Rugby
Kebble gets first Stormers start─── 13:58 Thu, 30 Apr 2015
The Stormers have made three changes to their starting XV for their trip to Bloemfontein to face the battling Toyota Cheetahs in the Super Rugby.
Oli Kebble and Jean Kleyn have been named in the starting line-up for the match while Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth and former Springbok U20 prop Steven Kitschoff will be rested.
Kitschoff's team mate during their successful 2012 IRB Junior World Championships (now World Rugby U20 Championship) campaign, Dillyn Leyds returns to the starting line-up after recovering from his shoulder injury.
This paves the way for Kebble, son of former Springbok Guy Kebble, to earn his first run-on start for the Cape franchise.
Springbok prop, Frans Malherbe will earn his 50th Super Rugby cap, while scrumhalf Louis Schreuder will earn number 50 as well if he comes of the bench.
The second placed side from Cape Town will be looking to build on their momentum following their 15-13 win over the Bulls last week and are currently on a three-match unbeaten run.
The last two times the Stormers faced the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein, the home side came out on top with 26-14 and 35-22 wins.
While the Cheetahs in their turn have won just three games thus far and are plagued by injuries, Stormer coach Allister Coetzee is of the view that Naka Drotské’s chargers will by no means be a push-over.
After running the Lions hard in Johannesburg with a 34-29 loss, Coetzee feels they can expect some of the same by the Cheetahs come Saturday.
“The Cheetahs pushed the in-form Lions in Johannesburg last week, they’re a good side, especially in Bloemfontein and we know this will be a tough match.”
The last time their two teams met in the Super Rugby, the Stormers trashed the Cheetahs 33-0 in Cape Town.
Saturday's match at the Free State Stadium kicks off at 17:05.
Cheetahs – 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Rayno Benjamin, 13 Francois Venter, 12 Michael Venter, 11 Sergeal Peterson, 10 Joe Pietersen, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Willie Britz, 7 Boom Prinsloo, 6 Tienie Burger, 5 Francois Uys, 4 Carl Wegner, 3 Maks van Dyk, 2 Torsten van Jaarsveld, 1 Caylib Oosthuizen.
Replacements – 16 Stephan Coetzee, 17 Dolph Botha, 18 Ewald van der Westhuizen, 19 Steven Sykes, 20 Carel Greef, 21 Tian Meyer, 22 Francois Brummer, 23 Danie Dames.
Stormers - 15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Johnny Kotze, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Dillyn Leyds, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Duane Vermeulen (Captain), 7 Siya Kolisi, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Ruan Botha, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Oli Kebble.
Replacements - 16 Scarra Ntuben, 17 Ali Vermaak, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Manuel Carizza, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Louis Schreuder, 22 Kurt Coleman, 23 Huw Jones.
Morgan Piek / OFM News
