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Johannesburg - Schalk Burger has recovered from the injury that kept him out of the match against the Force and will lead the Stormers in their final Neo Africa Tri-Series match against the Sharks at Newlands on Friday.
The Springbok flank was out of action last week with a haemotomae on his calf and had to undergo a fitness test at the Western Province High Performance Centre on Wednesday morning before being cleared to play.
“I came through the test okay and I am looking forward to captaining the team for the first time this season,” said Burger.
“It was a bit frustrating sitting out last week. I have been on the sidelines a lot in the past year, with suspensions and injuries, and didn’t want to have another week’s break. As I have not been playing that much, I suppose you could say that I am fresher now than I have been before some new seasons.”
Burger replaces Pieter Myburgh in the only change to the side that beat the Force 54-12 in the opening Neo Africa match last Saturday.
“This stage of the season is all about giving the players a run, and we are doing it, but we also want to form settled combinations and give them a chance to play together before the Super 14 starts,” said Stormers coach Allister Coetzee in explaining the selection.
De Kock Steenkamp gets his second run at lock, confirmation that he is the favourite to start as Andries Bekker’s partner against the Lions in the first Super 14 match on 13 February.
“Anton van Zyl is a No5 lock and he is dovetailing with Andries Bekker, we see De Kock as a No4 lock. Adriaan Fondse is on his way back from injury and will be the first choice tight lock when he is back, but we are very pleased with the way that De Kock is progressing,” said Coetzee.
Fondse, along with Nick Koster, worked hard at personal drills alongside the field as the rest of the team trained on Wednesday and does not look far off full fitness.
Friday's match will be the first time in Stormers colours for Argentine prop Eusebio Guinaza, who will be covering tighthead prop from the reserve bench.
Stormers team: Joe Pietersen, Gio Aplon, Jaque Fourie, Juan de Jongh, Bryan Habana, Peter Grant, Dewaldt Duvenage, Duane Vermeulen, Francois Louw, Schalk Burger (captain), Andries Bekker, De Kock Steenkamp, Brok Harris, Tiaan Liebenberg, Wicus Blaauw.
Reserves: Deon Fourie, JC Kritzinger, Eusebio Guinazu, Anton van Zyl, Pieter Myburgh, Pieter Louw, Bolla Conradie. Lionel Cronje, Sireli Naqelevuki, Frikkie Welsh, Fabian Juries.
