Springbok captain Jean de Villiers is back in the DHL Stormers line-up in one five changes to the team for Saturday’s Vodacom Super Rugby clash against the Lions at DHL Newlands (kick-off 17h05).
De Villiers resumes the team captaincy from Duane Vermeulen and will line up at inside centre, with Damian de Allende shifting back to the right-wing – in place of the injured Kobus van Wyk – for the DHL Stormers’ second all-South African encounter of the season.
In other changes amongst the backs this week, Nic Groom and Demetri Catrakilis return to form a new-look halfback combination for the Stormers, with Peter Grant shifting to fullback and scrumhalf Louis Schreuder and fullback Jaco Taute dropping down to the bench.
The DHL Stormers pack remains unchanged from their previous clash – against the Waratahs in Cape Town two weeks ago – but there are a number of additions amongst the replacements.
Joining Schreuder and Taute on the bench this week are fit-again prop Pat Cilliers and lock Jurie van Vuuren – replacing the injured pair of Oli Kebble and Tazz Fuzani, respectively – whilst winger Devon Williams, the top try-scorer in the 2014 Vodacom Cup, comes into a Super Rugby matchday squad for the first time in his fledgling career.
“It’s obviously great to welcome back Jean de Villiers this week, but so too Pat Cilliers and Jurie van Vuuren from injury,” commented DHL Stormers coach Allister Coetzee.
“Jurie is part of a youthful bench, four of whom were still playing Under-21 rugby last season and two who are still eligible for the DHL WP U21 team this year.
“We have never been afraid to give young players a chance at the DHL Stormers and it’s always an exciting time when someone is on the verge of making his debut as is the case with Devon.”
The DHL Stormers went down 10-34 to the Lions back in February and looking ahead to the return encounter Coetzee told the www.iamastormer.com website: “We know that the Lions are a quality side, as they showed against us in Johannesburg earlier this season.
“We were poor at managing the Lions’ contestable kicking game at Ellis Park and our line-out also didn’t function well enough. It’s a different venue, here at sea level, but we really have to ensure that our set-piece fires.”
DHL Stormers: 15 Peter Grant, 14 Damian de Allende, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Jean de Villiers (Captain), 11 Sailosi Tagicakibau, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Siya Kolisi, 6 Nizaam Carr, 5 Michael Rhodes, 4 Ruan Botha, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Deon Fourie, 1 Steven Kitshoff
Replacements: 16 Stephan Coetzee, 17 Pat Cilliers, 18 Brok Harris, 19 Jurie van Vuuren, 20 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 21 Louis Schreuder, 22 Devon Williams, 23 Jaco Taute.
Referee: Stuart Berry (South Africa)
I would have Dimitri at 15 with Peter at 10
I would have Peter Grant testing mercury levels in bluefin tuna of the northern coast of Japan.
gunther wrote:
Plus 1
Allister perhaps regretting the indecent haste with he shunted aside Joe Pietersen… when he signed Jaco Taute…
But “our processes are good”…?
Tiresome how AC blames his players, injuries, the schedule, decision making, finishing off… but will not accept any responsibility himself…
Some check AC’s legs please… he may related to Oscar…!
someone…
😳
@ ufo:
He’s worse than Zoomer.
Although the Stormers continue to languish at the bottom of the Super 14 standings, AC’s processes are out of the very top drawer. I hear his structures are thinking of running for mayor.
aaaaaah, I get it!
its AC’s april fool’s joke!!
kaksioek wrote:
Correction, we are not languishing, we are as firmly rooted to the bottom of the log as a tick on Lambie.
We are not moving anywhere soon
@Kaki
I actually wish it were still Super 14, then at least we could say our team is 14th on the log
@ nortierd:
I was just trying to be nice 😆 OK, my mistake.
@ Ashley:
Some people are a day late and a dollar short. AC is 15 days late and 15 players short.
kaksioek wrote:
Lol, we dream of 14th, but those damn Cheetahs have first dibs to that spot
kaksioek @ 12
well spotted!!!
When they told AC, “well AC we have 2 flyhalves, and 3 inside centers, a tall wing and a kicking scrumhalf… but who do we pick?”
AC: “Fuck it, lets just play all of them at once”
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