A potential banana peel awaits the Stormers in Kimberly, where they square off against the Griquas at Griqua Park on Round 5 of Super Rugby Unlocked.
The men from the Cape come off a disappointing outing where the Bulls thrashed them at Loftus, and face a team returning from a bye after being trounced by the Lions in their last fixture.
Griquas vs Stormers: Super Rugby Unlocked preview
The poor showing in Tshwane has prompted Stormers coach John Dobson to effect a shake-up in his starting XV, with a couple of youngsters getting a start ahead of some seasoned vets.
Sevens star Angelo Davids is one of those exciting young players who have cracked the nod, as he replaces Leolin Zas on the wing, while Rugby World Cup-winning scrumhalf Herschel Jantjies is replaced by Paul de Wet.
Another big name not present in the first XV is prop Frans Malherbe, who starts from the bench while Neethling Fouche gets a go at tighthead.
“We have chosen the team for this game that we feel is best equipped to win it and we have noted that across the franchises reputations have become less and less important and that is the message we have put across to the players,” said Dobson.
Teams
Griquas: James Verity-Amm, Ederies Arendse, Eduan Keyter, Johnathan Francke, Bjorn Basson, Tinus de Beer, Zak Burger (captain); Carl Els, Stefan Willemse, Gideon van der Merwe, Adré Smith, Mzwanele Zito, Ewald van der Westhuizen, Hendrik Luus, Mox Mxoli. Replacements: Monde Hadebe, Andrew Beerwinkel, Madot Mabokela, Johan Momsen, Ewan Coetzee, Theo Maree, George Whitehead, Harlon Klaasen, Bandisa Ndlovu, Cameron Lindsay, Dan Kasende.
Stormers: Warrick Gelant, Edwill van der Merwe, Dan du Plessis, Rikus Pretorius, Angelo Davids, Damian Willemse, Paul de Wet; Juarno Augustus, Ernst van Rhyn, Marcel Theunissen, JD Schickerling, David Meihuizen, Neethling Fouche, Bongi Mbonambi, Steven Kitshoff (captain). Replacements: Scarra Ntubeni, Kwenzo Blose, Frans Malherbe, Sazi Sandi, Salmaan Moerat, Chris van Zyl, Ben-Jason Dixon, Godlen Masimla, Tim Swiel, Michal Hazner, Ruhan Nel.
Kick-off, TV channel and prediction
The match will kick off at 16:30 (SAST) and is broadcast on Supersport Grandstand (201).
Prediction: After three matches played, the Griquas look destined for the wooden spoon, having not managed a victory in the competition so far. We expect them to cause an upset somewhere down the line in the competition, but it will not happen against the Stormers, who we reckon will be at least 15-points clear by the final whistle.
