Whitehead takes centre stage

17 Mar 2010

Tim Whitehead has replaced Juan de Jongh at No 12 while Willem de Waal is on the bench for Saturday’s clash with the Cheetahs.

After much debate, Stormers coach Allister Coetzee has decided to replace one versatile player with another. Like De Jongh, Whitehead is a Super 14 rookie and has played the majority of his rugby at No 13. He’ll be thrust into a starting role on debut, as Coetzee has neglected the safer option of starting De Waal at No 10 and shifting Grant to inside centre.

‘I’m not a gambling man and I have the greatest respect for the Cheetahs,’ Coetzee told keo.co.za when asked about the Whitehead selection. ‘I really feel it’s time to back our youngsters, and Tim can offer us a lot on attack and won’t let us down on defence.

‘He’s played a lot of Varsity Cup rugby and has already played three Vodacom Cup games this season. He featured in the pre-season matches against Stellenbosch and Boland. Tim’s a class player with a lot of time on the ball, and given the injuries we’ve had at No 12, we need someone like him coming through.

‘I didn’t want to bring Willem into the starting line-up because that would mean making two changes instead of one [by playing De Waal at No 10 and shifting Peter Grant to No 12]. Bash has played well at flyhalf and is the best man for this match.’

After two impressive showings, Sireli Naqelevuki is relegated to the bench. Gio Aplon didn’t start the Highlanders match because of flu and remained among the reserves for the Hurricanes fixture. Coetzee said it’s only fair that Aplon return to the starting line-up.

Coetzee has also decided to stick with the same pack that destroyed the Hurricanes. Although Anton van Zyl is usually a No 5, he’s adapted well to the front lock position and is complementing Andries Bekker.

Conrad Hoffmann will play flyhalf for Western Province in Saturday’s Vodacom Cup game against Border, while Adriaan Fondse is listed among the reserves. Fondse has missed the last six months of rugby with a knee injury, but is expected to tour Australasia with the Stormers.

Centre Paul Bosch returned to the training field this week after successfully recovering from an arm injury suffered in the pre-season. Although Coetzee was encouraged by his return, the No 12 is unlikely to make the touring squad.

Stormers – 15 Joe Pietersen, 14 Gio Aplon, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Tim Whitehead, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Peter Grant, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Francois Louw, 6 Schalk Burger (c), 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Anton van Zyl, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 Wicus Blaauw.
Subs: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 JC Kritzinger, 18 De Kock Steenkamp, 19 Pieter Louw, 20 Ricky Januarie, 21 Willem de Waal, 22 Sireli Naqelevuki.

By Jon Cardinelli


151 Comments

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  • 151.Gertjie die Brandweer Ertjie: Reply to this comment
    18 Mar 2010, 13:07 pm

    Oh, wow. Just… wow.

    Good thing you don’t have an import currently playing. Also, Tony Brown is a born and bred previously disadvantaged individual, born on the Cape Flats.

    ****!

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