DHL Stormers half-century for Elstadt

Rynhardt Elstadt will earn his 50th DHL Stormers cap if he comes off the replacements bench in the Vodacom Super Rugby clash with the Western Force in Perth on Saturday.

The hard-working utility forward, who is equally at home at flank or lock, first featured for the DHL Stormers in 2011 and has always offered an imposing physical presence.

DHL Stormers coach Robbie Fleck has had to make two injury-enforced changes to the starting XV that lined up against the Rebels in Melbourne last week, with Sikhumbuzo Notshe replacing the injured Nizaam Carr on the flank whilst Alistair Vermaak starts at loosehead prop as Oli Kebble is sidelined with a knee injury.

As a result prop Wilco Louw and utility back Huw Jones come onto the replacements bench which features five forwards and three backs.

Fleck paid tribute to Elstadt, who has been a stalwart of the DHL Stormers set-up for some time.

“Rynhardt is a great team man, and the fact that he is earning his 50th cap on Saturday despite the injury setbacks he has had shows the sort of determined player he is,” he said.

The DHL Stormers coach wants to see his team build on their 57-31 victory against the Rebels and finish their Australian tour with a convincing performance.

“It is vital that we continue to build momentum as a team, so our focus is on making another step up and making it two wins from two games on our tour,” he said.

DHL Stormers: 15 Jaco Taute, 14 Kobus van Wyk, 13 Daniel du Plessis, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Schalk Burger (captain), 7 Siya Kolisi, 6 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Alistair Vermaak.
Replacements: 16 Scarra Ntubeni, 17 JP Smith, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 JD Schickerling, 20 Rynhardt Elstadt, 21 Louis Schreuder, 22 Huw Jones, 23 Scott van Breda.