Canadian import gets Stormers start
Stormers coach Allister Coetzee has made two changes, including a first Super Rugby start for Canadian import Jebb Sinclair, in the team to take on the Waratahs at Newlands on Saturday.
The London Irish and Canadian No.8, Sinclair, will start at the back of the scrum in place of the injured Nizaam Carr.
Coetzee said that he had been impressed with the way that Sinclair had managed to slot in at short notice and added that he expected him to gain in confidence as he started to become more familiar with the systems within the team.
“He [Sinclair] is still getting used to our structures obviously and there is still a lot of finer detail that goes into planning and preparation so to expect Jebb Sinclair to be like a Duane Vermeulen or Nick Koster is a bit unfair on him, but he is doing well.
“He is a clever rugby player, he is line-out intelligent and has become a good option for us so he is settling in well,” he said.
Coetzee confirmed that he had been in contact with a few players, including Saracens’ Ernst Joubert, but explained that he had been unable to bring in more cover, so he has turned to Western Province loose forward Don Armand who was named as cover on the bench in jersey No.19.
The other change to the starting XV that beat the Cheetahs last week sees a rotational at hooker. Tiaan Liebenberg moves from the bench into the starting line-up, with Deon Fourie playing from the bench in jersey No.16.
The Stormers coach said that his team would have to improve on their set-piece play which especially disappointing in the second half against the Cheetahs last week as the Waratahs have a well-drilled pack full of Wallabies.
Said Coetzee: “I think they have got the best scrum in the competition and also have a very effective line-out.
“They are a side that scores most of their tries from set-pieces in your half. Because of their very effective line-out they are able to put the ball anywhere they want it. They have got six Wallabies in their pack so we have got to be accurate and keep our foot on the pedal.
“We weren’t happy with our performance in the line-outs and scrums in the second half last week, it sort of fell apart and that is where the opportunity to accumulate more points went the other way, so we have got to make sure that our ball is a good platform that we can attack from,” he added.
This week also sees scrumhalf Dewaldt Duvenage get his 50th cap for the Stormers and star Springbok winger Bryan Habana will play his 100th Super Rugby game.
The Stormers have won nine games from 10 starts this season and are currently one point behind the table-topping Bulls in the South African conference – fourth on the overall log.
The game is the Stormers’ last home fixture until after the June international break, when on June 30 they take on the Lions at Newlands.
The Stormers in the next two weeks face the Sharks and the Bulls, both away, before the June international Test window.
Stormers: 15 Joe Pietersen, 14 Gio Aplon, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Jean de Villiers (captain), 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Peter Grant, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Jebb Sinclair, 7 Rynhardt Elstadt, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Replacements: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Frans Malherbe, 18 De Kock Steenkamp, 19 Don Armand, 20 Louis Schreuder, 21 Burton Francis, 22 Gerhard van den Heever.
Date: Saturday, May 19
Venue: Newlands, Cape Town
Kick-off: 19.10 (17.10 GMT)
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Stuart Berry (South Africa), Christie du Preez (South Africa)
TMO: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
