CAPE TOWN – The Stormers have made some injury-enforced changes to the starting line-up to face the Lions in Johannesburg on Saturday.
Injuries to scrumhalf Justin Phillips (rib) and flank Cobus Wiese (hamstring) mean that Jano Vermaak and Chris van Zyl will both start the Super Rugby clash, which kicks off at 5.15pm at Ellis Park on Saturday.
Vermaak makes his first start of the season, having returned from injury last week, and his place on the replacements bench is taken by Paul de Wet.
Van Zyl slots into the second row alongside Jan de Klerk, with Pieter-Steph du Toit moving to flank and Jaco Coetzee among the replacements.
Stormers coach Robbie Fleck said that his team will give everything against the Lions, having lost to the Bulls last week.
“This match is a great opportunity for us as a team, and we are looking forward to the challenge,” he said.
Stormers Team
15 SP Marais, 14 Dillyn Leyds, 13 EW Viljoen, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Chris van Zyl, 4 Jan de Klerk, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Ramone Samuels, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Bench:16 Scarra Ntubeni, 17 JC Janse van Rensburg, 18 Carlu Sadie, 19 Kobus van Dyk, 20 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 21 Jaco Coetzee, 22 Paul de Wet, 23 Craig Barry.