Stormers name squad to play SWD Eagles

Stormers Super Rugby head coach Robbie Fleck has named a 30-man squad Super Rugby warm up match against South Western Districts Eagles in George on Saturday.

The Stormers played a pre-season match against the Eagles at Outeniqua Park in 2015 and Fleck says that the team is keen to return to George where they always enjoy good support.

“We are really looking forward to the game, there was a huge crowd there last year and the people were fantastic. We have always enjoyed playing in George, especially as there are a lot of Stormers fans there.

“Going on last year, the Eagles were great opponents, and it was a game that was played at a high tempo, which is exactly what we are looking for,” said Fleck.

The Stormers coach explained that his aim over all the pre-season preparations is to ensure that each player gets enough game-time before they face the Bulls in their SupeRugby opener at Newlands on February 27.

This started with a defensive session against UCT last week, and includes another similar session after the Eagles fixture, with the final friendly against Argentina’s Jaguares at Newlands, a fortnight before they take on the Bulls.

“The idea is that we need to give the majority of the players between 80 and 90 minutes before the Bulls game.

“We had that defensive hit-out against UCT, we have got this SWD game, we will have another defensive hit-out next week and then we have the home game against Jaguares on February 13,” Fleck added.

The match against the South Western District Eagles will kick-off at 16.00 on Saturday, January 30 at Outeniqua Park in George and will not be televised.

Stormers squad:

Nizaam Carr, Kurt Coleman, Jan de Klerk, Jean-Luc du Pleassis, Robert du Preez, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Rynhardt Elstadt, Huw Jones, Oliver Kebble, Jean Kleyn, Frans Malherbe, Godlen Masimla, Bongi Mbonambi, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Khanyo Ncgukana, Justin Phillips, JD Schickerling, Louis Schreuder, Sti Sithole, JP Smith, Jaco Taute, Brandon Thompson, Kobus van Wyk, JC Janse van Rensburg, Jurie van Vuuren, Alistair Vermaak, Jano Vermaak, Jacques Vermeulen, Michael Willemse, Leolin Zas.