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Cape Town - Stormers coach Allister Coetzee says new wing Devon Williams adds some much needed X-factor to their backline.
Williams, 22, was on Tuesday named in the Stormers starting team for their Super Rugby clash against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.
He made his debut off the bench in last weekend’s 18-3 win over the Lions, but will start in the No 11 jersey this week in the absence of Sailosi Tagicakibau who has not shaken off a sternum injury.
Williams, a product of Paarl Boys’ High, was part of the cup-winning Western Province Under-21 team last year, whilst he is also the top try-scorer in the 2014 Vodacom Cup with nine tries in just six games.
At 1.74m and 73kg, Williams is a small player, but boasts tremendous pace as well as a prodigious left boot.
In an interview with Wednesday's Cape Times, Coetzee described Williams as a player with "X-factor" who has the awareness to take an opportunity to finish.
The coach said the aim of centres Jean de Villiers and Juan de Jongh would be to create enough space and gaps for Williams to exploit.
He also compared Williams's left boot to that of Gio Aplon, as another key weapon for the clash at the Free State Stadium.
Kick-off is at 17:05.
Teams:
Cheetahs
TBA
Stormers
15. Jaco Taute, 14. Damian de Allende, 13. Juan de Jongh, 12. Jean de Villiers (captain), 11. Devon Williams, 10. Peter Grant, 9. Nic Groom, 8. Duane Vermeulen, 7. Siya Kolisi, 6. Nizaam Carr, 5. Michael Rhodes, 4. Ruan Botha, 3. Frans Malherbe, 2. Deon Fourie, 1. Steven Kitshoff
Substitutes: 16. Stephan Coetzee, 17. Oliver Kebble, 18. Brok Harris, 19. Jurie van Vuuren, 20. Schalk Burger, 21. Louis Schreuder, 22. Kurt Coleman, 23. Kobus van Wyk
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Williams, 22, was on Tuesday named in the Stormers starting team for their Super Rugby clash against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.
He made his debut off the bench in last weekend’s 18-3 win over the Lions, but will start in the No 11 jersey this week in the absence of Sailosi Tagicakibau who has not shaken off a sternum injury.
Williams, a product of Paarl Boys’ High, was part of the cup-winning Western Province Under-21 team last year, whilst he is also the top try-scorer in the 2014 Vodacom Cup with nine tries in just six games.
At 1.74m and 73kg, Williams is a small player, but boasts tremendous pace as well as a prodigious left boot.
In an interview with Wednesday's Cape Times, Coetzee described Williams as a player with "X-factor" who has the awareness to take an opportunity to finish.
The coach said the aim of centres Jean de Villiers and Juan de Jongh would be to create enough space and gaps for Williams to exploit.
He also compared Williams's left boot to that of Gio Aplon, as another key weapon for the clash at the Free State Stadium.
Kick-off is at 17:05.
Teams:
Cheetahs
TBA
Stormers
15. Jaco Taute, 14. Damian de Allende, 13. Juan de Jongh, 12. Jean de Villiers (captain), 11. Devon Williams, 10. Peter Grant, 9. Nic Groom, 8. Duane Vermeulen, 7. Siya Kolisi, 6. Nizaam Carr, 5. Michael Rhodes, 4. Ruan Botha, 3. Frans Malherbe, 2. Deon Fourie, 1. Steven Kitshoff
Substitutes: 16. Stephan Coetzee, 17. Oliver Kebble, 18. Brok Harris, 19. Jurie van Vuuren, 20. Schalk Burger, 21. Louis Schreuder, 22. Kurt Coleman, 23. Kobus van Wyk
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
