Skeate gets his start for Vodacom Stormers

The only change to the starting line-up against the Chiefs last week is the inclusion of Ross Skeate at lock in place of Andries Bekker. Skeate gets his first start after making a number of appearances as a substitute in the games thus far.

There are two changes on the substitutes’ bench, with former All Black flyhalf Tony Brown and young scrumhalf Conrad Hoffmann both first time selections. Brown has just finished his season in Japan, where he plays club rugby and he has joined the Stormers in Auckland earlier this week.

He replaces the injured Dylan des Fountain on the bench, while Hoffmann fills in for Bolla Conradie. The latter has returned home from Auckland due to a leg injury and he will be out of action for ten days. Hoffman also has just recently recovered from a hernia operation.

Brown sustained a chest injury in his game for the Sanyo Wild Knights on Saturday, but the medical team was confident that the injury was not too serious.

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. Ross Skeate
4. Adriaan Fondse
3. Brian Mujati
2. Schalk Brits
1. JD Moller

Reserves

16. Deon Fourie
17. Brok Harris
18. Andries Bekker
19. Robbie Diack
20. Conrad Hoffmann
21. Gio Aplon
22. Tony Brown