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Ton-up for Stormers' De Villiers

Cape Town - Stormers captain Jean de Villiers will make his 100th Super Rugby appearance when he leads his team out against the Chiefs in Hamilton on Friday.

De Villiers will become just the second Stormers Super Rugby centurion, following in the footsteps of lock Andries Bekker who reached that landmark in last year’s tournament.

The 33-year-old star made his debut against the Sharks on February 25, 2005 in the left-wing position and he will line up in his customary centre position this week in what is a deserved 100th Super Rugby game for one of WP Rugby's most loyal sons.

"Jean epitomises what it means to be a Stormer," Stormers coach Allister Coetzee told www.iamastormer.com.

"He is a true warrior and a real WP Rugby man and we're hoping to make this 100th game special for him, which he deserves."

Meanwhile, coach Allister Coetzee has made three enforced changes to the Stormers’ starting line-up for this weekend’s meeting with the two-time defending champions on their home patch.

Ruan Botha will start at lock and his earn his first Super Rugby cap in the process, while the experienced duo of Tiaan Liebenberg (hooker) and Brok Harris (tighthead prop) come into the front row as replacements for Scarra Ntubeni and Frans Malherbe, respectively.

Malherbe, despite suffering a toe injury last week, drops down to the bench, while loose forward Siya Kolisi is back in the 23-man squad after resting his troublesome AC joint last weekend and Vodacom Cup hooker Stephan Coetzee comes into a Super Rugby match-day squad for the first time.

Should Malherbe not come through a final fitness this week, Boland Cavaliers prop Martin Dreyer - who will fly to New Zealand with hooker Coetzee on Tuesday - will come into the match-day 23.

Souht Africa's Craig Joubert will be the referee for the clash which kicks off at 08:35 (SA time) on Friday.

Teams:

Chiefs:

TBA

Stormers:

15. Jaco Taute, 14. Kobus van Wyk, 13. Jean de Villiers (captain), 12. Damian de Allende, 11. Gio Aplon, 10. Demetri Catrakilis, 9. Nic Groom, 8. Duane Vermeulen, 7. Schalk Burger, 6. Deon Fourie, 5. De Kock Steenkamp, 4. Ruan Botha, 3. Brok Harris, 2. Tiaan Liebenberg, 1. Steven Kitshoff

Substitutes: 16. Stephan Coetzee, 17. Oliver Kebble, 18. Frans Malherbe, 19. Siya Kolisi, 20. Nizaam Carr, 21. Louis Schreuder, 22. Peter Grant, 23. Sailosi Tagicakibau
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