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

The Contenders:

Name: Schalk Willem Petrus “Schalk” Burger:

Position Loose Forward Height 1.93m Weight 110kg Date of Birth 13 April 1983 Place of Birth Port Elizabeth Provincial Debut 2003 Provincial Caps 37 Provincial Points 35 Super Rugby Debut 2004 Super Rugby Caps 88 Super Rugby Points 35 Test Debut  2003 v Georgia Test Caps 68 Test Points 65

Burger is a product of Hugo Rust Primary, Paarl Gymnasium and University of Stellenbosch.

Burger has been around the block quite a bit. He started his career with Western Province U/21 way back in 2002. From there he achieved great highs. He Was part of the 2007 World Cup winning Springbok squad and he was also part of the Springbok sides that won the 2004 and 2009 Tri-Nations. He was also voted SA Rugby Player of the Year in 2004 and 2011.

He was also nominated as Young SA Rugby Player of the Year in 2003 and 2004 and was voted IRB Player of the Year in 2004. To top it off he holds a combined record (in conjunction with Juan Smith) for most tries as a Springbok flanker with 11 tries.

There has been a lot of question marks regarding Burger and whether it is time to retire. Burger will always give 150% and being well rested after his long term injury, he would like to prove a point in 2014. The Stormers have quite a number of quality loose forwards, so the competition will be stiff with no margin for error.

His playing career is as follows:

• 2002 – Western Province U/21 – Bankfin Under 21, Western province U/19 – U19 Competition
• 2003 – Investec Stormers – Vodacom Super 12, Investec Western Province – Vodacom Shield, South Africa – IRB U21 World Cup, Investec WP – ABSA Currie Cup – Premier Div, South Africa – RWC Warm-ups, South Africa – IRB Rugby World Cup
• 2004 – Western Province – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Investec Stormers – Vodacom Super 12, South Africa – Vodacom Incoming Tours, South Africa – Vodacom Tri-Nations, South Africa – Vodacom Outgoing Tours
• 2005 – South Africa – Vodacom Outgoing Tours, Investec Stormers – Vodacom Super 12, South Africa – Vodacom Incoming Tours, Investec Western Province – ABSA Currie Cup Qualifying Round, South Africa – Vodacom Tri-Nations, South Africa – Nelson Mandela Challenge, Investec Western Province – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
• 2006 – Vodacom Stormers – Vodacom Super 14, South Africa – Vodacom Incoming Tours
• 2007 – South Africa – World Cup warm-up matches, Vodacom Stormers – Vodacom Super 14, South Africa – Vodacom Incoming Tours, South Africa – Vodacom Tri-Nations, South Africa – Vodacom Outgoing Tour, South Africa – IRB Rugby World Cup
• 2008 – Vodacom Stormers – Vodacom Super 14, South Africa – Vodacom Incoming Tours, Vodacom WP – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Div, South Africa – Vodacom Tri-Nations, South Africa – Vodacom Outgoing Tour
• 2009 – Vodacom Stormers – Vodacom Super 14, South Africa – British & Irish Lions Tour, Vodacom Western Province – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, South Africa – Vodacom Tri-Nations, South Africa – Vodacom Outgoing Tours
• 2010 – South Africa – Vodacom Incoming Tours, Vodacom Stormers – Vodacom Super 14, South Africa – Vodacom Tri-Nations, Vodacom Western Province – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
• 2011 – DHL Stormers – Vodacom Super Rugby, DHL Western Province – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, South Africa – IRB Rugby World Cup
• 2012 – DHL Stormers – Vodacom Super Rugby
• 2013 – Stormers – Vodacom Super Rugby, DHL Western Province – Absa Currie Cup Premier Division

Name: Rynhardt Elstadt:

Position Loose Forward, Lock Height 1.93m Weight 116kg Date of Birth 20 December 1989 Place of Birth Johannesburg Provincial Debut 2010 Provincial Caps 24 Provincial Points 0 Super Rugby Debut 2011 Super Rugby Caps 37 Super Rugby Points 0 Test Debut Test Caps 0 Test Points 0

Elstadt is a product of Montagu Primary and Montagu High.

