Promoted: Joe Pietersen
Stormers coach Allister Coetzee has made two changes to his team to take on the Sharks in Saturday's clash.
Full-back Joe Pietersen and tighthead prop Frans Malherbe come into the line-up from the side that went down 17-25 to the Bulls last Friday, whilst fly-half Peter Grant is back in the matchday 22 after completing his Japanese club commitments.
Joining Grant on the bench is prop Pat Cilliers - who started in the number three shirt last week - and scrum-half Louis Schreuder who will warm the bench in place of Dewaldt Duvenage.
Stormers: 15 Joe Pietersen, 14 Gio Aplon, 13 Jean de Villiers (c), 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Rynhardt Elstadt, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 De Kock Steenkamp, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Deon Fourie, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Replacements: 16 Martin Bezuidenhout, 17 Pat Cilliers, 18 Don Armand, 19 Nizaam Carr, 20 Louis Schreuder, 21 Peter Grant, 22 Gerhard van den Heever.
Date: Saturday, March 2
Venue: Kings Park, Durban
Kick-off: 19.10 (17.10 GMT)
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Jaco Peyper (South Africa), Cobus Wessels (South Africa)
TMO: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
Comments
JayStarr says...
@ rolf: They didn't send Catrakilis away - he signed with the Kings before the Currie Cup even started. WP tried very hard after the Currie Cup to retain his services, but the deal was done. The sad thing is (for Stormers - good for Kings) that Catrakilis only started showing form during the Currie Cup - and specifically the final. And then it was too late. On the other hand, Jantjies made the Springbok squad after an excellent season in a poor team. He kicked 9 penalties in one game - a Super Rugby record. Who would've know he would fall from grace like this... It's just unfortunate.
Burger is still recovering from a calf strain - should be back in a couple of weeks. Etzebeth's ankle is going to take a couple of months unfortunately... but I'm kind of relieved for the guy, because he played practically every single game last year.
Posted 23:06 27th February 2013
leebok says...
Start Jantjies ahead of Gant. Was Coetzee not watching when Jantjies missed 4 kicks?
Posted 19:49 27th February 2013
rolf says...
i think they might regret they sent chatrakilis away for Jantjes.
its justa gutt feeling.
when are Burger & Etzebeth due for return?
Posted 15:53 27th February 2013
JayStarr says...
Just like last week, a very good team. But their incredible individual talent and potential as a unit is of absolutely no worth if they can't even get off the bus for their biggest games of the season...
I am glad to see Joe Pietersen in the starting line-up, since he was the best player last week - even though he came off the bench. It sends the right message. And I'm sure he'll take over the kicking duties, so that means we should convert our kicking opportunities this time - and there should be less pressure on Jantjies, who will now hopefully concentrate on getting the back line going.
Other than that, the big names really need to wake up and step up. Aplon, JdV, Vermeulen and Bekker are supposed to be the "seniors" and "leaders" in that team. It's time they become less seniors and better leaders... Habana was the only one of them who was at least trying to lead by example.
We also know that Kolisi, Elstadt, Kitshoff and Fourie are capable of far more than they dished up last week.
I expect at the very least an improvement in our set pieces, defense and maul this week - because we know that this team knows how to do these things properly...
But what actually needs to improve, and I'm not sure it WILL improve for this weekend, is our attitude. The Sharks are going to come at us with all hellfire and brimstone after their embarrassing loss to us in the Currie Cup final - if we don't have an equal amount of fire in our bellies, we can forget about it.
Posted 14:19 27th February 2013
right14wing says...
Agreed!!! game style needs to change and improvements made , Sharks , Chiefs , Highlanders and Crusaders still to come who are all playing awesome attacking rugby however , i know the Stomers will come rite
Posted 12:34 27th February 2013
melkdave says...
Well i hope Pietsen has the kicking duties this weekend ,and Janities has worked on his running and distribution.The Stormers where absolutely dreadfull last week.The Sharks wont be easy either or in a forgiving mood as the two clubs are huge rivals ,
Posted 10:53 27th February 2013