Loose trio shake-up for Stormers
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With captain Duane Vermeulen resting this week against the Waratahs, Stormers coach Alister Coetzee has tinkered with his loose trio, giving Michael Rhodes a start in the No.7 jumper.
Nizaam Carr takes up the vacated No.8 spot, his preferred position, while Springbok veteran Schalk Burger moves to the openside, the position he played in through most of his career.
Centre Juan de Jongh has recovered from an ankle injury and will lead the Stormers in their third Super Rugby tour match of 2015.
De Jongh was an 11th-hour withdrawal from the team last weekend, but he is fit to take his place in the No.13 shirt this week, and assume the leadership responsibilities in the absence of Vermeulen.
The Springbok No.8 is already back in South Africa as part of the rest agreement with SA Rugby.
Siya Kolisi drops to the bench after two successive starts on tour, and will be joined amongst the replacements this week by prop Vincent Koch, lock Jean Kleyn and back Huw Jones.
Koch makes way for Frans Malherbe in the No.3 shirt – in what will be Springbok tighthead prop’s first start of 2015.
Kleyn comes in for Ruan Botha as the lock replacement, and Jones reverts to the bench after an impressive starting debut in place of De Jongh last week.
The Stormers and Waratahs have met on seven previous occasions in Sydney, with the hosts shading the head-to-head battle by four wins to three.
In all, these teams have played against each other 17 times, with the Stormers winning seven and losing nine and the sides drawing once.
Stormers: 15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Kobus van Wyk, 13 Juan de Jongh (captain), 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Dillyn Leyds, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Michael Rhodes, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Manuel Carizza, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Siyabonga Ntubeni, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Replacements: 16 Mbongeni Mbonambi, 17 Oliver Kebble, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Jean Kleyn, 20 Siya Kolisi, 21 Louis Schreuder, 22 Kurt Coleman, 23 Huw Jones.
Date: Saturday, April 11
Venue: Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Kick-off: 19.40 (11.40 SAST; 10.40 GMT)
Referee: Mike Fraser (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Angus Gardner, James Leckie (New Zealand)
TMO: Peter Marshall
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