Stormers call up Earl Rose
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The Stormers have suffered a late blow with the withdrawal of first choice flyhalf Peter Grant from the team to face the Brumbies in Canberra on Saturday.
Grant, who was being treated for an ankle injury, had been bracketed with 21-year-old Kurt Coleman, who will now make his run on debut for the Stormers. Grant, meanwhile, has returned home with the Stormers calling up former Lions pivot Earl Rose, who will join the squad in Melbourne next week. Rose has been playing for Griquas in the Vodacom Cup competition.
Despite the late setback, the Stormers, looking to cement their position as the leading team in the South African Conference, despite the impending menace of a resurgent Bulls and a surprise packet Cheetahs, have been boosted by the return of Springbok centres Jaque Fourie and Jean de Villiers.
Surprisingly de Villiers has been named on the bench, leaving Blues tormentor Juan de Jongh at number 12, while Fourie comes into the side at centre at the expense of Johann Sadie.
The retention of de Jongh is reward for his recent performances, and if anything gives more balance to the Stormers backline, indeed ironically paying homage to the Brumbies, who historically prefer smaller playmakers placed in their midfield channels.
While the altered backline is the focus for the Stormers, the Brumbies concentration this week has been on their stocks up front.
Wallabies captain Rocky Elsom (ankle) and test regulars Stephen Hoiles (Achilles) and Stephen Moore, have been haunted by injuries this season, with senior forward’s Elsom and Hoiles barely putting together 80 minutes of Super Rugby combined.
It is here that 2012 coach Jake White has already stepped in, with 14 of the 16 contracted forwards for next season locked in, with the latest signing Peter Kimlin.
The lock will be a senior next season, with second row forwards Mitchell Chapman (Japan), Mark Chisholm (Bayonne) leaving, while potentially Rocky Elsom and Huia Edmonds could depart Canberra.
Current coach Tony Rea, who has had at least two key forwards missing every time he sits at the selection table, has still managed to draft a competent pack to take on the Springbok-laden Stormers.
Number eight Ita Vaea and blindside flanker Chapman return, which shifts Julian Salvi to open side, giving the Brumbies a big abrasive back row to combat the Stormers, who typically relish throwing bodies into the breakdown.
Finding enough fit forwards has not been a problem for Stormers coach Allister Coetzee, who brings in Nick Koster to replace Duane Vermeulen (benched for rest) while Brok Harris covers for CJ van der Linde (groin).
The Brumbies have won their last two against the Stormers, as well as 10 of their 13 head-to-heads, but face a challenge to hold out last year’s runners up, who have never won in Canberra.
(James Mortimer, www.SuperRugby.com)
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