Damian Willemse has been selected at fullback for the Stormers’ highly anticipated match against the Sharks in Durban on Saturday.
Coach John Dobson has made a couple of changes to the previous Stormers lineup, last on duty in round five of the competition a fortnight ago.
Willemse shifts from flyhalf to fullback, with Jean-Luc du Plessis earning his first start of the season at flyhalf.
Willemse’s move has Dillyn Leyds switching from No 15 to right wing at the expense of Sergeal Petersen, who rotates to the bench.
Up front, Johan du Toit replaces his injured older brother Pieter-Steph at blindside flank, while Ernst van Rhyn starts at openside in place of Jaco Coetzee, who picked up an injury niggle in their previous match. Coetzee has been named on the bench, though.
Lock Salmaan Moerat joins JD Schickerling in the second row, with Chris van Zyl providing cover off the bench.
In a rotational swap, Frans Malherbe returns as the starting tighthead prop in place of the benched Wilco Louw.
There are several changes among the reserves, where utility forward Cobus Wiese, scrumhalf Paul de Wet and centre Rikus Pretorius all earned inclusion.
Stormers – 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Dillyn Leyds, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Seabelo Senatla, 10 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Juarno Augustus, 7 Johan du Toit, 6 Ernst van Rhyn, 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Salmaan Moerat, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Steven Kitshoff (c). Subs: 16 Chad Solomon, 17 Kwezo Blose, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Cobus Wiese, 20 Jaco Coetzee, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 Rikus Pretorius, 23 Sergeal Petersen.
Photo: Shaun Roy/BackpagePix
