Rugby
Result secondary for Stormers
2012-01-25 09:23
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Cape Town - The Stormers have lined up most of their big guns for the Lions' visit to Newlands for their warm-up match on Friday evening.
The match is Cape side's second Super Rugby warm-up outing, with coach Allister Coetzee saying the match was all about the side's collective form rather than the result.
"In terms of our objectives for the match it is more about form than the result," said Coetzee.
"One of the objectives will be to ensure that the players (in the starting XV) get at least 60 minutes of rugby.
"At this stage it is the strongest side that we can send out and it's in line with building a side that will be the best possible.
"The rugby aspect of this match is that it will be important for players to know our set-piece and the attack systems, while ensuring that we build on the momentum from last week's friendly at Boland."
The Stormers three-quarters have a distinct Springbok look about it with the midfield pairing of Jean de Villiers and Juan de Jongh, while Bryan Habana and Gio Aplon are out on the wings.
There was a feeling that Coetzee might use one of the new midfielders alongside the established players but Coetzee said there were more pressing concerns.
"At this stage it's most important for combinations to be in place," said Coetzee.
"We have to get it right in the quickest possible time. Other players will get a chance but the objective is to get the best combinations going."
Stormers captain, Schalk Burger said the demands of the modern game were such that play had to be structured because play was becoming increasingly intensive.
"It's no longer good enough just to know the set plays and the moves," Burger said.
"The team structures has to be good because opponents will test you often.
"Also, the ball remains in hand for greater periods of time, and there's emphasis on going through phases.
"This squad has had a long lay-off and there's nothing better than a match situation to check what we've done up to now."
Teams:
Stormers:
15. Joe Pietersen, 14. Gio Aplon, 13. Juan de Jongh, 12. Jean de Villiers, 11. Bryan Habana, 10. Gary van Aswegen, 9. Louis Schrueder, 8. Nick Koster, 7. Siya Kolisi, 6. Schalk Burger (captain), 5. De Kock Steenkamp, 4. Eben Etzebeth, 3. Brok Harris, 2. Deon Fourie, 1. Steven Kitshoff
Substitutes: 16. Tiaan Liebenberg, 17. Deon Carstens, 18. Frans Malherbe, 19. Don Armand, 20. Reuben Johannes, 21. Nizaam Carr, 22. Nic Groom, 23. Burton Francis, 24. Marcel Brache, 25. Gerhard van den Heever, 26. Danie Poolman
Lions:
15 Jaco Taute, 14 Deon Van Rensburg, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Doppies La Grange (vice-captain), 11 Michael Killian, 10 Butch James, 9 Michael Bondesio, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Josh Strauss (captain), 6 Derick Minnie, 5 Franco Van der Merwe, 4 Hendrik Roodt, 3 Patric Cilliers, 2 Bandise Maku, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Substitutes: 16 Callie Visagie, 17 Caylib Oosthuizen, 18 Jacobie Adriaanse, 19 Stephan Greeff, 20 Ruan Botha, 21 Cobus Grobbelaar, 22 Doppies Le Roux, 23 Anthony Volminc, 24 Dylan Des Fountain, 25 James Kamana, 26 Andries Coetzee.