Rebels v Stormers: Teams
Michael Lipman and Gareth Delve start for the Rebels - but there is still no place in the squad for Danny Cipriani.
Last Updated: 02/06/11 12:10pm
Michael Lipman and Gareth Delve start for the Rebels against the Stormers - but there is still no place in the matchday squad for Danny Cipriani.
Fly-half Cipriani has not played for the Melbourne franchise since April 30 and the team issued a statement on Wednesday saying discussions with the player and his management were continuing over his future.
Instead it is the returning Julian Huxley who will start in the No.10 jersey at AAMI Stadium on Friday.
Elsewhere in the backs, Cooper Vuna moves to the left wing so Lachlan Mitchell can start on the right.
In the pack, Lipman is on the openside and vice captain Gareth Delve returns at number eight, meaning Tim Davidson is shifted to the bench. Jarrod Saffy moves to blindside flanker in a much-changed back row.
The only alteration up front sees Nic Henderson replace Greg Somerville at loosehead prop.
Adam Freier is also set to make his long-awaited debut for the Rebels and starts on the bench alongside scrum-half Sam Cordingley.
Rose picked
The Stormers, meanwhile, have included Earl Rose amongst their substitutes as they continue to have problems at fly-half.
Rose, unwanted by the Lions, was called up as an emergency replacement with Peter Grant, Lionel Cronje, Gary van Aswegen and Sam Lane all out.
At least the visitors are able to call upon centre Jean de Villiers, who is reunited with fellow Springbok Jaque Fourie in the Stormers' midfield, while Ricky Januarie starts in place of the injured Dewaldt Duvenage at scrum-half.
Lock Anton van Zyl and hooker Tiaan Liebenberg take over from the rested Andries Bekker and Deon Fourie respectively.
Duane Vermeulen starts at No.8, meaning Nick Koster is amongst the replacements. However, there is no place for Johann Sadie in the 22.
Rebels: 15 Richard Kingi, 14 Lachlan Mitchell, 13 Mark Gerrard, 12 Stirling Mortlock (c), 11 Cooper Vuna, 10 Julian Huxley, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Gareth Delve, 7 Michael Lipman, 6 Jarrod Saffy, 5 Hugh Pyle, 4 Alister Campbell, 3 Laurie Weeks, 2 Ged Robinson, 1 Nic Henderson.
Replacements: 16 Adam Freier, 17 Greg Somerville, 18 Kevin O'Neill, 19 Tim Davidson, 20 Sam Cordingley, 21 Peter Betham, 22 Afusipa Taumoepeau.
Stormers: 15 Conrad Jantjes, 14 Gio Aplon, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Kurt Coleman, 9 Ricky Januarie, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Francois Louw, 6 Schalk Burger (c), 5 Anton Van Zyl, 4 Rynhardt Elstadt, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 Wicus Blaauw.
Replacements: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Frans Malherbe, 18 Andries Bekker, 19 Nick Koster, 20 Louis Schreuder, 21 Earl Rose, 22 Juan de Jongh.
