Etzebeth, Kitshoff to face Brumbies
Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth return to the starting line-up, as the Stormers gear up to face the Brumbies in a Super Rugby crunch match at Newlands on Saturday.
Etzebeth was rested – from last week's defeat at the hands of the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein – as part of the South African franchises' agreement with the South African Rugby Union to give certain key Boks time of with a view to being fresh for the World Cup.
He will be joined in the pack by loosehead prop Steven Kitshoff.
Kitshoff was given a break as part of the Stormers' rotation policy.
Etzebeth will wear the No.4 shirt this weekend, with Jean Kleyn dropping down to the replacement bench – after starting against the Cheetahs.
Manuel Carizza will start at No.5 in the absence of the injured Ruan Botha (ankle).
Kitshoff replaces Oliver Kebble in the No.1 shirt, with Alistair Vermaak remaining on the bench.
Juan de Jongh has been named at outside centre, but he has been bracketed with Huw Jones – after suffering a hip pointer injury against the Cheetahs.
De Jongh has made a better recovery than initially anticipated, but will still be given until kick-off on Saturday.
Jones will start at No.13 should De Jongh not be available, with Pat Howard set to come onto the bench.
"Juan's recovery has been a lot quicker than we thought, as this is normally a 10-day injury, but we still give him until kick-off on Saturday should he show any late discomfort," Stormers coach Allister Coetzee said.
"We will never play a player if he is not ready, but Juan has made a lot of progress and came through his fitness test today [Thursday]."
Stormers: 15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Johnny Kotze, 13 Juan de Jongh/Huw Jones, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Dillyn Leyds, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Duane Vermeulen (captain), 7 Siya Kolisi, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Manuel Carizza, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Replacements: 16 Siyabonga Ntubeni, 17 Ali Vermaak, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Jean Kleyn, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Louis Schreuder, 22 Kurt Coleman, 23 Huw Jones/Pat Howard.
Date: Saturday, May 8
Venue: Newlands Stadium, Cape Town
Kick-off: 17.05 (01.05, Sunday, May 9 AEST, 15.05 GMT)
Referee: Stuart Berry
Assistant referees: Jason Jaftha, Quinton Immelman
TMO: Shaun Veldsman
