Johannesburg – Vice-captain Schalk Burger and captain Jean de Villiers are both back in the Stormers team for Saturday’s Super Rugby clash against the Cheetahs at Newlands.
Burger missed the weekend’s 24-8 win over the Force, while De Villiers returns after a two-week lay-off.
The return of De Villiers means Springbok training squad member Damian de Allende shifts back onto the right-wing, and Burger takes over the number seven jersey from Siya Kolisi.
In other changes to the Stormers line-up, Kurt Coleman returns as the starting flyhalf and loosehead prop Alistair Vermaak – after two good performances from the bench – will make his first Super Rugby start.
Prop Brok Harris, loose forward Siya Kolisi, flyhalf Peter Grant and wing Kobus van Wyk all drop down to the bench, where they are joined by prop Oli Kebble who is back after sitting out with concussion for two weeks.
Looking ahead to the weekend, after a 32-22 loss to the Cheetahs a month ago, coach Allister Coetzee said he knew how to approach the clash.
“We allowed them to get into that space, which you cannot do against them as they have players like Willie le Roux who will punish you,” said Coetzee.
“We must close up that space better than we did in Bloemfontein.”
The Stormers team: Jaco Taute, Damian de Allende, Juan de Jongh, Jean de Villiers (captain), Cheslin Kolbe, Kurt Coleman, Nic Groom, Duane Vermeulen, Schalk Burger, Nizaam Carr, Ruan Botha, Michael Rhodes, Pat Cilliers, Deon Fourie, Alistair Vermaak. Replacements: Stephan Coetzee, Oli Kebble, Brok Harris, Jean Kleyn, Siya Kolisi, Dylon Frylinck, Peter Grant, Kobus van Wyk. – Sapa