Stormers’ Ramone Samuels (front) is tackled by Highlanders’ Tom Franklin during the Super Rugby match between New Zealand’s Otago Highlanders and South Africa’s Western Stormers at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin on March 9, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / Marty MELVILLE

Super Rugby: Stormers vs Sharks – Team news, kick off and live stream

Stormers Head Coach Robbie Fleck said that his team will be looking to end their campaign on a positive note against the Sharks.

by Erene Roux

05-07-2018 16:45

in Rugby

The Sharks are traveling to Cape Town this weekend to take on the Stormers.

According to the Sharks’ website, a loss to the Sharks will consign the Stormers to finish bottom of the South African Conference.

But, they can expect no charity from a Sharks side aiming to qualify for the playoffs in two weeks’ time.

Stormers team and injury news

The Stormers will be led by Pieter-Steph du Toit in the absence of captain Siya Kolisi, who has been ruled out through illness, with his place on the side of the scrum taken by Kobus van Dyk.

According to the Stormer’s website, the only other changes to the forward pack will see props JC Janse van Rensburg and Frans Malherbe come into the starting line-up on either side of hooker Bongi Mbonambi, with JD Schickerling and Juarno Augustus among the replacements.

In the backline, EW Viljoen starts at outside-centre, with JJ Engelbrecht shifting to the wing and Craig Barry on the replacements bench alongside Josh Stander and scrumhalf Herschel Jantjies, who will make his Super Rugby debut if he comes on.

Stormers Head Coach Robbie Fleck said that his team will be looking to end their campaign on a positive note against the Sharks.

“This weekend gives us another chance to play in front of our fans at Newlands, so we are determined to put together a good performance.

“South African derbies are always tough and this should be a great game to watch, we are looking forward to the challenge,” he said.

Stormers: 15 Dillyn Leyds, 14 JJ Engelbrecht, 13 EW Viljoen, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit (c), 6 Kobus van Dyk, 5 Jan de Klerk, 4 Cobus Wiese, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 JC Janse van Rensberg

Substitutes: 16 Ramone Samuels, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 JD Schickerling, 20 Juarno Augustus, 21 Herschel Jantjies, 22 Josh Stander, 23 Craig Barry

Sharks team and injury news

Center Andre Esterhuizen will continue his fantastic partnership with outside center Lukhanyo Am.

Head coach Robert du Preez has been forced to make a change at flank where Jacques Vermeulen replaces the injured Jean-Luc du Preez in one of four changes to the side that beat the Lions at last Saturday.

In the second change to the pack, Juan Schoeman comes in for Beast Mtawarira who, with his heavy workload in June for the Springboks and Sharks, gets a break, but will play off the bench.

Scrumhalves Louis Schreuder and Cameron Wright rotate, while Sbu Nkosi returns after pulling out of the Lions match at the last minute, with Lwazi Mvovo retaining a starting position on the other wing, with Makazole Mapimpi turning out for the Cell C Sharks XV.

“That win over the Lions was a great game for us, we’re very happy with the result,” Esterhuizen said. “Our defence was brilliant, in the first half we had to defend for 20 or 25 minutes at one stage and all the boys stepped up. In the second half we played great rugby, got some possession and hung on to the ball a bit more and that’s when we started playing a bit.

“We want to win all our games, we just want to play our best rugby and we know that if we do, we can win these final pool games.”

Of the Stormers, Esterhuizen admitted that it won’t be easy against a side playing for nothing but pride.

“It’s their last game, a home game and because they haven’t had a great year, we know they will throw everything at us. They have nothing to lose and will want to finish the tournament off on a positive.

“It’s going to be tough, we expect a lot from them.”

Thomas du Toit will play his 50th Super Rugby match for the Sharks this Saturday.

Sharks: 15 Curwin Bosch, 14 S’bu Nkosi, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Robert du Preez, 9 Louis Schreuder, 8 Daniel du Preez, 7 Jacques Vermeulen, 6 Philip van der Walt, 5 Ruan Botha (c), 4 Tyler Paul, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Akker van der Merwe, 1 Juan Schoeman

Substitutes: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 Beast Mtawarira, 18 John-Hubert Meyer, 19 Hyron Andrews, 20 Wian Vosloo, 21 Cameron Wright, 22 Marius Louw, 23 Kobus van Wyk