Storm about to break
FLECK’S TEAM LOADED WITH BOKS AHEAD OF CLASH WITH BULLS They however have a horrendous number of injuries.
The Stormers have boosted their squad with the return of several Springboks for this afternoon’s Super Rugby warm-up against the Bulls in Wellington. Included in the side are the likes of prop Steven Kitshoff, hooker Bongi Mbonambi, prop Wilco Louw and wing Dillyn Leyds.
Other regulars include lock Jan de Klerk, scrumhalves Dewaldt Duvenage and Justin Phillips, flyhalf Damian Willemse and centre EW Viljoen, who have all been included in the 28-man Stormers squad after missing the previous pre-season game with SWD Eagles in George.
Stormers coach Robbie Fleck has also spread his net wider by giving the rest of his squad a run disguised as a Western Province Invitational team who will be in action in a pre-season double-header at Boland Park.
The Bulls will be captained by centre Burger Odendaal, while other Boks like hooker Adriaan Strauss, prop Lizo Gqoboko and lock Lood de Jager will only be employed from the bench.
While the Bulls lost their first warm-up 31-14 to the Sharks in Polokwane, it’s more important for coach John Mitchell to test several combinations with Boks like centre Jesse Kriel and flyhalf Handre Pollard still wrapped in cotton wool.
The Western Province Invitational match against Boland Elite will allow the Stormers management to get a good look at the depth available to them, with two players – Salmaan Moerat and Josh Stander – set for game time in both matches in Wellington today.
Fleck said the players are looking forward to testing themselves against the Bulls before the campaign gets underway.
“The players have worked very hard in pre-season, so this match will give us a good chance to get some competitive game-time under our belts,” said Fleck.
“We want to ensure our players are totally up to speed, so we can be at our best at the start of what will be another demanding season.”
Stormers players that were not available for selection due to injury include Ali Vermaak (hamstring), Scarra Ntubeni (hamstring), Frans Malherbe (neck), Eben Etzebeth (shoulder), Pieter-Steph du Toit (back), Siya Kolisi (hamstring), Juarno Augustus (neck), Jano Vermaak (knee), JeanLuc du Plessis (hip), Dan du Plessis (shoulder) and SP Marais (toe).
Wing Seabelo Senatla and flank Sikhumbuzo Notshe are away on Springbok Sevens duty and Nizaam Carr is being rested, having recently returned from a loan spell with London Wasps.
Kick-off is at 4pm.