Another front row blow for Stormers
The Stormers have left for Durban without hooker Deon Fourie, who is unavailable for the clash with the Sharks on Saturday after he failed a late concussion test.
Fourie took a blow to the head during last week's 33-0 win over the Cheetahs and was initially passed fit to face up to the table-topping Sharks this weekend.
However, he began showing symptoms later in the week and failed a concussion test late on Thursday – thereby ruling him out of action.
That makes Fourie the seventh Stormers front row forward currently on the sidelines with injury as he joins fellow hookers Siyabonga Ntubeni and Tiaan Liebenberg as well as props Steven Kitshoff, Oliver Kebble, Brok Harris and Frans Malherbe.
Stephan Coetzee will start in Fourie's place at hooker, with the uncapped Michael Willemse coming on to the bench.
Coetzee will be making his first Super Rugby start, after five appearances from the bench this season, whilst Willemse will be hoping for a first-ever taste of action at this level.
Both Coetzee and Willemse were members of the all-conquering Western Province Under-21 team last season, along with locks Ruan Botha and Jean Kleyn and another debutant, loosehead prop Sithembiso Sithole.
All five of them now find themselves in a Stormers matchday squad at the same time.
Stormers (revised): 15 Jaco Taute, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Sailosi Tagicakibau, 10 Kurt Coleman, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Duane Vermeulen (captain), 7 Siya Kolisi, 6 Nizaam Carr, 5 Ruan Botha, 4 Michael Rhodes, 3 Pat Cilliers, 2 Stephan Coetzee, 1 Alistair Vermaak.
Replacements: 16 Michael Willemse, 17 Sithembiso Sithole, 18 Martin Dreyer, 19 Jean Kleyn, 20 Manuel Carizza, 21 Dylon Frylinck, 22 Demetri Catrakilis, 23 Peter Grant.
Referee: Jaco Peyper
Assistant referees: Stuart Berry, Stefan Breytenbach
TMO: Johan Greeff
