Schalk sidelined
21 Jan 2010
Andries Bekker will lead the Stormers this weekend as Schalk Burger is recovering from a haematoma.
The Stormers captain is not being risked for this the first match of the triangular series which also doubles as the Stormers’ first warm-up ahead of the Super 14. Pieter Myburgh will start at openside in his place, while former EP loose forward Jacques Potgieter is elevated to the bench.
‘Schalk is very disappointed to miss this clash, but we have a policy that if the player can’t train before the game, then it’s foolish to risk him,’ coach Allister Coetzee told keo.co.za. ‘There’s still enough games before the Super 14 for him to play and prepare, but it just wasn’t worth it to risk him this week.
‘Schalk suffered a lammie [haematoma] last week when he took a knock to the leg, and because he has such a high pain threshold, he just trained through it. This Tuesday, it became apparent that he was having some trouble, so we didn’t want to push him to play. If he becomes fatigued the muscle could tear.’
Coetzee feels Myburgh, a specialist fetcher who has filled in at No 6 for the Stormers before, won’t let the team down. Myburgh will be lining up against Wallabies openside, David Pocock.
‘You need to have depth to do well in this competition and this is good opportunity for Pieter Myburgh.’
A WP Invitational XV will play Stellenbosch this Saturday as a curtain raiser to the Force match.
Stormers - 15 Joe Pietersen, 14 Gio Aplon, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Juan de Jongh, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Peter Grant, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Francois Louw, 6, Pieter Myburgh, 5 Andries Bekker (c), 4 De Kock Steenkamp, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 Wicus Blaauw.
Subs: Deon Fourie, JC Kritzinger, JD Moller, Anton van Zyl, Jacques Potgieter, Pieter Louw, Bolla Conradie, Lionel Cronje, Sireli Naqelevuki, JJ Engelbrecht.
WP Invitational XV (to play Maties) – 15 Jurgen Visser, 14 Fabien Juries, 13 Frikkie Welsh (c), 12 Paul Bosch, 11 JJ Engelbrecht, 10 Conrad Hoffmann, 9 Bolla Conradie, 8 Yaya Hartzenburg, 7 Pieter Louw, 6 Boetie Britz, 5 Martin Muller, 4 Ryno Elstadt, 3 Esuiebo Guianaza, 2 Callie Visagie, 1 JD Moller.
Subs : Sydney Tobias, Hein van der Merwe, Stephan Greef, Dustin Jinka, Hilton Lobberts, Liam Slatem, Jody Burch, Stokkies Hanekom, Tim Whitehead, Denzil Riddles.
By Jon Cardinelli
67 Comments
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21 Jan 2010, 14:22 pm
ARSENAL !!!!!!!!!!!!!
21 Jan 2010, 14:25 pm
CHELSEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
21 Jan 2010, 14:35 pm
GIO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
21 Jan 2010, 14:39 pm
Howzit people!!
OK look, it has become a stigma in our country to specify players according to their weight, height and Speed.
Aplon is one of those and Russel, Paulse, Pietersen etc too.
You will never hear any Aussie say Matt Giteau to be too small??!!
I like Aplon. He has a great sense for the game, has plenty speed and there is nothing wrong with his defensive game. He was solid last year, after going off the boil a little during 2008. I remeber him running around Habs in a training game at loftus between us and the bulls in 2007. He is quick and has a good step to be one of those players that seldom gets tackled head on. That is why imo he can be small. He also has the ability to score tries from nowhere, and that is what the Stormers need… someone to spark that purple patch in every game….
21 Jan 2010, 14:47 pm
JULIUS!!!
21 Jan 2010, 14:49 pm
@Provvas: 100% agree
21 Jan 2010, 14:49 pm
Stormers to do well this year. Only 5 teams will end above them.
21 Jan 2010, 15:02 pm
No realy , can’t see why the Stormers can’t make it all the way this year. They have the players to do it. These guys been playing together for a couple of seasons and they surely can make it into the finals this year. If not , than there’s something wrong in the cape.
21 Jan 2010, 15:22 pm
@Andre_WP:
I don’t agree with you. We finished 10th last year and I think the best we can possibly hope for is a top 6 finish.
Anything higher would be a bonus.
None of our props have test match experience (compare Brock and Wicus to John, Jannie and Beast and you’ll see what I mean)
We need De Waal to have an exceptional season (which has NEVER happened at S14 level)
And lastly, we might struggle if Grant doesn’t do well at 12 as De Jongh is still a greenhorn at S14 level)
Just my 2 cents though!!! Use it, don’t use it…
21 Jan 2010, 15:23 pm
I like Pieter Myburgh… it’s actually surprising that he hasn’t come through quite as strongly. He did really well against the Saders at Newlands two years ago..really outplayed Richie in his comeback game if I remember correctly.
21 Jan 2010, 15:42 pm
There are some serious names amongst that Invitation team.
Eusebio at tighthead, Yaya at No 8, Boetie on the flank and even ol’ Stokkies on the bench….
21 Jan 2010, 16:57 pm
Good to see Tim Whitehead amongst the reserves. He was the star back (outside centre) of last year under 21′s before he got injured.
I just hope they give Lionel Cronje at least 40 minutes for the A team – P Grant also needs time at 12 in order to get used to play with Fourie on his outside seeing that they are going to be the first choice center combination (at least according to Robbie F)
Should also be interesting to see what Conrad Hoffman can do at 10 against the Maties. Unfortunately he seems to be injury prone – lets hope he lasts the full match.
21 Jan 2010, 18:52 pm
Schalk suffered a lammie [haematoma] last week when he took a knock to the leg, and because he has such a high pain threshold, he just trained through it.
Now there are some who will say that here is a brave man. I say what a bone head thing to do in a practice session. He is bar far the worst captain the WP have selected in the past 10 years.
oh it is true.
22 Jan 2010, 04:24 am
one big reason the stormers will struggle this year. Brok Harris.
22 Jan 2010, 06:12 am
@RedLion:
Been drinking too much of your nicks brew dude? (Do they still make Lion btw?)
22 Jan 2010, 16:37 pm
Where is Nick Koster? vanished?
23 Jan 2010, 04:01 am
@Shark@Heart: I believe Nick is still getting repaired and should be back before the season kickoff. From memory, Rassie was going to play him on the wing until he got big enough to play 8. I hope he has spent his time off in the gym so we can have 6) Schalk 7)Duane and 8)Koster as the loose trio.
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