Januarie starts for Stormers against Force
Ricky January
Stormers coach Allister Coetzee has made a number of changes to his team for the first game on their four-match Australasian tour, when they tackle the Western Force in Perth on Friday.
While several of the changes are injury enforced, in-form-fullback Joe Pietersen and loosehead prop Wicus Blaauw were ruled out last week, he also named Springbok scrumhalf Ricky Januarie and rookie lock De Kock Steenkamp in the starting XV.
Pietersen, who has been a revelation thus far this season, has been ruled out of the tour with a hip injury suffered in the encounter with the Cheetahs in Week Six. Blaauw, another who has been in exceptional form, suffered a fractured finger against the Cheetahs.
JC Kritzinger starts at prop in place of Blaauw, while Gio Aplon moves to fullback in place of Pietersen.
Sireli Naqelevuki comes off the replacement bench to start on the wing.
On the bench Argentinean import Eusibio Guinazu will cover both loosehead and tighthead prop.
Veteran flyhalf Willem de Wall will cover both No.10 and fullback, while Frikkie Welsh will provide cover at centre and wing.
Coetzee said the replacements this week “will play a big role”, given the impact that will be needed in the last 20 minutes due to jetlag.
Stormers: 15 Gio Aplon, 14 Sireli Naqelevuki, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Tim Whitehead, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Peter Grant, 9 Ricky Januarie, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Francois Louw, 6 Schalk Burger (captain), 5 Andries Bekker, 4 De Kock Steenkamp, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 JC Kritzinger.
Replacements: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Eusibio Guinazu, 18 Anton Van Zyl, 19 Pieter Louw, 20 Dewaldt Duvenage, 21 Willem De Waal, 22 Frikkie Welsh.
Date: Friday, April 2
Venue: ME Stadium, Perth
Kick-off: 18.05 (10.05 GMT)
Referee: Stuart Dickinson (Australia)
Assistant referees: Ian Smith (Australia), Julian Pritchard (Australia)
TMO: Matthew Goddard (Australia)
[Info from Rugby 365.com]
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