Turner given Stormers break
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England Sevens star Mat Turner has been given a chance to impress with the Stormers after being included on the bench for the their final pre-season game against the Boland Cavaliers at the Cape Town Stadium on Saturday.
Turner, who played in the inaugural Varsity Cup tournament for UCT in 2008, will look to impress the Stormers and Western Province coaching staff as he attempts to get back into rugby in South Africa.
The wing will have to work his way up from the bottom with the pre-season friendly a potential chance for him make his way into the Western Province XV Vodacom Cup side.
The English Sevens star was spotted training with the Stormers last month with reports claiming that he had signed with the Cape Town-based franchise.
Stormers coach Allister Coetzee rejected the report stating that Turner was just training with his team and had signed no contract.
“Matt just came to ask if he could join us for training. We’ve got no intentions at this stage [to sign him].
"There’s no commitment from our side. He just wants to keep fit and train,” Coetzee said.
Turner, who qualified to play internationally for England through the IRB ancestral rules and regulations, was first selected for the England Sevens team for the 2009/10 Sevens World Series – becoming an integral part of the set-up and a key player in most of their successful campaigns.
Turner, while on holiday at home in South Africa, was released to play for the Southern Kings against the British and Irish Lions in 2009.
He was also a member of the South African Under-20 team and Western Province U19 team.
Turner now finds himself part of a youthful Stormers team that will be lead by hooker Neil Rautenbach.
The England Sevens ace has moved onto the bench for this encounter following injuries in the playing group.
The Stormers will be without several injured stars – including locks Eben Etzebeth and Manuel Carizza, as well as wing Kobus van Wyk.
Star men Frans Malherbe, Ruan Botha, Siya Kolisi, Nizaam Carr and Damian de Allende are also unavailable for selection this week.
This gives talented young players like Jarryd Sage, Kyle Lombard and Luke van der Smit an opportunity in this annual fixture.
They will play alongside Stormers squad members EW Viljoen, Robert du Preez, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, David Ribbans, Michael Willemse, Frans van Wyk, Oliver Kebble and Rautenbach.
SA Sevens stars Tshotsho Mbovane and Danwell Demas will give the Stormers some pace and skill out wide.
Newly-appointed Western Province Currie Cup coach, John Dobson, will take charge of this team come kick-off on Saturday.
However, Stormers head coach Allister Coetzee will continue to help prepare the side in the lead-up, along with his assistant coaches Matt Proudfoot and Robbie Fleck.
Teams:
Boland Cavaliers: 15 Eric Zana, 14 Duwayne Smart, 13 Wilneth Engelbrecht, 12 Edwinn Sass, 11 Senan van der Merwe, 10 Christiaan Rust, 9 Jovelian de Koker, 8 Wayne Wildschut, 7 Andre Cotzee, 6 Freginald Africa, 5 Gavin Annandale, 4 Yves Bashiya, 3 Martin Dreyer, 2 Kelvin Fikster, 1 Henri Boshoff.
Replacements – form: Clemen Lewis, Charley Wenn, SP Wessels, Adriaan Botha, Roderrick Dalton, Denzil Adams, EJ Jooste, Tiaan Ramat, Anzo Stubbs, Jos Malherbe, Leeroy Wildschut, Kenwinn Wiener.
Stormers: 15 EW Viljoen, 14 Tshotsho Mbovane, 13 Jarryd Sage, 12 Kyle Lombard, 11 Danwel Demas, 10 Robert du Preez (vice-captain), 9 Godlen Masimla, 8 Sikumbuzo Notshe, 7 Luke van der Smit, 6 Michael Willemse, 5 Chris van Zyl, 4 David Ribbans, 3 Frans van Wyk, 2 Neil Rautenbach (captain), 1 Oli Kebble.
Replacements – from: Liam Hendricks, Deacon Chowlse, Burger van Niekerk, Johan Momsen, Luke Stringer, Justin Phillips, SP Ferreira, Ryno Eksteen, Mat Turner, Shuiab Samaai.
Date: Saturday, February 7
Venue: Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town
Kick-off: 16.00 (12.00 GMT)
Referee: Jaco van Heerden
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