No Ollie as Stormers change two
Wed, 14 May 2008 13:56
Stormers coach Rassie Erasmus has made two changes ahead of his team's vitally important Super 14 clash against the Lions at Ellis Park on Saturday.
Erasmus has kept the same backline that drew 13-all with the Waratahs at Newlands last weekend.
It is the forward pack that has been slightly reshuffled. Robbie Diack is replaced by the mobile Pieter Myburgh, who slots into the openside flank position. Luke Watson moves from No.6 to eighthman to accommodate the change.
There is also one personnel change to the front row. Schalk Ferreira is selected to start the match at loosehead prop, with Brian Mujati moving over to his favoured tighthead position.
Brok Harris makes way for the change - he drops to the bench.
It is interesting to note that there is no sign of Ollie le Roux anywhere in the matchday 22, especially after all the publicity there has been over the Bok forward, who trained with the Stormers squad this week.
Coach Erasmus warned that his team were facing a serious challenge from the Gauteng franchise, and said that he expected the battle to rage fiercely in the breakdown.
"The greatest threat of the Lions is not only their breakdown, but also the way they steal on your ball.
"It will be a massive task for not just Piet Myburgh, but for the whole team, to do well at the breakdown.
"But I think that's his [Myburgh's] strength," said Erasmus.
Stormers: 15 Conrad Jantjes, 14 Wylie Human, 13 Gcobani Bobo, 12 Jean de Villiers (captain), 11 Sireli Naqelevuki, 10 Peter Grant, 9 Ricky Januarie, 8 Luke Watson, 7 Francois Louw, 6 Pieter Myburgh, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Adriaan Fondse, 3 Brian Mujati, 2 Schalk Brits, 1 Schalk Ferreira.
Replacements: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Brok Harris, 18 Ross Skeate, 19 Robbie Diack, 20 Bolla Conradie, 21 Tony Brown, 22 Dylan des Fountain.
Date: Saturday, May 17
Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburgh
Kick-off: 15.00 (13.00 GMT)
Referee: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
Touch judges: Mark Lawrence (South Africa), Cobus Wessels (South Africa)
Television match official: Johann Meuwesen (South Africa)
