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Notshe notches 50th Stormers cap, Du Toit ruled out

Cape Town - Loose forward Sikhumbuzo Notshe will play his 50th Super Rugby game for the Stormers when they take on the Lions on Saturday.

Kick-off is at 17:15.

Having made his debut against the Reds in 2014, the 24-year-old Notshe has wasted little time in reaching his Stormers half-century and will lead the team out at Newlands.

Notshe’s inclusion at No 8 comes as part of a new loose forward combination, with captain Siya Kolisi back in the starting team and Kobus van Dyk shifting to blindside flank. Cobus Wiese and Nizaam Carr will provide cover on the bench.

The only other change to the starting forward pack comes in the second row, with Jan de Klerk coming in for Pieter-Steph du Toit, who was ruled out due to illness.

Hooker Bongi Mbonambi and loosehead prop Steven Kitshoff are both back from injury and will feature among the replacements.

The only change to the backline sees Raymond Rhule start on the left wing in place of Seabelo Senatla, who has returned to the Springbok Sevens squad, with EW Viljoen and Craig Barry providing cover on the replacements bench.

Stormers coach Robbie Fleck said that his players are intent on delivering a complete performance at Newlands.

“It is great to be back at Newlands this weekend for what should be another big game,” Fleck said.

“Our focus is to be as accurate as possible and execute our plans so that we are able to impose ourselves.”

Teams:

Stormers

15 SP Marais, 14 Dillyn Leyds, 13 JJ Engelbrecht, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Kobus van Dyk, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Chris van Zyl, 4 Jan de Klerk, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Ramone Samuels, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg

Substitutes: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Frans Malherbe, 19 Cobus Wiese, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 EW Viljoen, 23 Craig Barry

Lions

15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Ruan Combrinck, 13 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Kwagga Smith, 7 Franco Mostert (captain), 6 Marnus Schoeman, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Lourens Erasmus, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Robbie Coetzee, 1 Jacques van Rooyen

Substitutes: 16 Corne Fourie, 17 Dylan Smith, 18 Jacobie Adriaanse, 19 Rhyno Herbst, 20 Hacjivah Dayimani, 21 Ross Cronje, 22 Madosh Tambwe, 23 Sylvian Mahuza

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