The Stormers have received a major boost at prop this year with the rise in form of promising young loosehead Oliver Kebble.

Kebble was excellent for the WP in last year’s Under-21 provincial competition and he will get a chance on Saturday to show what he can do in the team’s friendly match against the Boland Cavaliers in Wellington.

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Western Province Under 21 and Vodacom Cup coach, John Dobson, has predicted big things for Kebble.

“Oli destroyed every tighthead he scrummed against last year. Oli can scrum, pass and carry the ball brilliantly and he makes a lot of tackles. He has everything.”

Kebble also adds versatility to the Stormers team with his ability to play at both tighthead and loosehead prop.

Oliver’s father, former Springbok and Sharks prop Guy Kebble, said he couldn’t be more proud of his son:

“I think he will go far and will one day achieve his goal of playing Test rugby, but for the moment he is patient and understands that Steven Kitshoff is first-choice at the Stormers and is happy to play in any capacity for his team,” Kebble said.

The Stormers have a bye during the first weekend of Super Rugby and will face the Cavaliers this Saturday, before taking on the Lion at Ellis Park in their opening Super Rugby fixture of the season on February 22nd. (kick-off is at 19:10)

Teams:

Boland: TBA

Stormers: 15 Jaco Taute, 14 EW Viljoen, 13 Kyle Lombard, 12 Michael van der Spuy, 11 Devon Williams, 10 Gary van Aswegen, 9 Godlen Masimla, 8 Rayn Smid, 7 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 6 Rohan Kitshoff, 5 Ruan Botha, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Pat Cilliers, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg (Captain), 1 Oliver Kebble
Replacements: 16 Alistair Vermaak, 17 Stephan Coetzee, 18 Brok Harris, 19 Tazz Fuzani, 20 Carel du Preez, 21 Eital Bredenkamp, 22 Justin Phillips, 23 Kurt Coleman, 24 JP Lewis, 25 Scott van Breda.