Stormers get Boks back for Crusaders clash
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Stormers head coach Robbie Fleck revealed his team for the Round 14 clash against Crusaders on Saturday.
Captain Siya Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Damian de Allende have all been named in the side to play at Newlands.
The three Springboks are back in the starting line-up for the encounter against the defending Super Rugby champions.
De Allende takes his place in midfield alongside flyhalf Joshua Stander, with Jean-Luc du Plessis and Dan Kriel on the replacements bench.
In the forward pack Kolisi and Du Toit are on the flanks with Jaco Coetzee at the back of the scrum, while Cobus Wiese starts in the second row next to Eben Etzebeth.
The only front row change comes on the replacements bench, with the experienced Frans Malherbe set to provide an impact in the second half.
Stormers Head Coach Robbie Fleck said that his team is looking forward to playing at Newlands again.
“We have a good home record and this is another great opportunity for us to perform in front of our supporters.
“We have put the hard work in on the training pitch and we want to ensure we are focused on Saturday so that we can be as accurate as possible,” he said.
Captain Kolisi said that his team is looking forward to an electric atmosphere at Newlands. Urging fans to stand together and attend he said: “We know that we will get great support from the Newlands Faithful and will do everything we can to get the win for them.”.
Stormers: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 JJ Engelbrecht, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Dillyn Leyds, 10 Josh Stander, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Jaco Coetzee, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Cobus Wiese, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Replacements: 16 Scarra Ntubeni, 17 Corne Fourie, 18 Frans Malherbe, 19 Kobus van Dyk, 20 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 21 Justin Phillips, 22 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 23 Dan Kriel.
Date: Saturday, May 18
Venue: Newlands Stadium, Cape Town
Kick-off: 17.15 (15.15 GMT; 03.15 NZ time Sunday, May 19)
Referee: Nic Berry (Australia)
Assistant referees: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa), AJ Jacobs (South Africa)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
Team: Bok trio of captain Siya Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Damian de Allende return to the DHL Stormers starting line-up to face the Crusaders at DHL Newlands on Saturday. Tickets from Computicket – https://t.co/pjtrNWZNsk #iamastormer
— DHL STORMERS (@THESTORMERS) May 16, 2019
