The DHL Stormers will take on the Crusaders in Christchurch on Saturday (kick-off 08h35 SA time) without injured forwards, lock Rynhardt Elstadt and flanker Siya Kolisi, with the fit-again De Kock Steenkamp and Schalk Burger replacing them up front. Burger resumes the team vice-captaincy after missing last Friday’s nailbiting 19-18 win over the Hurricanes at DHL Newlands with a mild groin strain, whilst Steenkamp will make his first appearance of the season having also recovered from a groin injury of his own. At scrumhalf, in an unforced change, Nic Groom will earn his first start of 2014, whilst the loss of Elstadt and Manuel Carizza – the latter with a wrist injury from the ‘Canes match – sees former DHL WP Under-21 lock Ruan Botha earn a place on the bench on debut. Michael Rhodes, after two appearances from the bench this season, will start in place of Elstadt in the No.4 jersey. Louis Schreuder will join Botha on the bench, along with experienced flyhalf Peter Grant – who joined the team from Japan this week – and new wing signing Sailosi Tagicakibau, who joined the DHL Stormers from London Irish just a few days ago. The DHL Stormers team for Saturday (v the Crusaders) is as follows: 15. Jaco Taute 14. Kobus van Wyk 13. Jean de Villiers (captain) 12. Damian de Allende 11. Gio Aplon 10. Demetri Catrakilis 9. Nic Groom 8. Duane Vermeulen 7. Schalk Burger (vice-captain) 6. Deon Fourie 5. De Kock Steenkamp 4. Michael Rhodes 3. Frans Malherbe 2. Scarra Ntubeni 1. Steven Kitshoff Replacements: 16. Tiaan Liebenberg 17. Oliver Kebble 18. Pat Cilliers 19. Ruan Botha 20. Nizaam Carr 21. Louis Schreuder 22. Peter Grant 23. Sailosi Tagicakibau Referee: Referee: Rohan Hoffmann (Australia)
Posted on: Wed, 05 Mar 2014 06:04:03 +0000
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