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Auckland - DHL Stormers coach Allister Coetzee has kept the changes to a minimum for Friday's Vodacom Super Rugby clash against the Blues at North Harbour Stadium in Albany (kick-off 09h35 SA time).
Coetzee has made three changes to the starting line-up that did duty against the Hurricanes last week - as the DHL Stormers kicked-off their tour with an 18-16 win - whilst fit-again Springboks Eben Etzebeth and Elton Jantjies will be re-introduced via the bench.
Lock Etzebeth will make his first appearance of the 2013 Super Rugby season from the bench, after recovering from a pre-season ankle injury, whilst Jantjies returns to the fray after missing two games (Sharks and 'Canes) with a knee injury.
Frans Malherbe will start at tighthead prop in one of the three changes to the Stormers starting XV, with Rynhardt Elstadt shifting from No.6 to No.7 (in the absence of Michael Rhodes). Siya Kolisi, a late withdrawal from the team last week, comes back at No.6 in the third change.
Prop Brok Harris and scrumhalf Nic Groom drop out of the matchday squad altogether this week, with Pat Cilliers reverting to the bench.
The DHL Stormers team to take on the Blues is as follows:
15. Joe Pietersen, 14. Gio Aplon, 13. Juan de Jongh, 12. Jean de Villiers (captain), 11. Bryan Habana, 10. Gary van Aswegen, 9. Dewaldt Duvenage, 8. Duane Vermeulen (vice-captain), 7. Rynhardt Elstadt, 6. Siya Kolisi, 5. Andries Bekker, 4. De Kock Steenkamp, 3. Frans Malherbe, 2. Deon Fourie, 1. Steven Kitshoff
Substitutes: 16. Scarra Ntubeni, 17. Pat Cilliers, 18. Eben Etzebeth, 19. Nizaam Carr, 20. Louis Schreuder, 21. Elton Jantjies, 22. Damian de Allende
Referee: Glen Jackson (New Zealand)
Coetzee has made three changes to the starting line-up that did duty against the Hurricanes last week - as the DHL Stormers kicked-off their tour with an 18-16 win - whilst fit-again Springboks Eben Etzebeth and Elton Jantjies will be re-introduced via the bench.
Lock Etzebeth will make his first appearance of the 2013 Super Rugby season from the bench, after recovering from a pre-season ankle injury, whilst Jantjies returns to the fray after missing two games (Sharks and 'Canes) with a knee injury.
Frans Malherbe will start at tighthead prop in one of the three changes to the Stormers starting XV, with Rynhardt Elstadt shifting from No.6 to No.7 (in the absence of Michael Rhodes). Siya Kolisi, a late withdrawal from the team last week, comes back at No.6 in the third change.
Prop Brok Harris and scrumhalf Nic Groom drop out of the matchday squad altogether this week, with Pat Cilliers reverting to the bench.
The DHL Stormers team to take on the Blues is as follows:
15. Joe Pietersen, 14. Gio Aplon, 13. Juan de Jongh, 12. Jean de Villiers (captain), 11. Bryan Habana, 10. Gary van Aswegen, 9. Dewaldt Duvenage, 8. Duane Vermeulen (vice-captain), 7. Rynhardt Elstadt, 6. Siya Kolisi, 5. Andries Bekker, 4. De Kock Steenkamp, 3. Frans Malherbe, 2. Deon Fourie, 1. Steven Kitshoff
Substitutes: 16. Scarra Ntubeni, 17. Pat Cilliers, 18. Eben Etzebeth, 19. Nizaam Carr, 20. Louis Schreuder, 21. Elton Jantjies, 22. Damian de Allende
Referee: Glen Jackson (New Zealand)
