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Cape Town - Stormers coach Allister Coetzee is expecting his bench to play a big part in Saturday’s clash against the Lions at Newlands.
Coetzee is starting with his best possible XV, meaning that Schalk Burger returns to the side after a rest against the Cheetahs last weekend.
That sees Nizaam Carr, one of the standout performers against the Cheetahs, having to be content with a place amongst the substitutes against the Lions. But Coetzee says that the players on the bench are just as important as those who start.
"Against the Lions you need to have a solid bench and you need to have the mobility towards the end of the game," he said.
"That’s also where Nemo (Carr) is vital for us. Whether you start or whether you come off the bench you’re part of the 23, and equally important. It’s not a lesser role that you have in the team. When you come off the bench it can be even more important - to bring the impact, to seal the game."
Coetzee added that using a smaller group of players this season had helped the Stormers.
"In this competition if you want to do well then you must have your best players always available … In terms of the way we train and rotating and resting players - it’s to have the best team available," said Coetzee.
"Up until now we’ve only used 35 players which is the lowest ever ... in our best run that we’ve had we used 37 players (2012). It shows that continuity is important."
Kick-off on Saturday is at 17:05.
Teams:
Stormers
15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Dillyn Leyds, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Seabelo Senatla, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Duane Vermeulen (captain), 7 Siya Kolisi, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Manuel Carizza, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Steven Kitshoff
Substitutes: 16 Michael Willemse, 17 Oli Kebble, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Jean Kleyn, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Louis Schreuder, 22 Kurt Coleman, 23 Jaco Taute
Lions
15. Andries Coetzee, 14. Ruan Combrinck, 13. Harold Vorster, 12. Alwyn Hollenbach, 11. Courtnall Skosan, 10. Elton Jantjies, 9. Faf de Klerk, 8. Warren Whiteley (captain), 7. Warwick Tecklenburg, 6. Jaco Kriel, 5. Franco Mostert, 4. Martin Muller, 3. Julian Redelinghuys, 2. Armand van der Merwe, 1. Schalk van der Merwe
Substitutes: 16. Malcolm Marx, 17. Corne Fourie, 18. Ruan Dreyer, 19. Robert Kruger, 20. Kwagga Smith, 21. Dillon Smit, 22. Marnitz Boshoff, 23. Howard Mnisi
