Fourie ruled out with chest injury
Fourie trained with the team on Monday but he was absent from the Wednesday morning training session and ruled out of the team when it was announced afterwards.
“Jaque has a breast bone cartilage complaint and we have decided to take the pragmatic approach by leaving him out of the team for Saturday,” said coach Allister Coetzee.
“Fortunately it is not a major injury, at least it is not an injury that will keep him out for any length of time. He will be back at the start of next week and we are confident he will be ready to play against the Highlanders.”
The loss of Fourie is not a massive issue for the Stormers as they have a talented Springbok in the form of Juan de Jongh to step in as Fourie’s replacement.
“It’s a good position for us and it is one of the reasons we have been able to take the pragmatic approach I was talking about. Juan played outside Jean de Villiers for much of last season’s Currie Cup so there is not too much disruption with us having to make this change.”
With Schalk Burger out with a knee injury, the Stormers will be missing two Springboks in the game against the Cheetahs. Pieter Louw comes in for Burger on the flank, while Nick Koster is the loose-forward back-up on the bench.
But the Stormers have gained a Springbok into their starting team in the form of Peter Grant. The first choice flyhalf did not play last week because he had only recently returned from Japan, but he has fitted in well at training this week and has quickly re-acquainted himself with the Stormers moves.
“Gary van Aswegen played well last week but this tournament is all about building momentum and we feel that the younger players will be better served if they come into a team that is playing well and has momentum,” said Coetzee.
Stormers team: Conrad Jantjes, Danie Poolman, Juan de Jongh, Jean de Villiers (captain), Bryan Habana, Peter Grant, Ricky Januarie, Duane Vermeulen, Francois Louw, Pieter Louw, Andries Bekker, Rynhardt Elstadt, Brok Harris, Deon Fourie, CJ van der Linde. Replacements: Siyabonga Ntubeni, Frans Malherbe, De Kock Steenkamp, Nick Koster, Dewaldt Duvenage, Gary van Aswegen, Paul Bosch.
