Vermeulen ruled out

Vermeulen ruled out

The Stormers will field an unchanged back row this Saturday as Duane Vermeulen has not recovered sufficiently from a knee injury.

It was hoped that Vermeulen would be included at No 8, but coach Allister Coetzee confirmed on Wednesday that the robust loose forward would not be considered.

‘We’ve adopted a day-by-day approach with regards to Duane, and unfortunately he has not kicked on,’ Coetzee said. ‘We decided that it would be unfair to bring him in at this stage of the season and expect him to play at that intensity. It wouldn’t be the right thing to do.’

This means that Deon Fourie will continue at No 8. Siya Kolisi and and Rynhardt Elstadt have been named on the flanks.

‘Deon has been our man of the match in the past two games. It’s true that he’s a very different player to Duane, but we have coped for most of the season without Duane and feel that Deon can do a job for us this Saturday.

‘It’s a settled back row combo. Siya and Rynhardt have been playing their roles well on the flanks, and we believe that it’s a back row that really suits our strengths.’

Changes to the pack sees Eben Etzebeth returning to the second row. Etzebeth hasn’t played for the Stormers since sustaining an ankle injury in the June Tests.

The only other change to the starting side sees Brok Harris replacing Frans Malherbe. Coetzee said the selection was down to Harris’ experience as well as Malherbe’s value as an impact player.

‘It’s a world-class Sharks pack with a number of internationals. Brok is a seasoned campaigner and has started in semi-finals and finals before. We’re happy with what Frans has done for us when he has started, but believe he can play a stronger role from the bench in this match.’

Stormers – 15 Joe Pietersen, 14 Gio Aplon, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Jean de Villiers (c), 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Peter Grant, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Deon Fourie, 7 Rynhardt Elstadt, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Subs: 16 Deon Carstens, 17 Frans Malherbe, 18 De Kock Steenkamp, 19 Don Armand, 20 Louis Schrueder, 21 Burton Francis, 22 Gerhard van den Heever.

By Jon Cardinelli


82 Comments

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  • 51.wpstormerbok: Reply to this comment

    @Dusky-48:

    We’re capable of scoring the odd 1 when it’s needed.

    It’s a clash of styles and I believe ours is more suited to knockout rugby.

  • 52.Dusky: Reply to this comment

    @wpstormerbok-47: Coach that have picked Springbok teams with obvious bias or favoritism have expedited their exits, and their exits have never been pretty.

    If Heyneke has just a spot more than rugby going on in his brain, he will be aware of that.

    Best he show that he is able to make difficult decision, and make some definitive moves on some of his altar boys.

  • 53.Dusky: Reply to this comment

    @wpstormerbok-51: Well, I can’t necessarily disagree. Good luck !

  • 54.Dusky: Reply to this comment

    @Dusky-52: *Coaches

  • 55.Transformation: Reply to this comment

    @wpstormerbok-51: if the sharks come out blazing and score four tries then your team’ll be fooked, that said, it’s easier said than done against what ryan vrede would call “granitic” defence.

  • 56.Dusky: Reply to this comment

    @Transformation-55: Nooooo….serious ? Geez dude….are you a member of MENSA ?

  • 57.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment

    @Transformation-55: Thsi hard to call Transie, and it feel winning to colussion points and keep ball in hand is extremely important.

    I know some might complain about Bosman, and as you know i aint his biggest fan, but just maybe come saturday we are gonna need his boot, his kicking at goal has been very good, when he did kick and as you know Freddy does not kick far, he is the same as PG in that regard

  • 58.Transformation: Reply to this comment

    @Dusky-56: relaxx dusky, everyone knows you’re in the room, don’t try so hard… :roll:

    @sharks_lover-57: just yanking the dude’s chain sl.

  • 59.wait for it, wait for it...: Reply to this comment

    @Transformation-58:
    which of these two teams is closer to your heart?

    come on, put yourself out there, transie
    show us your soft side

  • 60.wpstormerbok: Reply to this comment

    @Transformation-55:

    If they come out throwing it around a bit they’ll play right into our hands.

