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Cape Town - EW Viljoen will make his Stormers Super Rugby debut in the clash against the Bulls at Newlands on Saturday.
The 21-year-old will line up at outside centre for a Stormers team that will be led by new captain Siya Kolisi in the final match of the opening round which kicks off at 19:30 on Saturday.
Fullback SP Marais will also be playing in his first Super Rugby game for the Stormers and forms part of a back three which includes Cheslin Kolbe and Dillyn Leyds out wide.
Viljoen will be partnered by Damian de Allende in midfield, with the experienced Jano Vermaak forming an exciting halfback combination with playmaker Jean-Luc du Plessis.
Kolisi is joined in the loose trio by Nizaam Carr and Rynhardt Elstadt, whilst vice-captain Eben Etzebeth and Pieter-Steph du Toit will be in the second row and up front props Wilco Louw and JC Janse van Rensburg will flank hooker Bongi Mbonambi.
There are also two Stormers debutants on the bench in the form of hooker Ramone Samuels and utility back Dan Kriel.
Stormers coach Robbie Fleck said that after a tough but rewarding pre-season, his players are excited to show what they are capable of at Newlands and live up to the rallying call of ‘We Stand Together’.
“The start of a new season is always an exciting time and for us to play at Newlands makes the occasion all the more special.
“We are determined to show our faithful fans what we can do in what should be a cracking game on Saturday,” he said.
Teams:
Stormers
15 SP Marais, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 EW Viljoen, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Dillyn Leyds, 10 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Siya Kolisi (captain), 6 Rynhardt Elstadt, 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Substitutes: 16 Ramone Samuels, 17 Oli Kebble, 18 Frans Malherbe, 19 Chris van Zyl, 20 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 21 Dewaldt Duvenage, 22 Dan Kriel, 23 Robert du Preez
Bulls
15 Jesse Kriel, 14 Jamba Ulengo, 13 Dries Swanepoel, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11 Travis Ismaiel, 10 Handre Pollard (captain), 9 Rudy Paige, 8 Hanro Liebenberg, 7 Jacques Potgieter, 6 Nick de Jager, 5 RG Snyman, 4 Lood de Jager, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Pierre Schoeman
Substitutes: 16 Edgar Marutlulle, 17 Jacobie Adriaanse, 18 Lizo Gqoboka, 19 Jason Jenkins, 20 Ruan Steenkamp, 21 Piet van Zyl, 22 Tian Schoeman, 23 Warrick Gelant
