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Cape Town - Flyhalf Robert du Preez will make his return for the Stormers in their Super Rugby quarter-final against the Chiefs at Newlands on Saturday (19:00 kick-off).
After starting the first two games of the season, Du Preez injured his knee against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein in Round 2 and comes into the starting line-up for Jean-Luc du Plessis who was injured in the victory against the Southern Kings at Newlands last week.
There is just one other change to the backline, as Nic Groom returns after being rested against the Kings, with Louis Schreuder and Brandon Thomson providing backline cover on the bench.
In the front row. Bongi Mbonambi starts at hooker with Scarra Ntubeni moving to the bench where he will be joined by props Oli Kebble and co-captain Frans Malherbe who are both returning from injury.
Locks Eben Etzebeth and Pieter-Steph du Toit both return after sitting out last week, whilst the only change to the loose trio sees Siya Kolisi return to the starting XV, with Rynhardt Elstadt and a fit-again Nizaam Carr among the replacements.
Stormers head coach Robbie Fleck said that having so many players return before the play-offs has been a timely boost.
“It is great to have these players back in the mix for what is obviously a very important match.
“The team is intent on going out there and embracing the occasion of playing a Super Rugby quarter-final at Newlands,” he said.
Teams:
Stormers
15 Jaco Taute, 14 Kobus van Wyk, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Robert du Preez, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Schalk Burger (co-captain), 7 Siya Kolisi, 6 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4 Eben Ezebeth, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Alistair Vermaak.
Substitutes: 16 Scarra Ntubeni, 17 Oli Kebble, 18 Frans Malherbe (co-captain), 19 JD Schickerling, 20 Rynhardt Elstadt, 21 Nizaam Carr, 22 Louis Schreuder, 23 Brandon Thomson
Chiefs
TBA
