Fleck sticks to his word and rewards youngsters

DHL Stormers coach Robbie Fleck has kept to his word by rewarding the youngsters and fringe players in his squad with selection for Saturday’s Vodacom Super Rugby clash with the Brumbies at Newlands.

Although Fleck has made three changes to the team that beat the Rebels 41-24 in Melbourne last Friday, and has Springbok star Pieter-Steph du Toit back in his blindside flank role, almost all the players who did well last week have been given a chance to back up against the Brumbies.

Du Toit effectively returns for an injured player, No 8 Jaco Coetzee, with Kobus van Dyk moving to No 8 to accommodate the Springbok’s return on the side of the scrum.

The loose trio of Ernst van Rhyn, Du Toit and Van Dyk have capable back-up in the form of regular Stormers and Boks captain Siya Kolisi, and Du Toit’s younger brother, Johan.

There is no sign yet of Eben Etzebeth and JD Schickerling, while another Bok, Frans Malherbe, is also sitting out this match.

With the Bulls coming to town the following Saturday, Fleck will probably want his most experienced players available, but for now the selection sends out a positive statement and will do wonders for the morale of the wider squad.

SWITCHES UNAVOIDABLE

The headline change, if you could call it that, is at flyhalf, where Joshua Stander replaces Jean-Luc du Plessis.

Fleck hinted that he would give Stander a run this week and has duly selected him ahead of Du Plessis, who has been good in patches but generally inconsistent in the pivot role this season.

Ironically, Fleck has also changed his inside centre, with Damian de Allende sitting out this week as per the Springbok resting protocols. Dan Kriel comes in for his first Super Rugby appearance of the season in the No 12 jersey.

The reason that is ironic is that the change is happening in the same week that the coach was speaking about the role that continuity in selection at the back has played in building the confidence of the players and, in his view, improving the Stormers' attacking game.

But the switches are in some senses unavoidable - De Allende does have to rest, and Stander is due for a start. Had Dan du Plessis not been injured, he’d probably have been the perfect fit for inside centre, but Kriel was good for the Stormers in the pre-season games.

Additional changes to the match day squad from last week see Neethling Fouche come in for Malherbe as the prop reserve, while JJ Engelbrecht is back for Stander. Flyhalf Du Plessis is not in the squad this week.

Scrumhalf Herschel Jantjies has come has been selected to start which will be an indication that the scans on the knee that flared up after the win over the Rebels did not find anything serious.

DHL STORMERS SQUAD:

Damian Willemse, Sergeal Petersen, Ruhan Nel, Dan Kriel, Dillyn Leyds, Joshua Stander, Herschel Jantjies, Kobus van Dyk, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Ernst van Rhyn, Cobus Wiese, Salmaan Moerat, Wilco Louw, Bongi Mbonambi, Steven Kitshoff (captain).

Replacements: Scarra Ntubeni, Corne Fourie, Neethling Fouche, Johan du Toit, Siya Kolisi, Justin Phillips, JJ Engelbrecht, Seabelo Senatla.