Cape Town - Stormers co-captains Juan de Jongh and Frans Malherbe both return for the Super Rugby match against the Waratahs at Newlands on Saturday (19:15 kick-off).
De Jongh takes his place at outside centre after missing the 40-22 victory over the Reds last week with concussion, and will partner Damian de Allende in midfield, while Malherbe returns at tighthead prop after being ruled out last week due to illness.
The only other changes to the starting line-up are rotational switches to the forward pack as Schalk Burger takes his place at No 8 with Nizaam Carr shifting to the flank and Siya Kolisi moving to the replacements bench, whilst in the front row JC Janse van Rensburg starts at loosehead prop.
Stormers head coach Robbie Fleck said that his team are intent on raising the bar once again at DHL Newlands.
“We are determined to keep on progressing along the path we have embarked on this season, and the Waratahs will provide another serious challenge this weekend,” Fleck told the Stormers’ official website.
“The team has really bought into what we are trying to do, and I am excited to see what they can produce in front of our faithful fans on Saturday,” he said.
Teams:
Stormers
15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Kobus van Wyk, 13 Juan de Jongh (co-captain), 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Schalk Burger, 7 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 6 Nizaam Carr, 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4 Rynhardt Elstadt, 3 Frans Malherbe (co-captain), 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Substitutes: 16 Scarra Ntubeni, 17 Oli Kebble, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 JD Schickerling, 20 Siya Kolisi, 21 Louis Schreuder, 22 Brandon Thomson, 23 Huw Jones
Waratahs
15 Andrew Kellaway, 14 Reece Robinson, 13 Israel Folau, 12 Kurtley Beale, 11 Rob Horne, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Jed Holloway, 7 Michael Hooper (captain), 6 Dean Mumm, 5 Will Skelton, 4 David Dennis, 3 Tom Robertson, 2 Hugh Roach, 1 Paddy Ryan
Substitutes: 16 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17 Jeremy Tilse, 18 Angus Ta’avao, 19 Sam Lousi, 20 Wycliff Palu, 21 Matt Lucas, 22 David Horwitz, 23 Matt Carraro