10/02/2008 22:15

Stephen Nell

Cape Town - The first Stormers team to be announced by Rassie Erasmus will probably differ markedly from the one that started the Super 14 rugby competition last year.

Jean de Villiers and Conrad Jantjes may be the only surviving members of the initial 2007 backline when the new coach names the side to play the Bulls at Newlands on Saturday.

Jantjes, who was on the left wing at the start of last season, is expected to be at fullback this time.

In the pack, loose forwards Schalk Burger and Luke Watson, lock Andries Bekker and loosehead prop JD Moller are likely to start the campaign as they did in last year's first Super 14 match against the Cheetahs.

However, surprise selections cannot be ruled out.

Erasmus has kept his cards close to his chest and has enough depth among the forwards to keep the Bulls guessing.

De Villiers, the new captain, has to train flat out from Monday before a decision can be made about his participation in the match. He has been hamstrung, literally, for the past week.

Four of Erasmus's new acquisitions are likely to play against the Super 14 champions. They are centre Gcobani Bobo, scrumhalf Ricky Januarie, lock Adriaan Fondse and tighthead prop Brian Mujati.

Hard to choose

The home team's backline coach, Allister Coetzee, said last week it would be hard to choose between Springboks Januarie and Bolla Conradie. Conradie was at No 9 at the start of last season.

Burger and Watson are expected to have new roles after playing at left and right flank last season, when there was much debate about who should be given the open-side berth.

Watson could now be at No 8, with Burger on the open side.

The Stormers' tight five will find themselves in the limelight from the start of the competition.

Mujati is expected to bring extra power to the front row and hard men Fondse and Francois van der Merwe will compete for the No 4 jersey.

Erasmus has the luxury of good depth at hooker, where Tiaan Liebenberg and Schalk Brits are the frontrunners.

It may pay to field the heavier Liebenberg in the starting lineup against the Bulls and employ Brits as an attacking option off the bench.

A possible Stormers run-on team: Conrad Jantjes, Tonderai Chavhanga, Gcobani Bobo, Jean de Villiers (capt), Sireli Naqelevuki, Peter Grant, Ricky Januarie, Luke Watson, Francois Louw, Schalk Burger, Andries Bekker, Adriaan Fondse, Brian Mujati, Tiaan Liebenberg and JD Moller.