Stormers' Jaque back to take on his old team

Jaque Fourie is back. The Stormers centre will play his first game on Saturday since the final round of the Currie Cup last year.

Fourie suffered a foot injury against the Sharks on October 9 last year and missed the cup semifinal and final as well as the Springbok tour to Britain and Ireland.

With his selection for Saturday's Super 15 match at Newlands against the Lions, Fourie will start his 16th consecutive game for the Stormers since joining in 2010. Only No 8 Duane Vermeulen, with 29 starts, and tighthead prop Brok Harris, with 21 consecutive starts, have been more consistent.

Stormers coach Allister Coetzee also sprung a mild surprise by choosing 20-year-old flyhalf Gary van Aswegen over Springbok Peter Grant in the No 10 jersey. Grant has only had three training sessions with the squad since returning from Japan at the weekend.

There are also first Super rugby caps for wing Danie Poolman and lock Rynhardt Elstadt in the starting line-up while veteran prop CJ van der Linde will make his Stormers debut.

Among the reserves hooker Siyabonga Ntubeni and prop Frans Malherbe could also earn their first Super rugby caps if they come off the bench during the match.

"We all know that Peter Grant is a Bok, but I needed him to settle in first and foremost," Coetzee said. "We have evolved as a side and because Peter only joined us on Tuesday it was better to start with Gary van Aswegen.

"Gary has been with the side for months now and has done well throughout the pre-season. I have no doubts that it is the right thing to start with him this weekend .

"He is right where he should be in terms of his development. He might make some mistakes, but we still have high regard for his ability. He's also surrounded by some very experienced players.

"We've talked about building depth and now we are starting to bring youngsters through the system and into the senior team. The guys selected have a great work ethic and we are giving them the chance to play.

"For instance, Rynhardt Elstadt has forced himself into the starting line-up on the basis of his pre-season form even though Adriaan Fondse was available. Rynhardt has played exceptionally well and we couldn't ignore his claim."

The selection of Fourie, who was not involved in any pre-season matches, over fellow Springbok Juan de Jongh, is a slight gamble.

"It's important that Jaque starts because we can judge how he's going from the start," Coetzee said. "If we played him off the bench we wouldn't know if he could survive. But having Juan on the bench gives us some cover."

Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske has bracketed Bok flank Juan Smith to start against the Bulls. Smith will undergo a late fitness test on a strained calf muscle on Friday to ascertain if he can play against the defending champions. If not, Phillip van der Walt will start.