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Percy Montgomery for the injured Conrad Jantjes, also a Springbok, is the only change to the side that beat the Reds 27-24 last weekend. According to coach Rassie Erasmus, a final decision will be made on Jantjes’s availability on Friday, but you can take it as read that Montgomery, who was named in the team on Wednesday, will be wearing the No 15 jersey.
Jantjes picked up a calf injury against the Reds, and has not been part of the build-up to the Blues game. Montgomery last started for the Stormers at Newlands in a match of this magnitude in 2002, before leaving later that year for Wales, so he was understandably excited on Wednesday to be back in the Stormers colours.
“It is great to be part of the Stormers franchise again, and while I feel sorry for Conrad that he is injured, I am really excited at the prospect of playing for the Stormers again in front of the Newlands crowd,” said Montgomery.
The only other change to the Stormers playing squad for Saturday is the inclusion of former Vodacom Cheetahs matchwinning flyhalf Willem de Waal on the reserve bench. De Waal proved his fitness by playing for the Western Province Vodacom Cup team in a pre-season warm-up match against Hamiltons last Thursday.
Should he come onto the field, the Stormers will be well served in terms of place-kicking options, with Peter Grant, Montgomery and De Waal all much better than average when it comes to this skill.
“Peter Grant as our regular place-kicker will continue in that role,” said Erasmus.
Luke Watson has been rewarded for his outstanding performance against the Reds by being selected again at No 8, but Erasmus did not want to be drawn on whether the current loose-forward combination was his settled first-choice back row.
“Francois Louw is also playing very well and is keeping those players on their toes. In my opinion all of our loosies are world class,” said Erasmus of Schalk Burger, Duane Vermeulen, Watson and Louw.
Stormers team: Percy Montgomery, Tonderai Chavhanga, Gcobani Bobo, Jean de Villiers (captain), Sireli Naqelevuki, Peter Grant, Ricky Januarie, Luke Watson, Duane Vermeulen, Schalk Burger, Andries Bekker, Adriaan Fondse, Brian Mujati, Schalk Brits, JD Moller.
Bench: Deon Fourie, Wicus Blaauw. AJ Venter, Francois Louw, Bolla Conradie, Nick Koster, Willem de Waal.
