup First Division
• 2012 – Regent Boland Cavaliers – Vodacom Cup, Regent Boland Cavaliers – ABSA Currie Cup First Division
• 2013 – DHL Western Province – Vodacom Cup, DHL Western Province – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division

Starters:

It is unlikely that the DHL Stormers will have a problem at scrumhalf. The most likely combination will be Louis Schreuder to start most games, with Nic Groom as bench back-up.

Bolla Conradie would however bring in very capable depth should it be required anywhere during the season. It will also not come as a surprise should he start one or two games.

The next Article in the range will deal with the Stormers flyhalves.