    For Sharks to beat us they’ll have to pin us back and beat us up front.

    They’ll have to earn the right to go wide first as they won’t be able to muscle their way over our defenders in the wider channels, they’ll get shut down and robbed.

  • 61.Dusky: Reply to this comment

    @Transformation-58: Do you think if the Sharks start off by scoring 5 tries in the first two minutes that they will take an advantage into the rest of the game ? I am interested to hear your intellectual input.

  • 62.Dusky: Reply to this comment

    @wpstormerbok-60: Sharks are going to come playing open rugby from the beginning. Its been their recipe for success in the past in knockout rugby.

  • 63.Transformation: Reply to this comment

    @wait for it, wait for it…-59: the Kings :D

  • 64.Dusky: Reply to this comment

    @Transformation-63: Really ? Excellent !!!

    Where is that Rosso Negro guy ?

  • 65.wait for it, wait for it...: Reply to this comment

    @Transformation-63:
    yeah sure but the kings are not playing.
    of these two teams you gotta choose one, come on :grin:

  • 66.Transformation: Reply to this comment

    @Dusky-64: why would you ask me about another guy?

  • 67.the artist formerly known as gunther: Reply to this comment

    @wait for it, wait for it…-65:

    They’re playing 1st div currie cup on Saturday.

    Credit where it’s due.

  • 68.Dusky: Reply to this comment

    @Transformation-66: Isn’t he also a supporter of the kings ? You two must be the only ones in the world – although people from that region change their allegiances depending who is winning – so, it might work out. For the first 3 games the kings will have a couple of people watching.

  • 69.>^..^< katman: Reply to this comment

    CC 1st Division = land of the blind

  • 70.wait for it, wait for it...: Reply to this comment

    @the artist formerly known as gunther-67:
    hehehe

    fair do

    they’re got the swagger for super rugby though

  • 71.Transformation: Reply to this comment

    @wait for it, wait for it…-65: eish it’s a hard one, i don’t like both.

  • 72.Transformation: Reply to this comment

    @the artist formerly known as gunther-67:@the artist formerly known as gunther-67: and we’re no.1 boytjie. captain luke came back with a brace of tries :D

  • 73.Transformation: Reply to this comment

    @>^..^< katman-69: where the lions belong…

  • 74.the artist formerly known as gunther: Reply to this comment

    @Transformation-72:

    Indeed.

    I believe he’s dropped a shirt size too?

  • 75.KWAGGA ROBERTSE: Reply to this comment

    @Transformation-72: Thats like being the sub A marble champion……whoopee

  • 76.KWAGGA ROBERTSE: Reply to this comment

    @the artist formerly known as gunther-74: Nou lyk hy seker eers soos n donnerse broodrolletjie met n rekkie om

  • 77.wait for it, wait for it...: Reply to this comment

    @Transformation-71:
    hehehe
    its like those either or questions you have to answer as kids.
    which would you rather do:
    lick a hobo’s buttcrack or suck and swallow rian cruywagen’s *****
    you gotta choose one whats it gonna be? :lol:

  • 78.>^..^< katman: Reply to this comment

    @Transformation-73: I know Butterworth only got DSTV in June, but I assumed you would have heard that the Lions are in fact the Currie Cup champs. And the champs very seldom get relegated.

  • 79.Transformation: Reply to this comment

    @the artist formerly known as gunthe@the artist formerly known as gunther-74: he had “shoulder trouble” and had to dispense of the underarm watermelons

  • 80.the artist formerly known as gunther: Reply to this comment

    @Transformation-79:

    Indeed.

    Downgraded to avocados.

    I think he is a secret wrestling fan.

  • 81.wpstormerbok: Reply to this comment

    @the artist formerly known as gunther-80:
    lol

  • 82.Johannes Expatinus: Reply to this comment

    I think by default when you can find a way to get into a condom-tight rugby jersey you must be a good fetcher.

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