Grieving Elton raring to storm into action

Elton Jantjies will play his first match for the Stormers in two weeks' time when they take on the Bulls in the Super 15.

Despite missing both Stormers' warm-up matches, the Springbok remains the team's first choice at flyhalf, coach Allister Coetzee said yesterday.

Jantjies missed last week's match against the Cheetahs and will miss Saturday's outing against Boland because of the death 12 days ago of his father, Tony.

He will rejoin the Stormers on Sunday.

"I have no doubt that we have enough training sessions to work with Elton before the first game and that he will be ready to start on February 22," Coetzee said.

"Elton has been training while he's up country to be with his family and he's desperate to get back on the field with the Stormers. I will assess his mental state when he's here next week but I'm confident he'll be ready to play against the Bulls."

Kurt Coleman will start against Boland at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday, as he did against the Cheetahs last week. But he seems unlikely to be considered more than a back-up player, especially when Peter Grant returns from Japan.

"Elton joins the camp [on Sunday] and we have some tough sessions next week," Coetzee said.

"Kurt has done well and he gets another chance this weekend but he will be the back-up."

Coetzee named a strong line-up to face Boland, including recalls for the injured quartet of hooker Deon Fourie, lock Andries Bekker, and flanks Siya Kolisi and Rynhardt Elstadt.

Jean de Villiers will start at outside centre and captain the team in the absence of the injured Schalk Burger. Damian de Allende will retain his position at inside centre.

In all, the coach named a 26-man squad for the contest.

The Stormers team: Jaco Taute, Gio Aplon, Jean de Villiers (captain), Damian de Allende, Bryan Habana, Kurt Coleman, Dewaldt Duvenage, Duane Vermeulen, Rynhardt Elstadt, Siya Kolisi, Andries Bekker, Eben Etzebeth, Pat Cilliers, Deon Fourie and Steven Kitshoff.

Replacements (from): Martin Bezuidenhout, Frans Malherbe, Brok Harris, De Kock Steenkamp, Don Armand, Nizaam Carr, Nic Groom, Louis Schreuder, Pat Howard, Gerhard van den Heever and Joe Pietersen.