100-up for DHL Stormers’ Grant
Grant moves from inside centre to the No.10 shirt in one of five changes to the starting line-up that went down 12-28 to the Bulls in Pretoria last weekend and will become just the third-ever DHL Stormers Super Rugby centurion.
Grant follows in the footsteps of Andries Bekker (105) and Jean de Villiers (104) in playing 100 matches for the DHL Stormers, having first played for Western Province in 2004 and making his Stormers debut in 2006.
With Grant set to join the ‘100-Club’, prop Brok Harris will make his 200th appearance for Western Province Rugby on Saturday – having amassed 92 DHL Stormers caps and making another 107 appearances for Western Province. Harris made his WP debut in 2006 and his Super Rugby debut for the Stormers in 2007.
Grant’s shift from No.12 to No.10 is one of two positional changes to the starting line-up this weekend – the other seeing Damian de Allende move from the right-wing to inside centre.
Other changes to the starting line-up to face the Force this week see the return – from injury – of lock Michael Rhodes and winger Kobus van Wyk, whilst Deon Fourie will start at hooker in place of the injured Scarra Ntubeni.
Rhodes replaces debutant Jean Kleyn in the No.4 shirt, whilst Van Wyk’s return in the No.14 jersey has allowed De Allende to move back into the midfield against the in-form Australian franchise.
Kleyn, meanwhile, drops to the bench this week, where he is joined by flyhalf Kurt Coleman who started against the Highlanders and the Bulls.
Hooker Stephan Coetzee, prop Martin Dreyer, loose forward Siya Kolisi, scrumhalf Dylon Frylinck and utility back Michael van der Spuy make up the remainder of the bench, with Frylinck still on debut should he get a run this week.
DHL Stormers coach Allister Coetzee told www.iamastormer.com: “We’re aware of the threat posed by the Force. They’re a well-organised team and will test us across the board.
“We’re happy to have Michael Rhodes and Kobus van Wyk back this week, whilst it’s a special moment for Peter Grant who will wear the No.10 jersey in his 100th match for the DHL Stormers.
“Peter and Brok Harris – who will play his 200th match for the union – have been loyal servants and they deserve to be in the limelight this week. Hopefully we can make it a special day for both of them come Saturday.”
* Tickets for this weekend can be bought online at TicketPros, or from selected Spar stores or PostNet outlets/stores. Ticket prices start at R50 for standing and R80 for seating.
The DHL Stormers team for Saturday (v the Force) is as follows:
15. Jaco Taute
14. Kobus van Wyk
13. Juan de Jongh
12. Damian de Allende
11. Cheslin Kolbe
10. Peter Grant (Will play his 100th match for the DHL Stormers)
9. Nic Groom
8. Duane Vermeulen (vice-captain)
7. Schalk Burger (captain)
6. Nizaam Carr
5. Ruan Botha
4. Michael Rhodes
3. Pat Cilliers
2. Deon Fourie
1. Brok Harris (Will play his 200th combined senior provincial match for WP Rugby)
Replacements:
16. Stephan Coetzee
17. Alistair Vermaak
18. Martin Dreyer
19. Jean Kleyn
20. Siya Kolisi
21. Dylon Frylinck (On Super Rugby debut for the DHL Stormers)
22. Kurt Coleman
23. Michael van der Spuy
Referee: Chris Pollock (New Zealand)
