Storm warning for Spears

Storm warning for Spears

24 Jan 2006

Keo.co.za has learnt that Kobus van der Merwe will name his strongest possible side to face the Spears in Wellington on Saturday, the final Super 14 warm-up scheduled for the Cape side.

After his 2nd XV contrasted fight and effective forward play in the first half to rank shambles in the second against the Bully Boys, Van der Merwe will be hoping for a far more convincing display from his front-line troops.

With the possible exceptions of Gerrie Britz and Schalk Brits, and injury-casualties Joe van Niekerk, Marius Joubert and De Wet Barry, Van der Merwe cannot play a stronger hand.

The continued absence of captain Barry means Boland centre Piet van Zyl has the opportunity to atone for a shocking display against the Bulls. He’ll wear 13 again, although the quality inside him will differ slightly: Instead of Gus Theron, he’ll have Jean de Villiers as his midfield partner.

Interesting selections concern the back-row, scrumhalf and the wing. After a pre-season that has seen him tip the scales at 104kg, whilst retaining the ability to bench 165kg and run the 40m in 4.95 seconds, Luke Watson has bashed down the door for another opportunity as first choice 6.

Watson’s resurgence in the gym and training grounds after a frustrating Currie Cup means Schalk Burger is shifted to blindside, and unlike Gert Smal last year, Van der Merwe and Technical Director Gary Gold will not play them left and right.

Thus Burger is faced with an entirely different role to the one he is accustomed with at the Boks. Regarded by Jake White as a specialist fetcher, ball carrying will now become a primary concern, and he will provide an option at the back of the line-out.

Bolla Conradie gets the nod at scrumhalf over Neil de Kock, whilst Boland flyer Rayno Benjamin has the literal inside track on Tonderai Chavhanga for jersey 14.

Stormers side to play the Spears on Saturday

15. Werner Greeff
14. Rayno Benjamin
13. Piet van Zyl
12. Jean de Villiers
11. Jongi Nokwe
10. Peter Grant
9. Bolla Conradie
8. Adri Badenhorst
7. Schalk Burger (c)
6. Luke Watson
5. Andries Bekker
4. Ross Skeate
3. Eddie Andrews
2. Hanyani Shimange
1. JD Moller


112 Comments

Pages: « 1 2 [3] Show All

  • 101.Bloem Leeu: Reply to this comment
    25 Jan 2006, 08:48 am

    Sal so maak :)

  • 102.Spook: Reply to this comment
    25 Jan 2006, 09:06 am

    Where is Hendrick Gerber?

  • 103.Stan: Reply to this comment
    25 Jan 2006, 09:27 am

    n Goeie span op papier maar daai light five lyk nog baie suspect..

  • 104.bluewhiteblackgreen: Reply to this comment
    25 Jan 2006, 09:36 am

    Is this a rugby site or a site for frustrated **** who cant work the keyboard? C’com girls, lets get back to the rugby!!!!

  • 105.joshk: Reply to this comment
    25 Jan 2006, 11:28 am

    test :)

  • 106.joshk: Reply to this comment
    25 Jan 2006, 11:30 am

    cant wait for the 10th :mrgreen:

  • 107.joshk: Reply to this comment
    25 Jan 2006, 11:39 am

    Hi guys

    what do u think the stormers backline will look like without any injuries maybe something like this.my preference in brackets

    15. Greef kicker
    14. Nokwe (chavanga)
    13. joubert
    12. barry
    11. jean (Nokwe)
    10. grant (Jean)
    9. neil (bolla)

    what do you think

  • 108.wpw: Reply to this comment
    25 Jan 2006, 11:47 am

    joshk
    15-Greeff
    14-Benjamin/Chavanga
    13-DWB/MJ
    12-JDV/DWB
    11-Nokwe/Seconds
    10-Grant/Naas/JDV
    9-Bolla/De Kock/Delport

    i think that Grant will start at 10 but if we are in trouble, ie. injuries to him or loss of form, Moaner VDM will probably try Naas vs Sa teams and JDV if we are overseas…

  • 109.Moaner: Reply to this comment
    25 Jan 2006, 13:46 pm

    Not wishing any bad luck anyone in the Stormers team, but I really hope JDV gets a run at pivot this season! Ja, given he wants to play 12 and feels comfortable there, but the prospects. . .

  • 110.storm warning: Reply to this comment
    25 Jan 2006, 15:18 pm

    Can anyone comment on 1. Whats with jaco vdw and the stormers and 2. How was it possible that Jaco Engels slipped through to the Bulls??? Maybe messrs Gold/VDM or even Mr Mallett can comment( surely above everything and given our hopeless state in the tight 5, this was a “must keep” player for the future????

  • 111.Silent Bob: Reply to this comment
    25 Jan 2006, 16:59 pm

    um mmm …

  • 112.stormerwayne: Reply to this comment
    25 Jan 2006, 22:09 pm

    damn I hope chavhanga play’s soon, here my backline

    15 – Greeff
    14 – Chavhanga
    13 – De Viliers
    12 – Barry
    11 – Nokwe
    10 – Greeff?/grant
    9 – Bolla/delport

Pages: « 1 2 [3] Show All

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