Schalk back for Vodacom Stormers

The only change to the team sees the return of Springbok flank Schalk Burger to his customary No 6 position. He takes over from Luke Watson, who was outstanding in that position in the victory over the Reds last Saturday.

Watson moves back to the No 8 position, where he played since the start of the competition. He replaces Robbie Diack, who reverts to the substitutes’ bench. Pieter Myburgh falls out of the match 22.

Erasmus said it ws difficult to leave out Diack. “Robbie is an excellent player, we all know how good Luke is and Francois is an unsung hero. Pieter is going to be a really good player.

“We will need all of them over the next ten to eleven weeks. The plan always was to start rotating them some time. It is not about any individual. We are busy with a process.”

The coach, who tasted his first victory with the Stormers the past Saturday, regards the Chiefs as a tough nut to crack. “If we arrive in the right frame of mind against the Chiefs, I believe it will be a very close game.”

The Vodacom Stormers team is as follows:

15. Conrad Jantjes
14. Tonderai Chavhanga
13. Gcobani Bobo
12. Jean De Villiers (C)
11. Sireli Naqelevuki
10. Peter Grant
9. Ricky Januarie
8. Luke Watson
7 Francois Louw
6. Schalk Burger
5. Andries Bekker
4. Adriaan Fondse
3. Brian Mujati
2. Schalk Brits
1. JD Moller

Reserves

16. Deon Fourie
17. Brok Harris
18. Ross Skeate
19. Robbie Diack
20. Bolla Conradie
21. Gio Aplon
22. Dylan Des Fountain