Stormers Fans Ultimate XV – how good are those who missed out!

The Fans Stormers Ultimate XV is a Test team of note, but the quality of those players who have worn the Stormers jersey is in who missed out on the Fans’ vote. Here is a Stormers Alternative XV.

Alternative Stormers XV

Every one of the Fans Ultimate XV has played for the Springboks, so I used the same selection criteria for an Alternative XV. They had to have played for the Springboks.

Up front the biggest mention is to the iconic Brok Harris, be it at loosehead prop or tighthead prop, and Dewaldt Duvenhage, at scrumhalf. Both are Stormers Centurions and among the greatest to represent the club, but neither played for the Springboks. So for purposes of this exercise, they were not considered. Dan van Zyl. the charismatic No 9, played five midweek matches for the Boks and captained them as well. But he never got to play a Test.

The Fans Stormers Ultimate XV is a potent line-up, but even in having a crack at an Alternative XV, there were so many contenders.

Here’s my Keo Stormers Alternative XV, and I’d fancy them to give the Fans Ultimate XV one hell of match.

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts.

Keo Stormers Alternative XV

15. Percy Montgomery

14. Breyton Paulse

13. Jaques Fourie

12. Damian de Allende

11. Gio Aplon (He played at 15, 14 and 11, but I simply had to include him. He was that good.)

10. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu

9. Neil de Kock

8. Bob Skinstad

7. Francois Louw

6. Siya Kolisi

5. Selborne Boome

4. Salmaan Moerat

3. Wilco Louw

2. Scarra Ntubeni

1.Robbie Kempson

*Joe Pietersen (fullback) had a great Stormers career, as did Pieter Rossouw on the left wing. The midfield duo of Marius Joubert and De Wet Barry were the Boks midfield when both were at their peak. Robbie Fleck, at one stage, was the spark of the Stormers midfield and central to the potency of the famed 1999 Men in Black. Braam van Straaten was a beast at 12 and 10, Peter Grant played over 100 matches at flyhalf and Bolla Conradie and Ricky Januarie are OGs of the No 9 jersey. Siya Kolisi simply had to make my team, but to do so I had to leave out Deon Fourie and Corne Krige. Both are massive Stormers and Springboks. It is another example of how blessed the club and its fanbase has been with the calibre of player to wear the jersey. No 8 Evan Roos ordinarily would get my vote as second only to Duane Vermeulen, as this stage of his career, and Nizaam Carr had six standout seasons at the Stormers. But I was at the coal face of the 1999 Men in Black season, so Bob Skinstad is my No 8. He was monumental in that season. Rynhardt Elstadt, at lock or flank, was an Yster, and flanker Robby Brink had his moments, Anton van Zyl and Chris van Zyl were hard in the second row and Hottie Louw flourished in the 1999 season. Jonny Trytsman was a pioneer for the lanky boys as a No 5 lock and Harold Karele had that ONE season on the flank.  Talking of loose-forwards, Luke Watson and Joe van Niekerk are another two world class flankers/No8s who add to the history of the Stormers. Both enjoyed incredible club careers overseas; Watson at Bath and Van Niekerk at Toulon. Charl Marais and Tiaan Liebenberg had big seasons at hooker and Cobus Visage, at tighthead, was a boss for a right shoulder in his day. Versatile front rower Toks van der Linde will always be a favourite and another Stormers Centurion Neethling Fouché is a modern giant of the club’s esteemed front row club.