Stormers team to face the Cheetahs has been announced with Duane Vermeulen as captain of the side.
Due to injuries to Schalk Burger – calf, Jean de Villiers – neck, and Deon Fourie – quad, Vermeulen will lead the side out on Saturday.
As Elton Jantjies has been given compassionate time off because of his father’s untimely and unfortunate death due to a bee sting complication, he will not feature and will miss thefollowing warm-up matche as well.
From the Lions lads, Jaco Taute will start at fullback, Michael Rhodes and Pat Cilliers will feature from the bench and Martin Bezuidenhout sees time in the hooking berth for the run-on side.
Kurt Coleman replaces Elton Jantjies at flyhalf whilst Peter Grant is still in Japan. Gary van Aswegen, the other choice was left out of the match-day squad due to injury.
Stormers – 15 Jaco Taute, 14 Gio Aplon, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Kurt Coleman, 9 Louis Schreuder, 8 Duane Vermeulen (c), 7 Don Armand, 6 Nizaam Carr, 5 De Kock Steenkamp, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Martin Bezuidenhout, 1 Steven Kitshoff
Replacements: 16 Stephan Coetzee, 17 Pat Cilliers, 18 Ruan Botha, 19 Michael Rhodes, 20 Rayn Smid, 21 Dewaldt Duvenage, 22 Pat Howard, 23 Gerhard van den Heever, 24 Joe Pietersen.
January 30th, 2013 at 13:40 SAST
Good to see the rugby wheels finally start to turn, and rugby season really rolling out. Some good matches to look forward to this weekend.
January 30th, 2013 at 13:47 SAST
15. Hennie Daniller, 14. Jannie Boshoff, 13. Johann Sadie, 12. Rayno Benjamin, 11. Rocco Jansen, 10. Riaan Smit, 9. Sarel Pretorius, 8. Phillip van der Walt, 7. Davon Raubenheimer, 6. Boom Prinsloo, 5. Waltie Vermeulen, 4. Ligtoring Landman, 3. Lourens Adriaanse, 2. Adriaan Strauss (Captain), 1. Trevor Nyakane.
Replacements: 16. Ryno Barnes, 17. Caylib Oosthuizen, 18. Lood de Jager, 19. Francois Uys, 20. Frans Viljoen, 21. Juan Smith, 22. Lappies Labuscahgne, 23. Piet van Zyl, 24. Elgar Watts, 25. Barry Geel, 26. Willie le Roux, 27. Hansie Graaff.
Ha ha everybody marvelled at Rassie innovative disco lights and paddles, but Naka is cleverer, he uses a 12 guage replacement bench
January 30th, 2013 at 14:06 SAST
No Joe Pietersen?? or did i miss something along the way LOL.
Im not convinced Jaco Taute is as good as the hype created but we shall see…he didnt really impress me as a Springbok – but then again Test rugby is a different beast.
Nice to see the youngsters getting a run – hopefully they can do what they did in Currie and beat off the old guys lol.
was hoping to see Marcel Brache make the step up into the team – i personally think he is better than De Allende at centre.
cant wait for the season to be in full swing!
January 30th, 2013 at 14:09 SAST
@ fayaaz:Brache is still injured.
Alistair Coetzee singled out De Allende in the press conference as one of the players from last year’s Currie Cup side who has been particularly impressive.
Coetzee is looking to give as many of his fit players a run as possible as only players who have played in at least one of the two warm up games will be considered for the team to face the Bulls in the first “proper” match.
January 30th, 2013 at 14:11 SAST
@ fayaaz:
Great player Joe, a heart the size of Table Mountain, but he seems to be slowly beoming the Brent Russel of WP rugby (apart from being a look alike).
January 30th, 2013 at 14:14 SAST
@ Pietman:Hi Pietman, long time no hear! still sucking sand particles for a living?
January 30th, 2013 at 14:14 SAST
@ Stormersboy:
Howzit da innie Ville? Ek het die afgelope maand daar in jou valley rondgeloop en gebraai. Was moosa lekker, net warm!!!
January 30th, 2013 at 14:18 SAST
@ Just For Kicks:
Hola Kickers!
Yes, just started my new term of contract today, three months in, three months out….a man has to make a living somehow…
Howzit going over there with Beanie and all, wife says she sees her on facebook sometimes? Hope you are doing ok bru’.
January 30th, 2013 at 14:21 SAST
Out for a while, car service delivery at the door, laters all.
January 30th, 2013 at 14:23 SAST
Btw, where is that latest member of the ‘Luke fan club’, my old friend Superbul? Swimming again?
January 30th, 2013 at 14:34 SAST
@ Pietman:Bean very well, we’re all settled into out new lives in a freezing and damp middle of nowhere in Cumbria, but all enjoying life at the moment, none the less!
January 30th, 2013 at 15:44 SAST
@ Stormersboy:
Thanks for clearing that up…thought Brache was fixed up already.
As for Allisters comment on De Allende, i can fully understand why he singled him out. Lately WP/Stormers have been playing what i call Bulls rugby ie “ek hardloop deur jou” rugby.
De Allende lacks creativity and you need that from a 12. All he does is put his head down and run straight at the opposition instead of the holes. But ok he is ma only there till JdV gets back – and that will bring a lil more creativity to the backline..especially as he doesnt have to captain anymore.
January 30th, 2013 at 16:02 SAST
Star studded CC winning team should have no problem in putting 50 points over the CC cellar dwellers. Anything other result must be seen as a failiure for the Stormers.
January 30th, 2013 at 16:08 SAST
loosehead @ 13
CC cellar dwellers should put 50 points over the CC winning team seeing that they’re already match fit?
January 30th, 2013 at 16:53 SAST
14 @ Ashley:
CC winning team should be fit too, having spent the whole off season ducking and diving!
January 30th, 2013 at 19:30 SAST
@ fayaaz:
Alistair mentioned 3 people who can cover 12: Peter Grant, Juan De Jong, and De Allende. It seems that is where his thoughts are, but in what order I’m not sure. I guess Juan will be preferred at 13, but if he moves to 12 the Jaco could play 13 if required.
We’ll just have to wait and see.
January 30th, 2013 at 23:07 SAST
Was wondering if they didnt know how to count in Cape Town with 24 players named but then saw Cheetahs team with 12 on the bench, they must have agreed to experiment with it only being a warm up match basically a ‘competetive’ commercial practise session.