Stormers shift Willemse to fullback
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Stormers have made four changes to their starting XV for their Super Rugby match against the Lions on Saturday.
Wing Sergeal Petersen will make his Stormers debut in the Super Rugby encounter Newlands.
Petersen starts on the right wing in one of four changes to the Stormers starting line-up for the South African derby.
The other changes to the backline see Jean-Luc du Plessis start at flyhalf, with Damian Willemse shifting to fullback in the place on the injured Dillyn Leyds and Joshua Stander coming onto the replacements bench.
The only change to the forward pack is in the second row, with Chris van Zyl at lock in place of the injured Salmaan Moerat.
Fit-again Springboks Frans Malherbe and Eben Etzebeth are among the replacements, along with flank Jaco Coetzee who is also set to get his first run of the campaign.
RELATED: Lions to unleash Kwagga
Stormers Head Coach Robbie Fleck said that his team is looking forward to playing in front of the Newlands Faithful.
“It is always special to play at Newlands in front of our passionate fans, so we will be giving it everything we have got on Saturday.
“We are determined to raise our standards and deliver the type of rugby that we can be proud of,” he said.
Stormers: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 SP Marais, 10 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Chris van Zyl, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ali Vermaak.
Replacements: 16 Scarra Ntubeni, 17 Corne Fourie, 18 Frans Malherbe, 19 Eben Etzebeth, 20 Jaco Coetzee, 21 Herschel Jantjies, 22 Joshua Stander, 23 Dan du Plessis.
Date: Saturday, February 23
Venue: Newlands Stadium, Cape Town
Kick-off: 17.15 (15.15 GMT)
Referee: Egon Seconds (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Divan Uys (South Africa), Aimee Barret-Theron (South Africa)
TMO: Christie du Preez (South Africa)
