Gary Gold opts for consistency for Stormers clash
Director of Rugby Gary Gold has stuck with the same team that defeated the Jaguares at Growthpoint KINGS PARK last week.
Last week’s match against a Jaguares team filled with Internationals was billed as a clash of near Test match proportions and this weekend is no different when the Cell C Sharks take on the Stormers in a round three Vodacom Super Rugby clash of huge proportions at Newlands in Cape Town.
There is little reason to tamper with a winning side and Gold ‘ain’t fixing what ain’t broke’, to use an old idiom.
Saturday’s clash against the Stormers is likely to mirror the Jaguares game to a greater degree than the opening match of the Vodacom Super Rugby Tournament against the Kings which was more about attack and scoring tries.
Against the Jaguares – and indeed the Stormers – defence needed to be, and will again be called upon to be, top notch. Keeping the Argentinians scoreless in the second half, as was the case against the Kings, showed that this is a side ruthless on attack but also able to show character on defence.
A much anticipated battle of brothers between the twins Jean-Luc and Daniel representing the Sharks, and their older brother, flyhalf Robert for the Stormers, will not materialise after the latter picked up an injury in his team’s defeat of the Cheetahs last week.
But there will be battles aplenty in this much-anticipated clash between two sides who have won their opening fixtures and are currently fighting it out for top honours.
The Cell C Sharks
15. Willie Le Roux
14. Odwa Ndungane
13. Paul Jordaan
12. Andre Esterhuizen
11. JP Pietersen
10. Joe Pietersen
9. Cobus Reinach
8. Daniel du Preez
7. Jean-Luc du Preez
6. Marcell Coetzee
5. Stephan Lewies
4. Etienne Oosthuizen
3. Coenie Oosthuizen
2. Franco Marais
1. Tendai Mtawarira (Captain)
Replacements
16. Kyle Cooper
17. Juan Schoeman
18. Lourens Adriaanse
19. Hyron Andrews
20.Phillip van der Walt
21.Michael Claasens
22. Garth April
23. S'bura Sithole