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Kitshoff leads Stormers in Siya’s absence
Kitshoff leads in the absence of regular captain Siya Kolisi, who has returned to South Africa as per the Springbok resting protocol. He is also one of the changes to the starting side, as Corne Fourie wore the No 1 jersey last week against the Reds as part of a rotational selection policy. Bongi Mbonambi and Wilco Louw also return to the side to make up a completely new look front-row in comparison to last week.
Springbok tighthead incumbent Frans Malherbe, who would probably have been the alternative captain had he been in the starting team, reverts to the bench role he filled against the Blues in Auckland before Louw left the field with injury. The experienced Scarra Ntubeni swops places with Mbonambi to provide back-up at hooker.
The Stormers have plenty of depth in the front row, but they are down to the bare bones in the second row, where they are fortunate to have several young locks and utility forwards on their books given that four top locks, if you include the versatile Pieter-Steph du Toit, are on the sidelines.
Salmaan Moerat and Cobus Wiese line up as the pairing this week. Last week Wiese was paired with Chris van Zyl, who has returned home with a back injury to join JD Schickerling, Eben Etzebeth and Du Toit on the sidelines. According to the Stormers team list released from Melbourne, there is a switch of roles for Wiese this time, as he moves from the No 4 jersey to the No 5.
As he is the more experienced of the two locks at this level, and unless one of the loose-forwards has been given the duties, it can be assumed Wiese will be calling the lineouts, an area that is of concern for the Stormers in that the top four lineout leaders are all out at the moment. Pieter-Steph’s younger brother, Johan, is on the bench, and will cover both lock and flank. If there is an injury in the second row early in the game it is likely that Ernst van Rhyn, who makes his Stormers debut in this game as an openside flank, will be coach Robbie Fleck's first port of call at lock, with Jaco Coetzee moving from No 8 to No 6 and Juarno Augustus taking up the back of the scrum position. can easily move to the second row too. Van Rhyn replaces Kolisi.
The only change at the back sees Herschel Jantjies return as the starting scrumhalf for Justin Phillips, while Seabelo Senatla, the former Blitzbok speedster, has been added to the bench in place of the injured SP Marais, who has flown home with a groin problem.
DHL Stormers: Damian Willemse, Sergeal Petersen, Ruhan Nel, Damian de Allende, Dillyn Leyds, Jean-Luc du Plessis, Herschel Jantjies, Jaco Coetzee, Kobus van Dyk, Ernst van Rhyn, Cobus Wiese, Salmaan Moerat, Wilco Louw, Bongi Mbonambi, Steven Kitshoff (captain). Replacements: Scarra Ntubeni, Corne Fourie, Frans Malherbe, Johan du Toit, Juarno Augustus, Justin Phillips, Josh Stander, Seabelo Senatla.
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