Front-row boost for Stormers as Malherbe achieve milestone
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Tighthead prop Frans Malherbe will earn his 150th cap for the Stormers in the URC Origin Round clash with the Lions in Johannesburg on Saturday.
He will become just the second player to reach the milestone after fellow prop Brok Harris when he runs out at Ellis Park on Saturday.
There are just two changes to the Stormers’ starting forward pack and both come in the front row, with Malherbe joined by a fit-again Ali Vermaak and hooker JJ Kotze.
Neethling Fouche will also make his return via the replacements bench, having recovered from a concussion.
The only changes in the backline see Herschel Jantjies come in at scrumhalf and Angelo Davids on the wing in place of Leolin Zas who was ruled out due to illness.
Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Ben Loader, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Dan du Plessis, 11 Angelo Davids, 10 Jurie Matthee, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Deon Fourie, 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 Salmaan Moerat (captain), 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 JJ Kotze, 1 Ali Vermaak.
Replacements: 16 Andre-Hugo Venter, 17 Brok Harris, 18 Neethling Fouche, 19 Gary Porter, 20 Paul de Villiers, 21 Marcel Theunissen, 22 Paul de Wet, 23 Jonathan Roche.
Date: Saturday, February 15
Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 14.30; 12.30 GMT
Referee: Griffin Colby (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Hanru Van Rooyen (South Africa), Stephan Geldenhuys (South Africa)
TMO: Egon Seconds (South Africa)
