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Two key members of the Stormers will reach significant milestones when they host the Bulls at Newlands on Saturday.
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They also have two players returning from long-term injuries.
Captain Siya Kolisi will play his 100th Super Rugby game for the Stormers when he leads the team out to face the Bulls. The match is set to be a double milestone celebration for the Stormers, with hooker Siyabonga Ntubeni in line to earn his 50th cap when he comes off the replacements bench.
The Stormers forward pack remains unchanged for the Super Rugby derby, while there are two positional changes in the starting backline – with JJ Engelbrecht shifting to outside centre and Dillyn Leyds on the wing.
As a result Sarel Marais comes in at fullback and Raymond Rhule is back on the wing.
There are two new faces on the replacements bench, with prop Frans Malherbe and flyhalf Jean-Luc du Plessis both making their return following long-term injuries.
For John Mitchell’s Bulls, Andre Warner will start at scrumhalf in this crucial clash.
Cape Town-born Warner comes in for Ivan van Zyl, who will play off the bench.
The scrumhalf started the first four matches of the competition, before picking up an injury and has made some solid contributions off the bench since – including a try against the Rebels two weeks ago.
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A number of players have been bracketed in a provisional team – the final selection depended on late fitness tests.
Adriaan Strauss will extend his South African record for Super Rugby matches to 153.
STORMERS
15. SP Marais, 14. Dillyn Leyds, 13. JJ Engelbrecht, 12. Damian de Allende, 11. Raymond Rhule, 10. Damian Willemse, 9. Dewaldt Duvenage, 8. Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7. Kobus van Dyk, 6. Siya Kolisi (C), 5. Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4. Chris van Zyl, 3. Wilco Louw, 2. Ramone Samuels, 1. Steven Kitshoff.
Replacements: 16. Siyabonga Ntubeni, 17. Jacobus Janse van Rensburg, 18. Frans Malherbe, 19. Cobus Wiese, 20. Nizaam Carr, 21. Paul de Wet, 22. Jean-Luc du Plessis, 23. Seabelo Senatla.
BULLS
15. Warrick Gelant, 14. Johnny Kotze, 13. Jesse Kriel, 12. Burger Odendaal (C), 11. Divan Rossouw/Travis Ismaiel, 10. Handre Pollard, 9. Andre Warner, 8. Thembelani Bholi/Marco van Staden, 7. Jason Jenkins/Thembelani Bholi, 6. Marco van Staden/Roelof Smit, 5. Lodewyk de Jager, 4. RG Snyman, 3. Trevor Nyakane, 2. Adriaan Strauss, 1. Lizo Gqoboka.
Replacements: 16. Jaco Visagie, 17. Frans van Wyk/Nqobisiwe Mxoli, 18. Conrad van Vuuren, 19. Hendre Stassen/Roelof Smit, 20. Ivan van Zyl, 21. Manie Libbok, 22-23. Divan Rossouw/Travis Ismaiel.
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Comments on RugbyPass
smith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
36 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
9 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
36 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
36 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
36 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
36 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
36 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
36 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
36 Go to comments