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Vermeulen to lead Stormers

Cape Town - Stormers coach Allister Coetzee on Tuesday made three changes for his side's clash against the Reds in Brisbane, in the team's third tour match.

Coetzee made two positional changes in the backline with Bryan Habana shifting to outside centre, partnering Juan de Jongh, while Gio Aplon returns from injury at wing for the match on Friday.

Coetzee made only one change to the pack with De Kock Steenkamp replacing the injured Andries Bekker.

In the only change to the bench, loose forward Nick Koster returns from injury in jersey No 18.

Meanwhile, captain and centre Jean De Villiers is on his way back to Cape Town after sustaining an injury to his left wrist against the Crusaders.

De Villiers will not be available for the next two weeks and will undergo further assessment in Cape Town.

With De Villiers out, eighthman Duan Vermeulen will captain the side against the men from Queensland, with regular captain Schalk Burger still out with a knee injury.

Andries Bekker remains with the Stormers squad, while Western Province winger, Danie Poolman, has been called up to join the squad in Australia.

"Injuries are part of Super Rugby and it's the teams that are best able to cope with them, that will do well in this competition." said Coetzee.

"Losing Jean is a setback but we have a lot of leadership options and I am confident in the depth we have available and as to the temperament and ability of this squad."

Reds:
TBA

Stormers:
15 Joe Pietersen, 14 Gerhard van den Heever, 13 Bryan Habana, 12 Juan de Jongh, 11 Gio Aplon, 10 Peter Grant (vice-captain), 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Duane Vermeulen (captain), 7 Rynhardt Elstadt, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 De Kock Steenkamp, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 Steven Kitshoff
 
Substitutes: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Frans Malherbe, 18 Nick Koster, 19 Nizaam Carr, 20 Louis Schreuder, 21 Burton Francis, 22 JP du Plessis

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