Stormers' Carizza staying home
The Stormers' Puma lock Manuel Carizza will not go on tour to Australasia after injuring his wrist in the narrow win over the Hurricanes at Newlands on Friday.
Jean de Villiers will lead the squad abroad, a group that includes new Samoan star Sailosi Tagicakibau and the Japan-based Peter Grant, but Carizza has been ruled out for eight weeks with torn ligaments.
As a result, former SA Under-20 star Ruan Botha will travel with the squad, joining fit-again De Kock Steenkamp as one of the locking options in the 27-man group – alongside Rynhardt Elstadt and Michael Rhodes, who were both part of the 23-man squad at Newlands.
Coach Allister Coetzee commented: "It's very unfortunate for Manuel – he tore ligaments in his wrist and he will be out for two months.
"That said, Ruan has a great opportunity to get some game time after showing plenty of promise during our pre-season matches and, of course, it's great to have De Kock Steenkamp in the group too now that he's back to full fitness.
"We're happy with last night's victory. We know we can still improve in many areas, but we're happy to be heading abroad with that 'W' behind our name and we will build on that in what will be a very challenging tour."
The Stormers' first game on tour will be against the Crusaders, after which they will face the Chiefs, Brumbies and Reds.
Stormers touring squad: Gio Aplon, Ruan Botha, Schalk Burger, Nizaam Carr, Demetri Catrakilis, Pat Cilliers, Kurt Coleman, Damian de Allende, Jean de Villiers, Rynhardt Elstadt, Deon Fourie, Peter Grant, Nic Groom, Brok Harris, Oli Kebble, Steven Kitshoff, Siya Kolisi, Tiaan Liebenberg, Frans Malherbe, Siyabonga Ntubeni, Michael Rhodes, Louis Schreuder, De Kock Steenkamp, Sailosi Tagicakibau, Jaco Taute, Kobus van Wyk, Duane Vermeulen.
