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Cape Town – A niggle to the Stormers’ new Springbok acquisition CJ van der Linde may well mean that the Cape side tackles the Lions with teenage prop Steven Kitshoff in Friday night’s friendly match at Newlands.
Kitshoff, 18, who stands 1.84m tall and weighs in at 114kg, was still at Paul Roos Gymnasium last year, but has made a huge impression with his scrumming in pre-season, and Stormers coach Allister Coetzee is ready to cut him loose in the Neo Africa Tri-series.
“We met all the safety and precautionary measures. We are aware of his age and had him tested according to SA Rugby requirements. His parents have also given their permission, and as coaches we’re satisfied with how he has performed at training,” said Coetzee.
“How can I doubt him if he bench presses 160kg? Steven himself is also positive about the challenge.”
Kitshoff’s involvement hinges on a decision Coetzee will make on Van der Linde during the course of Friday. Should the Bok star play, Kitshoff will be on the bench. If not, Kitshoff will start and Wicus Blaauw will be among the reserves.
“CJ has a lammie and there is no rush to start anyone. I won’t start players that are struggling with niggles. We need them for Super Rugby, and not friendly matches,” said Coetzee.
South African Rugby Union (Saru) communications chief Andy Colquhoun confirmed that the Stormers got permission to be able to use Kitshoff.
“According to Boksmart regulations, an 18-year-old is not allowed to play in the front row at senior level unless he meets certain criteria. Western Province applied for a waiver (on Kitshoff) and got it,” said Colquhoun.
Apart from the tests that Kitshoff would have had to undergo, he would also have had to sign an indemnity form and his parents would have had to agree to his involvement.
He would also have needed clearance from a sports medical practitioner to certify that he is physically up to the challenge, as well as written permission from the team doctor and a sufficiently qualified coach.
Notwithstanding the presence of several young players in the Stormers’ squad of 28 for Friday night’s friendly match, the majority of the Cape side’s superstars will be in the starting line-up.
That includes Andries Bekker, Schalk Burger, Juan de Jongh, Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana and Gio Aplon.
The only Stormer unlikely to be fit for the start of this year’s Super Rugby series is lock Anton van Zyl.
“Anton dislocated his shoulder after falling on it and will be out for five to six weeks,” said Coetzee.
Flank Francois Louw and scrumhalf Dewaldt Duvenage are both struggling with hamstring injuries, but Coetzee expects they will be fit in two weeks’ time.
Springbok centre Jaque Fourie is also progressing well with his recovery from injury and should be in the Stormers’ squad for their first league match against the Lions.
Apart from Kitshoff, Coetzee opted for other youngsters such as Siyabonga Ntubeni, Frans Malherbe, Wimpie van der Walt, Quinn Roux, Siya Kolisi, Nic Groom, Johann Sadie and Danie Poolman as substitutes.
The Stormers team is: Conrad Jantjes, Gio Aplon, Juan de Jongh, Jean de Villiers (v/c), Bryan Habana, Gary van Aswegen, Ricky Januarie, Duane Vermeulen, Rynhardt Elstadt, Schalk Burger (c), Andries Bekker, De Kock Steenkamp, Brok Harris, Tiaan Liebenberg, CJ van der Linde. Substitutes: Siyabonga Ntubeni, Steven Kitshoff, Frans Malherbe, Wimpie van der Walt, Quinn Roux, Pieter Louw, Siya Kolisi, Nic Groom, Elgar Watts, Johann Sadie, Tim Whitehead, JJ Engelbrecht, Danie Poolman.
Cape Town – A niggle to the Stormers’ new Springbok acquisition CJ van der Linde may well mean that the Cape side tackles the Lions with teenage prop Steven Kitshoff in Friday night’s friendly match at Newlands.
Kitshoff, 18, who stands 1.84m tall and weighs in at 114kg, was still at Paul Roos Gymnasium last year, but has made a huge impression with his scrumming in pre-season, and Stormers coach Allister Coetzee is ready to cut him loose in the Neo Africa Tri-series.
“We met all the safety and precautionary measures. We are aware of his age and had him tested according to SA Rugby requirements. His parents have also given their permission, and as coaches we’re satisfied with how he has performed at training,” said Coetzee.
“How can I doubt him if he bench presses 160kg? Steven himself is also positive about the challenge.”
Kitshoff’s involvement hinges on a decision Coetzee will make on Van der Linde during the course of Friday. Should the Bok star play, Kitshoff will be on the bench. If not, Kitshoff will start and Wicus Blaauw will be among the reserves.
“CJ has a lammie and there is no rush to start anyone. I won’t start players that are struggling with niggles. We need them for Super Rugby, and not friendly matches,” said Coetzee.
South African Rugby Union (Saru) communications chief Andy Colquhoun confirmed that the Stormers got permission to be able to use Kitshoff.
“According to Boksmart regulations, an 18-year-old is not allowed to play in the front row at senior level unless he meets certain criteria. Western Province applied for a waiver (on Kitshoff) and got it,” said Colquhoun.
Apart from the tests that Kitshoff would have had to undergo, he would also have had to sign an indemnity form and his parents would have had to agree to his involvement.
He would also have needed clearance from a sports medical practitioner to certify that he is physically up to the challenge, as well as written permission from the team doctor and a sufficiently qualified coach.
Notwithstanding the presence of several young players in the Stormers’ squad of 28 for Friday night’s friendly match, the majority of the Cape side’s superstars will be in the starting line-up.
That includes Andries Bekker, Schalk Burger, Juan de Jongh, Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana and Gio Aplon.
The only Stormer unlikely to be fit for the start of this year’s Super Rugby series is lock Anton van Zyl.
“Anton dislocated his shoulder after falling on it and will be out for five to six weeks,” said Coetzee.
Flank Francois Louw and scrumhalf Dewaldt Duvenage are both struggling with hamstring injuries, but Coetzee expects they will be fit in two weeks’ time.
Springbok centre Jaque Fourie is also progressing well with his recovery from injury and should be in the Stormers’ squad for their first league match against the Lions.
Apart from Kitshoff, Coetzee opted for other youngsters such as Siyabonga Ntubeni, Frans Malherbe, Wimpie van der Walt, Quinn Roux, Siya Kolisi, Nic Groom, Johann Sadie and Danie Poolman as substitutes.
The Stormers team is: Conrad Jantjes, Gio Aplon, Juan de Jongh, Jean de Villiers (v/c), Bryan Habana, Gary van Aswegen, Ricky Januarie, Duane Vermeulen, Rynhardt Elstadt, Schalk Burger (c), Andries Bekker, De Kock Steenkamp, Brok Harris, Tiaan Liebenberg, CJ van der Linde. Substitutes: Siyabonga Ntubeni, Steven Kitshoff, Frans Malherbe, Wimpie van der Walt, Quinn Roux, Pieter Louw, Siya Kolisi, Nic Groom, Elgar Watts, Johann Sadie, Tim Whitehead, JJ Engelbrecht, Danie Poolman.
