Stormers bring in the big guns for Boland
THE STORMERS may have beaten a near full-strength Bulls side with a “B” team, but they’ve pulled out the big Springbok guns for their last warm-up game against Boland tomorrow.
Robbie Fleck’s side pounced on the Bulls’ mistakes in their superhero-themed friendly at Cape Town Stadium and won one half of the Sunday doubleheader 33-28.
It’s a result Fleck was pleased with as the younger, less-experienced players got to stake a claim in front of a crowd of almost 50 000, while it was also the ultimate example of that internal competition Fleck has mentioned a few times before (internal competition he hopes will add another dimension or two to their Super Rugby performances).
There are nine Bok names on the teamsheet for the Stormers’ Boland Stadium fixture after their international players were given a rest for the first warm-up match against False Bay RFC and a combined club XV two weeks ago, and also against the Bulls.
Up front, props Frans Malherbe and Steven Kitshoff and hooker Bongi Mbonambi will come into the front row, with JD Schickerling and Cobus Wiese completing the second row.
The loose trio will see captain Siya Kolisi start at openside flank alongside Pieter-Steph du Toit and No 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe – who had a solid outing on Sunday, especially when it came to the physical exchanges. Jaco Coetzee, Kobus van Dyk and Juarno Augustus will provide back-up on the bench, and just like Notshe, Augustus is another player who will want to make the Wellington game a sequel to his last performance after he owned the No 8 position against the Bulls.
Justin Phillips and Damian Willemse will form the halfback pairing after Josh Stander started at No 10 against Pote Human’s men, while Damian de Allende and Ruhan Nel will take centre stage. The back three will consist of Craig Barry at No 15, and JJ Engelbrecht and SP Marais just inside the touchlines.
Flyhalf Jean-Luc du Plessis will get to run out for the first time in over five months when he comes off the bench tomorrow evening.
Even with Sergeal Petersen, Dillyn Leyds and Seabelo Senatla injured, the quality the Stormers are still able to put out in their back three is testament to their depth.
All three of them will be ready for their Super Rugby-opener against the Bulls, however, and Fleck said the game in Wellington is an important one to tick those final boxes.
“The Springboks need a good hitout, so we brought them in,” Fleck said. “Sergeal has got a bit of a bone bruise on his foot, but he, Dillyn Leyds, Seabelo Senatla and Jano Vermaak will all be available for selection against the Bulls.
“Boland are always highly motivated to play us in Wellington, so we are looking forward to pushing ourselves.
“We have a number of players coming in after a pre-season conditioning phase, so it will be important for us to gel as a unit and get as much as we possibly can out of this game.”
Stormers: 15 Craig Barry, 14 JJ Engelbrecht, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 SP Marais, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Justin Phillips, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Cobus Wiese, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Replacements: 16 Chad Solomon, 17 Corne Fourie, 18 Neethling Fouche, 19 Chris van Zyl, 20 Jaco Coetzee, 21 Juarno Augustus, 22 Kobus van Dyk, 23 Herschel Jantjies, 24 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 25 Joshua Stander, 26 Dan du Plessis, 27 Dan Kriel, 28 Nico Leonard.