Stormers ease Etzebeth back via bench in Bulls derby

Cape Town - The Stormers welcome back some experienced players for their Super Rugby north-south derby against the Bulls at Newlands.

There are seven changes to the starting line-up, with four in the forward pack and three in the backline for the clash which kicks off at 15:05 on Saturday.

Siya Kolisi is back in the starting XV to lead the side from the side of the scrum, along with fellow Springboks Frans Malherbe and Damian de Allende who were rested last week.

Malherbe is joined in the front row by hooker Scarra Ntubeni alongside Steven Kitshoff, with Bongi Mbonambi and Wilco Louw among the replacements.

Lock JD Schickerling returns from injury and starts in the second row, with Eben Etzebeth also making his return from the bench.

In the backline, Jean-Luc du Plessis is back at flyhalf alongside inside centre Damian de Allende, after both players were rested last week, with JJ Engelbrecht at outside centre in place of the injured Ruhan Nel.

Stormers coach Robbie Fleck said that the value of the experience of the players returning cannot be underestimated.

“We will need all of our experience on Saturday in what will be a typically fierce derby at Newlands.

“It is great to welcome back some senior players for this game, but it will require a big effort from every single one of us to deliver the performance we are looking for on Saturday," he said.

Teams:

Stormers

15 Damian Willemse, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 JJ Engelbrecht, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Dillyn Leyds, 10 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Kobus van Dyk, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Cobus Wiese, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Steven Kitshoff

Substitutes: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Corne Fourie, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Eben Etzebeth, 20 Ernst van Rhyn, 21 Justin Phillips, 22 Joshua Stander, 23 Seabelo Senatla

Bulls

15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Jade Stighling, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11 Johnny Kotze, 10 Handre Pollard (captain), 9 Ivan van Zyl, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Hanro Liebenberg, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 RG Snyman, 4 Jannes Kirsten, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Lizo Gqoboka

Substitutes: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Wiehahn Herbst, 19 Thembelani Bholi, 20 Paul Schoeman, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Manie Libbok, 23 Divan Rossouw