Vodacom Stormers team to face Bulls

Springbok centre Jean de Villiers will make a welcome return to rugby following a bicep injury he sustained in the IRB Rugby World Cup last year, and will lead his team onto the field in front of a packed Newlands on Saturday. Kick-off is at 5pm.

Whilst first choice fullback Conrad Jantjes is said to be fully recovered from a thumb injury, the coaching team opted to give him one more week to get to ensure he hits the ground running. Gio Aplon will wear the number 15 jersey in place of Jantjes.

Ricky January gets the nod ahead of Bolla Conradie, with 22 year old Francois Louw making his Vodacom Super 14 debut. New recruit Brian Mujati will be tasked with bolstering the Stormers front row, with Tiaan Liebenberg starting in the number two jersey.

In the latest betting news for Saturday’s season opener against the Bulls, the bookies have the Stormers odds of R2.80 to win the match outright. The handicap market has been set at 6.5 points. This means that if you back the Stormers on handicap you will win if the Stormers win and you will win if they lose by 6 points or less. Looks like the bookies are being very generous… register now at www.stormersbet.co.za to bet.

The Vodacom Stormers team to face the Bulls is as follows:

15. Gio Aplon
14. Tonderai Chavhanga
13. Gcobani Bobo
12. Jean De Viliiers (C)
11. Sireli Naqelevuki
10. Peter Grant
9. Ricky Januarie
8. Luke Watson
7. Francois Louw
6. Schalk Burger
5. Andries Bekker
4. Francois Van Der Merwe
3. Brian Mujati
2. Tiaan Liebenberg
1. JD Moller

Reserves:

16. Schalk Brits
17. Brok Harris
18. Adriaan Fondse
19. Ross Skeate
20. Bolla Conradie
21. Joe Pietersen
22. Dylan Des Fountain

Referee: Willie Roos

Kick-off at 5pm, gates open at 3pm. Very few seating tickets and standing room tickets are still available through Computicket outlets nationwide.