OWN CORRESPONDENT, Johannesburg | Wednesday 2.00pm.
THE WESTERN Stormers are under pressure to perform after fielding a second-string team against the Otago Highlanders and must have a good night against ACT Brumbies in their Super 12 match on Friday.
Only a victory over the Brumbies at Bruce Stadium in Canberra will vindicate Coach Alan Solomons’s decision which has angered many connected with the Stormers.
Despite three defeats in three matches early on, Brumbies are not exactly underdogs against the Stormers.
Brumbies have only lost one match at Bruce Stadium since the Super 12 started in 1996.
In addition, Stormers’ move to rest their top men for this match suggests that the they have pencilled the match as one they are confident of winning if they were at full strength. Brumbies may well interpret this as arrogance and may be highly charged to thrash Stormers.
An interesting battle looms in the front row where Stormers prop Robbie Kempson will have his work cut out in containing ACT tighthead Patricio Noriega. Theirs will be the key battle in the tight five where the Stormers will also look for big efforts from lock Selborne Boome and hooker Charl Marais.
Brumbies coach Eddie Jones has added impetus to his forward challenge by putting Troy Jacques on the blindside flank. Joe Roff will be at fullback after recovering from an ankle strain that forced him to leave the field against Queensland at halftime.
The teams comprise:
ACT Brumbies: Joe Roff, Mitch Hardy, Adam Magro, Rod Kafer or James Holbeck, Stirling Mortlock, Stephen Larkham, George Gregan, Jim Williams, Brett Robinson, Troy Jacques, David Giffin, Justin Harrison, Patricio Noriega, Jeremy Paul, Bill Young. Reserves: Brendan Williams, Mark Bartholomeusz, Rod Kafer/James Holbeck, Gordon Falcon, John Langford, Rod Moore, Marco Caputo
Stormers: Percy Montgomery; Breyton Paulse, Robbie Fleck, Andy Marinos, Pieter Rossouw, Braam van Straaten, Dan van Zyl, Bobby Skinstad (capt), Lodewyk Hattingh, Rob Brink, Selborne Boome, Hottie Louw, Cobus Visagie, Charl Marais, Robbie Kempson. Reserves: Tinus Linee, Robert Markram, Joggie Viljoen, Anton Leonard, Johnny Trytsman, Toks van der Linde, Tommy Webb