Elstadt started his rugby at Boland at U/16 level in 2005 and he also represented Boland at U/18 level before making his move to Cape Town to represent Western Province at U/19 level in 2008. He was also part of the Junior Springbok squad in 2009.

Elstadt is a very physical player that will never shy away from contact. He is better known as a lock and there will be no surprises if this is where he gets picked this season.

He is also known for his aggressive play and should work on his discipline.

His playing career is as follows:

• 2005 – Boland – U16 Coca Cola Grant Khomo Week
• 2006 – Boland – U18 Coca Cola Craven Week
• 2007 – Boland – U18 Coca-Cola Craven Week
• 2008 – Vodacom Western Province U/19 – ABSA Under 19 Competition
• 2009 – South Africa – IRB Junior World Championships, Western province – ABSA Under 21 Competition
• 2010 – Maties – FNB Varsity Cup, Western Province – Vodacom Cup, Western Province – ABSA Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies, Vodacom Western Province – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
• 2011 – DHL Storemers – Vodacom Super Rugby, DHL Western Province – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
• 2012 – DHL Stormers – Vodacom Super Rugby, DHL Western Province – Vodacom Cup, DHL Western Province – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
• 2013 – Stormers – Vodacom Super Rugby, DHL Western Province – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division

Name: Rohan Kitshoff:

Position Loose Forward Height 1.80m Weight 100kg Date of Birth 13 September 1985 Place of Birth Windhoek Provincial Debut 2007 Provincial Caps 89 Provincial Points 95 Super Rugby Debut 2013 Super Rugby Caps 1 Super Rugby Points 0 Test Debut 2010 for Namibia Test Caps 9 Test Points 5

Rohan Kitshoff is a product of Namibia. He attended Vredenburg Primary, HTS Drostdy and CPUT.

Kitshoff started his provincial career in 2006 where he represented Western Province at U/21 level. He has represented local sides Western Province and Griquas. He also represented his country (Namibia) at the 2011 World Cup.

It is a difficult task to place Rohan Kitshoff in this side. He has quite a number of provincial caps and only 1 cap in Super Rugby. He will relish the chance at some game time, yet he will most likely be low down in the pecking order, considering that the Stormers are boasting 3 Springboks in their loose forward division.

His playing career is as follows:

• 2006 – Vodacom Western Province – ABSA Under 21 Competition, Vodacom Western Province – Vodacom Cup
• 2007 – Vodacom Western Province – Vodacom Cup, Wildeklawer Griquas – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Div, Vodacom Western Province – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
• 2008 – Wildeklawer Griquas – Vodacom Cup, Wildeklawer Griquas – ABSA Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies, Wildeklawer Griquas – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
• 2009 – GWK Griquas – Vodacom Cup, GWK Griquas – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
• 2010 – Griquas – Vodacom Cup, GWK Griquas – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
• 2011 – DHL Western Province – Vodacom Cup, DHL Stormers – Vodacom Super Rugby, DHL Western Province – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Namibia – IRB Rugby World Cup
• 2012 – DHL Western Province – Vodacom Cup
• 2013 – DHL Western Province – Vodacom Cup, Stormers – Vodacom Super Rugby, DHL Western Province – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division

Name: Siyamthanda “Siya” Kolisi:

Position Loose Forward Height 1.88m Weight 98kg Date of Birth 16 June 1991 Place of Birth Port Elizabeth Provincial Debut 2011 Provincial Caps 23 Provincial Points 25 Super Rugby Debut 2012 Super Rugby Caps 29 Super Rugby Points 15 Test Debut 15 June 2013 vs Scotland at Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit Test Caps 10 Test Points 0

Kolisi is a product of Grey Junior School and Grey High School in Port Elizabeth.

Kolisi represented Eastern Province at U/16 level back in 2007 and has only moved upwards from there. He was scooped up by Western Province in 2010 after he represented the Junior Springboks at the IRB Junior World Championships. He was part of the Springbok training squad in 2012 and went on to make his debut in 2013 against Scotland in the Castle Lager Incoming Series.

