Super Rugby
Tiaan Liebenberg out for six weeks
ESPN Staff
March 28, 2013
The Stormers' Gio Aplon evades the Brumbies' defence, Stormers v Brumbies, Super Rugby, Newlands, Cape Town, South Africa, March 23, 2013
The Stormers are boosted by the selection of Gio Aplon to face the Crusaders © Getty Images
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Stormers hooker Tiaan Liebenberg has torn elbow ligaments and will miss the Super Rugby franchise's tour of Australia and New Zealand.

Liebenberg's absence will hurt the Stormers as he has been key to the side's improvement in the lineout after losing their opening two fixtures of the season.

Deon Fourie, who captained Western Province to the Currie Cup title last season, replaces Liebenberg in the side to play the Crusaders at Newlands in round seven. Martin Bezuidenhout comes back into the match day squad as the back-up hooker.

"Deon did play for us in the first two games of the season so it's not like he is a new player," Stormers coach Allister Coetzee said."Obviously from a continuity viewpoint, because we won last week against the Brumbies, it's not good to be making changes, particularly when it comes to the scrum."

The Stormers already had to make one change to the front-row, with Steven Kitshoff suspended for a dangerous tackle against the Brumbies. Former Springboks prop Pat Cilliers replaces Kitshoff in the side to play the Crusaders.

Stormers team to play Crusaders: Joe Pietersen; Gio Aplon, Juan de Jongh, Jean de Villiers (captain), Gerhard van den Heever; Elton Jantjies, Dewaldt Duvenage; Duane Vermeulen, Rynhardt Elstadt, Siya Kolisi; Andries Bekker, De Kock Steenkamp; Frans Malherbe, Deon Fourie, Pat Cilliers. Replacements: Martin Bezuidenhout, Brok Harris, Don Armand, Nizaam Carr, Nic Groom, Damian de Allende, Jaco Taute.

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