Ex Keo
No 8 Duane Vermeulen will captain the injury-hit Stormers in their upcoming match against the Reds.
Stormers captain and first-choice No 12 Jean de Villiers sustained a wrist injury in last week’s clash with the Crusaders and is currently on his way back to Cape Town. The Stormers management has said that De Villiers won’t be available for the next two weeks and that his wrist will require further tests to assess the extent of the injury. However, it is believed that the Springbok centre could be sidelined for as long as two months.
Andries Bekker hurt his back in last week’s game, and while he is still with the squad in Australia he won’t play in Brisbane. With Schalk Burger, De Villiers and Bekker all sidelined, coach Allister Coetzee has opted to install Vermeulen as the stand-in captain.
‘Injuries are part of Super Rugby and it’s the teams that are best able to cope with them that will do well in this competition,’ said Coetzee. ‘Losing Jean is a setback but we have a lot of leadership options and I am confident in the depth we have available and as to the temperament and ability of this squad.’
The loss of De Villiers has forced Coetzee to make a number of changes to his backline. Juan de Jongh will take De Villiers’ place at inside centre while Bryan Habana will start at No 13. Gio Aplon returns from injury to take Habana’s place on the left wing.
In the pack, De Kock Steenkamp comes into the second row for Bekker. Eben Etzebeth, who also picked up an injury last week, is expected to start.
Nick Koster comes on to the bench at No 18, although Coetzee is likely to use starting No 7 Rynhardt Elstadt as a lock option later in the game.
Stormers – 15 Joe Pietersen, 14 Gerhard van den Heever, 13 Bryan Habana, 12 Juan de Jongh, 11 Gio Aplon, 10 Peter Grant, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Duane Vermeulen (c), 7 Rynhardt Elstadt, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 De Kock Steenkamp, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Subs: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Frans Malherbe, 18 Nick Koster, 19 Nizaam Carr, 20 Louis Schreuder, 21 Burton Francis, 22 JP du Plessis.
Not abad side so hopefully we will bag the win.
Daveex I see JJ is on the bench.
