Burger leads Stormers in PE
Springbok loose forward Schalk Burger will continue his remarkable comeback from a two-year injury-enforced lay-off when he captains the Stormers in a Super Rugby pre-season friendly against the Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth on Friday.
Changes to the team that beat the Bulls last week will see Jaco Taute lining up at fullback and Argentina lock Manuel Carizza making his first appearance for the Stormers.
Taute will be joined in the back three by Scott van Breda – who scored the winning try in Polokwane last weekend – and Kobus van Wyk, who gets another run in the No.14 jersey.
Squad captain Jean de Villiers gets a complete break this weekend, with Damian de Allende and Michael van der Spuy starting at centre and Nic Groom will start at scrumhalf.
The only change up front this week sees Carizza – who is over his groin niggle – replace Ruan Botha in the No.5 jersey, whilst replacements Sikhumbuzo Notshe (loose forward) and Devon Williams (wing) join the extended matchday squad this week.
Stormers: 15 Jaco Taute, 14 Kobus van Wyk, 13 Michael van der Spuy, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Scott van Breda, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Schalk Burger (captain), 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Manuel Carizza, 4 Rynhardt Elstadt, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Replacements – from: Deon Fourie, Oliver Kebble, Pat Cilliers, Michael Rhodes, Jean Kleyn, Nizaam Carr, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Louis Schreuder, Gary van Aswegen, Pat Howard, Devon Williams, Ryno Eksteen.
Date: Friday, February 7
Venue: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Kick-off: 19.00 (17.00 GMT)
Referee: Stuart Berry
