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Habana out for Sharks

Habana out for Sharks

05/05/2010 06:32:57 PM

Bryan Habana has been ruled out for the Stormers' crucial Super 14 encounter against the Sharks on Saturday due to injury.

The South Africa winger bruised his ribs during the 42-14 win over the Crusaders last week and was declared unfit on Wednesday after still experiencing pain at training.

His omission is the only change to the side for the clash in Durban, with Tim Whitehead in the starting XV instead.

It is the only change made by coach Allister Coetzee, who is also boosted by the return to fitness of full-back Joe Pietersen - named in the match 22 for the first time in over a month.

The Cape Town franchise is second in the table, five points behind the Bulls, but is involved in a tight race for a top-two finish, which will secure it a home semi-final.

Coetzee said: "I think it's an important game and that was my whole talk even last week."

"You must forget about the external factors like log points, semi-finals, the Bulls, the ref, the only thing that matters is to make sure that we win on the weekend."

"It's crucial and we have to make sure we get the things on the field right, and the more you win the more you open the door wider and then when you find yourself in the semi-finals then you can revisit your goals."

"At this point in time it's the Sharks, and it's one of those local derbies that are going to be hard and it's going to be tough and a physical encounter."

Stormers team: G Aplon; S Naqelevuki, J Fourie, J de Jongh, T Whitehead; P Grant, D Duvenage; JD Moller, T Liebenberg, B Harris, A Fondse, A Bekker, S Burger, F Louw, D Vermeulen.

 
Photograph Copyright : Getty Images

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