Three changes Stormers must consider

A FULL game for Ramone Samuels and start with Seabelo Senatla and EW Viljoen. That is what I would do if I was Robbie Fleck ahead of the Stormers’ clash against the mighty Crusaders this weekend.

Before the Stormers’ 34-27 Super Rugby loss to the Waratahs in Sydney, Fleck said that it was going to be important for his pack to be mobile and to have “fresh legs” on the pitch.

Those fresh legs were seen when Fleck made a number of changes later in the game, but one thing that stood out was the fact that not all of the changes made a notable difference.

In the first half of the contest, hooker Samuels,

pictured, had one of his best outings in the Stormers jersey undone perhaps by the one overthrown line-out ball at the end of the first 40.

So, I don’t understand why the Stormers coaching staff felt the need to replace Samuels with Dean Muir later on.

Muir was involved in two terrible line-outs – the last one proving the killer blow for the Stormers, as his overthrow led to the try that stole the ‘Tahs the victory. Muir wasn’t the only one to blame for what went down at the set-piece, as the Stormers men in the lineout should probably have kept it simple.

I get that match fitness could be a factor when it comes to how long Samuels stays on the field as he’s acted as Bongi Mbonambi’s back-up since he came to Cape Town but things will get really ugly if what happened at the line-out in Australia happens in Christchurch. So I’d stretch Samuels’ game time as far as possible against the Crusaders.

But apart from the changes, I think that the Stormers also need some “fresh legs” in the starting line-up.

I’d like to see Senatla come in. Dillyn Leyds, who started on the right wing on Saturday, sparked superb plays from the back when he started at fullback and linked up well with Senatla (who was on the right wing) against the Jaguares. And that kind of play would be a massive boost against the team that put almost 50 on the Chiefs at the weekend. But Robbie Fleck will probably go with SP Marais at 15 again and Leyds on the wing.

In midfield, I’d bring Viljoen in and start him at No 13, alongside Damian de Allende in the place of JJ Engelbrecht. Against the Jaguares, Viljoen was solid in defence and attack. And it would be good to see if he can bring his early-2017 form into the game in Christchurch.