Kolisi has become quite a favourite at Newlands. There will be a number of brows raised, if he does not get regular game time.

His playing career is as follows:

• 2007 – Eastern Province – U16 Coca-Cola Grant Khomo Week
• 2008 – U/18 Elite Squad – Elite Squads, South Africa – SA Schools, Eastern Province – U18 Coca-Cola Craven Week, BA Mighty Elephants – ABSA Under 19 Competition
• 2009 – EP – U18 Coca-Cola Craven Week, South Africa – SA U/18 High Performance, South Africa – SA Schools
• 2010 – South Africa – IRB Junior World Championships, Western Province – ABSA Under 21 Competition, Western Province – ABSA Under 19 Competition
• 2011 – DHL Western Province – Vodacom Cup, UCT – Varsity Cup, DHL Stormers – Vodacom Super Rugby, South Africa – IRB Junior World Championships, DHL Western Province – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Western Provicne – ABSA Under 21 Competition
• 2012 – DHL Stormers – Vodacom Super Rugby, DHL Western Province – ABSA Under 21 Competition, DHL Western Province – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, South Africa – The Rugby Championship
• 2013 – DHL Stormers – Vodacom Super Rugby, South Africa – Castle Incoming Series, DHL Western Province – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, South Africa – The Rugby Championship, South Africa – Castle Outgoing Tours

Name: Michael Kenworthy “Michael” Rhodes:

Position Loose Forward, Lock Height 1.97m Weight 113kg Date of Birth 19 December 1987 Place of Birth Durban Provincial Debut 2008 Provincial Caps 72 Provincial Points 75 Super Rugby Debut 2011 Super Rugby Caps 24 Super Rugby Points 30 Test Debut Test Caps 0 Test Points 0

Rhodes is a product of Riverview Primary and Michaelhouse.

Rhodes started his career at the Sharks back in 2005 at U/18 level, since then he has represented the Lions and now the Stormers.

Rhodes is a very versatile player and for a big forward has some pace as well. There has been  a lot of questions regarding his starting position. Most would feel that he should start at lock and not even be listed as a loose forward.

Under current circumstances in the squad Rhodes is the perfect replacement as he can play at both lock and loose forward. It will be interesting to see how the Stormers coaching staff uses Rhodes and what his role will be.

His playing career is as follows:

• 2005 – Kwa-Zulu Natal – U18 Coca Cola Craven Week
• 2006 – KZN U/19 – ABSA Under 19 Competition
• 2007 – Sharks XV – ABSA Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies, Shraks U/21 – ABSA Under 21 Competition
• 2008 – Wildebeest – Vodacom Cup, Sharks U/21 – ABSA Under 21 Competition
• 2009 – Sharks XV – Vodacom Cup, Sharks – British & Irish Lions Tour, Sharks – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
• 2010 – Sharks – Vodacom Super 14, Sharks XV – Vodacom Cup, Sharks Invitational XV – ABSA Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies, Sharks – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
• 2011 – MTN Golden Lions – Vodacom Cup, MTN Lions – Vodacom Super Rugby, MTN Golden Lions – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
• 2012 – MTN Lions – Vodacom Super Rugby, MTN Golden Lions – 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: Nizaam Carr:

Position Loose Forward Height 1.84m Weight 103kg Date of Birth 4 April 1991 Place of Birth Cape Town Provincial Debut 2011 Provincial Caps 17 Provincial Points 5 Super Rugby Debut 2012 Super Rugby Caps 21 Super Rugby Points 0 Test Debut Test Caps 0 Test Points 0

Nizaam Carr is a product of West End Primary, Bishops High and UCT.

Carr is a local lad and has been true to Western Province since he started playing rugby. He first represented Western Province at U/16 level back in 2007. He is still a young player and with one or two more seasons under the belt, could mature into a world class act. He is known for being a  No 8 and is currently playing in Springbok Duane Vermeulen’s shadow. Carr has however proven that in Duane’s absence he is more than capable to play the No 8 role.

As already stated, Carr finds himself in a squad with 3 Springbok loose forwards, so selection to start could see him suffer a bit. Having said so, I am sure that Carr will see some game time and is the perfect player to have for rotation with Duane Vermeulen at No 8.

