Rassie springs a few surprises
Wed, 30 Apr 2008 14:41
Stormers coach Rassie Erasmus has sprung a few surprises in naming seven changes to his team for their must-win Super 14 clash against the Brumbies at Newlands on Saturday.
Erasmus has plucked former Cats wing Wylie Human from Vodacom Cup obscurity, and named him to start at right wing in place of Dylan des Fountain, who drops to the bench. Regular No.14 Tonderai Chavhanga is still out of action with a hamstring complaint.
Injuries to both flank Schalk Burger and hooker Tiaan Liebenberg has also forced Erasmus into shuffling his pack.
Robbie Diack slots into the No.8 position, while Luke Watson moves to openside flank in place of Burger.
Loose forward cover is provided on the bench by the young Pieter Myburgh, who made his debut earlier this season against the Crusaders.
Ross Skeate drops to the bench, while Adriaan Fondse starts at lock against the Brumbies.
The exciting Schalk Brits takes over at hooker in Liebenberg's absence, while Deon Fourie provides cover on the bench in this position.
There are also further changes in the front row. Schalk Ferreira moves to the bench, and Brian Mujati takes over at loosehead prop. Brok Harris comes off the bench and into the starting XV at tighthead prop.
Erasmus explained his rationale behind the changes at a media conference at the team's training base in Durbanville near Cape Town.
"I think we're at that stage of the competition where, in your last three games, you have to get your combinations right. You can't really rotate and try some different combinations. Only injuries would make you do that.
"Brian [Mujati] has been in the mix, and Schalk Brits has been in the mix the last seven, eight games. Brokkie [Brok Harris] has always come on at tighthead. Adriaan [Fondse] and Andries [Bekker] are the starting guys, and Robbie's just the new guy in.
"I think that's the most settled pack of forwards if you think combination and experience with one another."
Erasmus also spoke about the decision to pick Human ahead of Des Fountain at wing, and said that the issue had to do with familiarising Human with the game patterns before he could be included from the start.
"In the backline, the only newcomer, if you think about consistency, is obviously Wylie, who comes in for Dylan [des Fountain]. That's the most experienced combination for our side we could have picked.
"Dylan was in the mix, and he was with us on tour so he was really familiar with all the plays and patterns and how we do stuff, so we just wanted an extra week to talk to Wylie and to get him into the mix.
"Dylan is a specialist centre, so it was just a gap-filling thing we did last week, and we were also experimenting there.
"Wylie is an experienced campaigner, I think one of the most experienced backline players on the field on Saturday. He's also really good with the kicking game, which I think will be a big part of the game on Saturday," the coach concluded.
Stormers: 15 Conrad Jantjes, 14 Wylie Human, 13 Gcobani Bobo, 12 Jean de Villiers (captain), 11 Sireli Naqelevuki, 10 Peter Grant, 9 Ricky January, 8 Robbie Diack, 7 Francois Louw, 6 Luke Watson, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Adriaan Fondse, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Schalk Brits, 1 Brian Mujati.
Replacements: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Schalk Ferreira, 18 Ross Skeate, 19 Pieter Myburgh, 20 Bolla Conradie, 21 Tony Brown, 22 Dylan des Fountain.
Date: Saturday, May 3
Venue: Newlands Stadium, Cape Town
Kick-off: 17.05 (15.05 GMT)
Referee: Steve Walsh (New Zealand)
Touch judges: Vinny Munro (New Zealand), Phillip Bosch (South Africa)
Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
Assessor: Dennis Immelman (South
Africa)
By Phil Coetzer
