Wednesday, April 26, 2006

Stormers move De Villiers to the Wing

Springbok centre Jean de Villiers will play on the left wing for the Stormers in Saturday's Super 14 match against the Crusaders at Newlands.

The move comes after two poor performances at centre, while coach Kobus van der Merwe also did not have wing Jongi Nokwe or fullback Tonderai Chavhanga available due to injury.

Marius Joubert thus returns at outside centre after sitting out the 24-20 win over the Reds. De Villiers replaces Nokwe, while Joe Pietersen is in for Chavhanga.

The Stormers will also field a new halfback pairing in Neil de Kock and Peter Grant. Lock Ross Skeate is fit again and replaces Gerrie Britz.

"Jean is being moved to the wing because we feel we need more experience in our back three. He has played there successfully for the Springboks and we feel it was a natural shift. It worked well in the last 20 minutes of the match against the Reds," said Van der Merwe.

The Crusaders, meanwhile, have confirmed that they will not start star flank Richie McCaw against the Stormers.

Stormers: Joe Pietersen, Rayno Benjamin, Marius Joubert, De Wet Barry (capt), Jean de Villiers, Peter Grant, Neil de Kock, Joe van Niekerk, Schalk Burger, Luke Watson, Andries Bekker, Ross Skeate, Eddie Andrews, Schalk Brits, JD Moller. Substitutes: Hanyani Shimange, Neil Fullard, Gerrie Britz, Adri Badenhorst, Bolla Conradie, Naas Olivier, Chumani Booi.

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