His playing career is as follows:

• 2007 – Western Province – U16 Coca-Cola Grant Khomo Week
• 2008 – South Africa – U/18 Elite Squad, Western Province – U18 Coca-Cola Craven Week
• 2009 – WP – U18 Coca-Cola Craven Week, South Africa – SA U/18 High Performance, South Africa – SA Schools, Western Province – ABSA Under 19 Competition
• 2010 – Western Province – ABSA Under 19 Competition
• 2011 – UCT – Varsity Cup, South Africa – IRB Junior World Championships, 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 Under 21 Competition
• 2013 – DHL Western Province – Vodacom Cup, DHL Stormers – Vodacom Super Rugby, DHL Western Province – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division

Name: Daniel Johannes “Duane” Vermeulen:

Position Loose Forward Height 1.93m Weight 108kg Date of Birth 3 July 1986 Place of Birth Nelspruit Provincial Debut 2005 Provincial Caps 92 Provincial Points 65 Super Rugby Debut 2007 Super Rugby Caps 82 Super Rugby Points 25 Test Debut 2012 v Australia Test Caps 16 Test Points 5

Duane Vermeulen is a product of Nelspruit Primary School, Nelspruit High School and RAU.

He is the MAN of the hour when it comes to loose forwards in South Africa. He has become a force to be reckoned with world wide and is very close to Kieran Reid as the prime No 8 in world rugby. Being born in Nelspruit, Vermeulen started his career in Mpumalanga and the Pumas back in 2004 at U/18 level. He represented the Pumas until 2006 when he made a move to the Free State in 2007 for a two year stint before making his move down to Cape Town in 2009.

There will be no doubt as to who the starting No 8 at the Stormers will be this season and most likely for some seasons to come. What makes Vermeulen unique is that he can fetch like a proper fetcher and put in hits like a run away train.

His playing career is as follows:

• 2004 – Mpumalanga – U18 Coca-Cola Craven Week, @tlantinc Pumas – ABSA U20 Competition Section B
• 2005 – @lantic Pumas – ABSA Currie Cup Qualifying Round, Pumas – ABSA Under 21 Competition, @tlantic Pumas – ABSA Currie Cup First Division
• 2006 – @tlantic Pumas – Vodacom Cup, @talntic Pumas – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
• 2007 – Vodacom Cheetahs – Vodacom Super 14, Free State – Vodacom Cup, Vodacom Free State Cheetahs – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
• 2008 – Vodacom Cheetahs – Vodacom Super 14, Vodacom FS Cheetahs – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
• 2009 – Vodacom Stormers – Vodacom Super 14, Vodacom Western Province – British & Irish Lions Tour, Emerging Springboks – British & Irish Lions Tour, Vodacom Western Province – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
• 2010 – Vodacom Stormers – Vodacom Super 14, Western Province – ABSA Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies, Vodacom Western Province – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
• 2011 – DHL Stormers – Vodacom Super Rugby, DHL Western Province – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
• 2012 – DHL Stormers – Vodacom Super Rugby, DHL Western Province – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Springboks – The Rugby Championship, Springboks – Castle Outgoing Tours
• 2013 – DHL Stormers – Vodacom Super Rugby, DHL Western Province – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Springboks – The Rugby Championship, Springboks – Castle Outgoing Tours

Starters:

How to pick a loose forward trio here… one is quite an easy choice, Duane Vermeulen at No 8.

One feels that the best combination here would be to pick Deon Fourie at Openside flank (No 6), Siya Kolisi at Blindside flank (No 7) and Duane Vermeulen at No 8.

Deon Fourie was however listed as a hooker and this could mean that Schalk Burger could start at Openside (No 6), which would mean that there will be no recognized fetchers in the starting lineup.

Let’s just hope that the Stormers coaching staff have considered the ramifications properly and caused themselves some headaches as to who of the players (Rhodes & Elstadt) listed as loose forwards are better knows as locks.

It will be quite interesting who will  be picked in what positions, when it comes to actual game time. One thing is for sure, Stormers fans are in for a few selection surprises.

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