Williams to make first start for DHL Stormers

Apr 23 • General News, Super Rugby • 2351 Views • Comments Off on Williams to make first start for DHL Stormers

DHL Western Province Vodacom Cup star Devon Williams will make his first start for the DHL Stormers when the team travels to Bloemfontein to take on the Toyota Cheetahs in Vodacom Super Rugby action on Saturday (kick-off 17h05).
Williams made his debut off the bench in last weekend’s 18-3 win over the Lions, but he will start in the No.11 jersey this week in the absence of Sailosi Tagicakibau who has not shaken off a sternum injury.

The 22-year-old Williams, a product of Paarl Boys’ High, was part of the cup-winning DHL Western Province Under-21 team last year, whilst he is also the top try-scorer in the 2014 Vodacom Cup with nine tries in just six games.

Williams and fullback Jaco Taute are the new faces in the starting line-up, with Peter Grant moving back into the No.10 shirt in the absence of Demetri Catrakilis (broken nose), but prop Oliver Kebble, flank Schalk Burger, flyhalf Kurt Coleman and wing Kobus van Wyk have all been named on the bench this week.

Kebble (knee), Burger (quad) and Van Wyk (abductor muscle) are all back to full fitness this week, but hooker Scarra Ntubeni (calf muscle) and winger Cheslin Kolbe (knee) are still another week away at this stage.

The DHL Stormers team: 15. Jaco Taute 14. Damian de Allende 13. Juan de Jongh 12. Jean de Villiers (captain) 11. Devon Williams 10. Peter Grant 9. Nic Groom 8. Duane Vermeulen (vice-captain) 7. Siya Kolisi 6. Nizaam Carr 5. Michael Rhodes 4. Ruan Botha 3. Frans Malherbe 2. Deon Fourie 1. Steven Kitshoff. Replacements: 16. Stephan Coetzee 17. Oliver Kebble 18. Brok Harris 19. Jurie van Vuuren 20. Schalk Burger 21. Louis Schreuder 22. Kurt Coleman 23. Kobus van Wyk.

Courtesy of SARU