DHL Stormers unchanged for Chiefs
The Stormers will take on the defending champion Chiefs at DHL Newlands on Saturday (kick-off 17h05), and Coetzee has kept the changes to a minimum – making just two adjustments to the bench.
Fit-again Springbok hooker Tiaan Liebenberg comes in for Martin Bezuidenhout on the bench, whilst Dewaldt Duvenage replaces Louis Schreuder as the back-up to starting No.9 Nic Groom.
Groom will, again, combine with Elton Jantjies at halfback, with Damian de Allende and captain Jean de Villiers starting at centre for the third match in succession – giving the team much-needed continuity in crucial backline positions.
“We’ve gone with an unchanged team because it’s important to keep backing the players,” said Coetzee on Wednesday. “I don’t see any reason to change the situation and this weekend hopefully they will continue to show improvement.”
The DHL Stormers have not played against the Chiefs at DHL Newlands since 2009, but these two sides have enjoyed some great battles over the years in Super Rugby, with the Stormers leading the head-to-head tally by eight wins to the Chiefs’ six victories.
“This is a home game,” added Coetzee, “we’re back at Newlands, we have passionate support behind us, and that should give us an extra push.
“We’ve had a great week of preparation, but it will still be tough (against the Chiefs). We’re playing against a side that has already scored one good win away from home this season. They have a great pack of forwards and if they dominate there they have backs that can tear any opposition defence apart.”
Tickets are still available for Saturday’s match and can be purchased at the DHL Newlands ticket office, PostNet outlets and online at wprugby.ticketpros.co.za.
The DHL Stormers team to take on the Chiefs is as follows:
15. Joe Pietersen
14. Gio Aplon
13. Jean de Villiers (captain)
12. Damian de Allende
11. Bryan Habana
10. Elton Jantjies
9. Nic Groom
8. Duane Vermeulen
7. Rynhardt Elstadt
6. Siya Kolisi
5. Andries Bekker
4. De Kock Steenkamp
3. Frans Malherbe
2. Deon Fourie
1. Steven Kitshoff
Reserves:
16. Tiaan Liebenberg
17. Pat Cilliers
18. Don Armand
19. Nizaam Carr
20. Dewaldt Duvenage
21. Peter Grant
22. Gerhard van den Heever
Referee: Jaco Peyper
