Jean-Luc du Plessis can make Stormers flyhalf position his own

01 July 2016 - 16:48 By Craig Ray

Flyhalf Jean-Luc du Plessis has a chance to ensure that the No 10 jersey remains his for the foreseeable future when the Stormers take on the Rebels in Melbourne on Saturday.Du Plessis was thrust into the pivotal role earlier in the season after injuries to Rob du Preez and Kurt Coleman. And the youngster took his chance well with some composed‚ and at times superb‚ performances.The fact that coach Robbie Fleck omitted Du Preez from the Stormers’ touring party to Australia‚ even though he is playing again following a knee injury‚ is a strong indication that the coach favours Du Preez in the long-term.Jaco Taute in the last line for Stormers against the RebelsFormer Springbok Jaco Taute will make his first appearance for the Stormers this season when he starts at fullback against the Rebels in Melbourne on Saturday. As always the flyhalf will be reliant on his pack performing well and for this match Fleck has chosen the strongest eight he can select at the moment.The Springbok second row combination of Eben Etzebeth and Pieter-Steph du Toit are set to continue where they left off against Ireland last weekend.Schalk Burger returns to No 8 after missing the Stormers’ last outing‚ against the Cheetahs in late May‚ through injury. He will also lead the side in the absence of regular co-captains Juan de Jongh and Frans Malherbe.Nizaam Carr and Siya Kolisi bring international experience to the rest of the back row while Bok prop Vincent Koch starts in place of the injured Malherbe. New Bok Bongi Mbonambi is in at hooker‚ completing a pack that starts with seven Springboks. Only loosehead Oli Kebble has yet to play Test rugby.Schalk Burger to lead Stormers on short Australian tour as Super Rugby returnsVeteran looseforward Schalk Burger will lead the Stormers on their short Australian tour over the next fortnight in the absence of co-captains Juan de Jongh and Frans Malherbe. The Rebels have lost three of their six home games this season but they did record their only ever win over the Stormers on home soil in 2013.“The Rebels are a good side and at one stage they were leading the Australian Conference‚” Fleck said. “They are well balanced and a tough side to beat at home. We found that out in 2013 when we lost a game we thought we should have won.“We are excited because it’s our first proper tour of the tournament and we need it. It’s a short tour but it’s better than a few days to Argentina or Singapore.“There are three games left and we have to give absolutely everything to gain some momentum. We need to find the form we had earlier in the season.”Koch leads the charge in thrilling Stormers fightbackVincent Koch scored a try in the last minute as the Stormers came from 14 points down to snatch a 17-17 draw against Super Rugby newcomers the Sunwolves at Singapore's National Stadium yesterday. In the basement battle in the SA conference the Cheetahs and Kings have tough assignments against the Western Force and Highlanders respectively.The Force have struggled as much as the Cheetahs in 2016‚ losing 10 of their 12 matches so far and nothing indicates that they should turn it around in Bloemfontein.The Cheetahs have lost nine of their matches and boast a defensive record almost identical to the Force. Where Franco Smith’s men have been better though‚ is their ability to score tries.The Force have scored a meagre 21 tries this year while the Cheetahs have managed to cross the chalk 40 times in the same number of matches.In Port Elizabeth the Kings shouldn’t stand a chance against New Zealand contenders the Highlanders.I play for pride of family - Du PlessisStormers flyhalf Jean-Luc du Plessis carries one of the proudest names in South African rugby history, but he is unfazed by the burden of expectation that comes with it. But their last match was a 29-22 win over the Jaguares and they also beat the Highlanders in 2013 – the only time the sides have met.The return of breakdown specialist CJ Velleman is a boost for the Kings but the Highlanders‚ as defending champions and one of NZ’s top teams‚ should have too much firepower for the home team.  - TMG Digital ..

There’s never been a more important time to support independent media.

From World War 1 to present-day cosmopolitan South Africa and beyond, the Sunday Times has been a pillar in covering the stories that matter to you.

For just R80 you can become a premium member (digital access) and support a publication that has played an important political and social role in South Africa for over a century of Sundays. You can cancel anytime.

Already subscribed? Sign in below.



Questions or problems? Email helpdesk@timeslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00.