Kotze’s fate sealed as 'progressive' Stormers team readies for Scarlets

DHL Stormers hooker JJ Kotze will be out of rugby until the mid-December trip to Bordeaux for the Investec Champions clash with the European champions after the appeal against his three match suspension fell flat on Wednesday evening.

Kotze was red carded in the first half of last weekend’s opening Champions Cup game against the Bristol Bears, but Stormers director of rugby John Dobson felt the decision to suspend him for three matches should be appealed on the basis that there seemed to be a difference of opinion between the on field referee and TMO.

Dobson cited a previous incident a few years ago where that happened and the suspension term was cut.

However, an independent Disciplinary Committee sat to review the case on Wednesday and they upheld the three-game suspension.

The uncertainty over when he’d be available had in any case ruled Kotze out of consideration for Saturday’s fourth round Vodacom URC game against the Scarlets, with Dobson calling up what he considers to be one of the “most progressive Stormers teams” he has yet selected for the game against the Welsh side.

When he says that, he is referring to the number of players who are getting a chance to build experience and grow the Stormers depth as Dobson satisfies the twin demands of making a big challenge for the URC trophy the Cape club one in the inaugural season of the competition and further driving his Project 2029.

The team includes a 23-year-old captain in the form of Springbok flanker Paul de Villiers, who along with starting lock Riley Norton has also captained the Junior Springboks, as has starting prop Zachary Porthen.

Markus Muller, who became the youngest player to represent the Stormers when he came on as a replacement against Glasgow Warriors last season, gets his first start at inside centre, while further Junior Bok Junior World Championship winners Olly Reid and Yaqeen Ahmed are on the bench.

Another of those players, Haashim Pead, will be making his run-on debut at scrumhalf.

“It just shows we are getting a few things right with our recruitment,” said Dobson.

“I feel like this is one of the most progressive Stormers teams we’ve put out. Olly Reid is a player we are tremendously excited about. Markus is going to be a very good No 12 although at the moment he can play both (inside and outside centre). And we obviously like Yaqeen.

“Paul is a progressive young captain, Zachary has a big future. In terms of a longer term picture this is a fantastic selection and it does not compromise quality at all.”

Dobson added that with the Boks unlikely to be included in the team for the first game after the international break against the Hollywoodbets Sharks at the beginning of December, it was important for someone like Ahmed to be given game time over the next two games so he can be ready for the challenge if Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu is not playing.

Jurie Matthee is also expected back from injury by then to add to the Stormers’ options.