Stormers hold breath over Juan

Rudolph Jacobs

Centre Juan de Jongh will endure an anxious wait before he’ll know whether he will feature for the Stormers in their Super Rugby match against the Brumbies at Newlands tomorrow.

De Jongh, who picked up a hip injury last weekend against the Cheetahs, was yesterday bracketed alongside Huw Jones in the No 13 position.

“Juan’s recovery has been a lot quicker than we thought as this is normally a 10-day injury,” said coach Allister Coetzee.

“But we still give him until kickoff on Saturday should he show any late discomfort.

“We will never play a player if he is not ready, but Juan has made a lot of progress and came through his fitness test.”

If De Jongh is fit, Jones will be on the bench. If the Bok midfielder is ruled out Jones, a specialist No 12, will start in the No 13 jersey with Pat Howard added to the substitutes.

The Stormers have been boosted by the return of the Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth and prop Steven Kitshoff after both were rested last weekend.

Jean Kleyn makes way for Etzebeth, who will be partnered by Manuel Carizza. The Argentine replaces Ruan Botha, out for six weeks after picking up an ankle injury against the Cheetahs.

Kitshoff has replaced the young Oli Kebble, who is out of the match-day squad after earning his fi rst start last weekend.