Carr wins 50th for Stormers
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Stormers' coach Allister Coetzee has made three changes ahead of Saturday's all-South African Super Rugby clash against the Cheetahs at Newlands
One of the changes sees Nizaam Carr replace Schalk Burger at No.6, the latter being rested as part of the SARU agreement, Carr winning his 50th Stormers cap in the process.
In the second change up front, Vincent Koch gets a start at tighthead prop with Frans Malherbe reverting to the bench, whilst Nic Groom and Louis Schreuder swap between the No.21 and No.9 jerseys – with Groom starting – in the only change to the backline.
On the bench, meanwhile, Oliver Kebble comes in for Alistair Vermaak – joining Malherbe as one of the two replacement props, and Western Province Vodacom Cup star Sikhumbuzo Notshe will provide loose forward cover.
The Stormers are currently in first position on the South African Conference, with nine wins from 13 games, and will be looking to make it 10 from 14 with just one home league match remaining this season.
The Cheetahs beat the Stormers 25-17 in Bloemfontein earlier this month, however the men from the Cape won 33-0 the last time they met at Newlands on May 24 2014.
Coetzee said: "We need to perform and get the points this weekend to ensure we remain in contention for the Super Rugby play-offs.
"We want to consolidate [on] our systems and ensure we keep winning, but in order to do that, we will continue to focus on our own game and ensure we limit our mistakes against a Cheetahs team that will punish us if we are not accurate – as they did against us in Bloemfontein.
"It's a big game for the Cheetahs, they always look forward to this fixture – against the Stormers in Cape Town. They will be up for it and we need to ensure we’re up for it too – both mentally and physically."
Saturday's match, the Stormers' second last home league game of 2015, will double up as a celebration match as the Western Province Rugby Football Union commemorates Newlands Stadium’s 125th year of existence, as well as 23 years of unity within the WPRFU.
Stormers: 15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Dillyn Leyds, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Duane Vermeulen (captain), 7 Siya Kolisi, 6 Nizaam Carr, 5 Manuel Carizza, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Siyabonga Ntubeni, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Replacements: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Oliver Kebble, 18 Frans Malherbe, 19 Jean Kleyn, 20 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 21 Louis Schreuder, 22 Kurt Coleman, 23 Huw Jones.
Date: Saturday, May 30
Venue: Newlands, Cape Town
Kick-off: 17.05 (15.05 GMT)
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Jason Jaftha (South Africa), Francois Pretorius (South Africa)
TMO: Deon van Blommestein (South Africa)
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