Williams to make first start for DHL Stormers

April 22, 2014May 16, 2014 Howard Kahn Allister Coetzee, Bloemfontein, Cheetahs, Cheslin Kolbe, Craig Joubert, Demetri Catrakilis, Devon Williams, DHL, Jaco Taute, Kobus Van Wyk, Kurt Coleman, Oliver Kebble, Paarl Boys' High, Peter Grant, Scarra Ntubeni, Schalk Burger, Stormers, Super Rugby, Toyota, Vodacom, Vodacom Cup, Western Province

Western Province Vodacom Cup star Devon Williams will make his first start for the Stormers when the team travels to Bloemfontein to take on the Cheetahs in Super Rugby action on Saturday. Williams made his debut off the bench in last weekend’s 18-3 win over the Lions, but he will start in the Number 11 jersey this week in the absence of Sailosi Tagicakibau who has not shaken off a sternum injury. The 22-year-old Williams, a product of Paarl Boys’ High, was part of the cup-winning Western Province Under-21 team last year, while he is also the top try-scorer in the 2014 Vodacom Cup with nine tries in just six games.

Williams and fullback Jaco Taute are the new faces in the starting line-up, with Peter Grant moving back into the Number 10 shirt in the absence of Demetri Catrakilis (broken nose), but prop Oliver Kebble, flank Schalk Burger, flyhalf Kurt Coleman and wing Kobus Van Wyk have all been named on the bench this week. Kebble (knee), Burger (quad) and Van Wyk (abductor muscle) are all back to full fitness this week, but hooker Scarra Ntubeni (calf muscle) and winger Cheslin Kolbe (knee) are still another week away at this stage. Looking ahead to Saturday, DHL Stormers coach Allister Coetzee told the Stormers website, “We’re expecting a physical battle against a Cheetahs team that is always tough to play against in Bloemfontein. The Cheetahs are just behind us on the log, with one win and a draw, so both teams will be desperate to come away with a victory in our second all-South African derby in the space of just a week.” The match kicks off at 17:05 and will be refereed by Craig Joubert.

The Stormers team for Saturday’s fixture against the Toyota Cheetahs is as follows:

15. Jaco Taute
14. Damian De Allende
13. Juan De Jongh
12. Jean De Villiers (captain)
11. Devon Williams (On starting debut for the DHL Stormers)
10. Peter Grant
9. Nic Groom
8. Duane Vermeulen (vice-captain)
7. Siya Kolisi
6. Nizaam Carr
5. Michael Rhodes
4. Ruan Botha
3. Frans Malherbe
2. Deon Fourie
1. Steven Kitshoff

Replacements:
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

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