Stormers head coach Robbie Fleck has named Eben Etzebeth in his starting Super Rugby team to play the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
Etzebeth will make his return from injury to partner Pieter-Steph du Toit at lock.
In the front row theyre are two changes as Oli Kebble starts at loosehead prop in place of the injured JC Janse van Rensburg and Bongi Mbonambi gets an opportunity to start at hooker with Scarra Ntubeni set to make an impact from the replacements bench.
In the backs Damian de Allende will earn his 50th Super Rugby cap after making his debut for the Stormers in 2013 and has become a key player for the Cape side and won the 2015 SA Super Rugby Player of the Year award.
De Allende will link up with Johnny Kotze in midfield with co-captain Juan de Jongh sidelined due to a hamstring strain, while Leolin Zas returns from suspension to take Kotze’s place on the wing.
The only other change to the backline which started against the Sunwolves in Singapore sees scrumhalf Nic Groom swop places with Louis Schreuder who starts on the replacements bench.
In the loose trio Schalk Burger will start at No.8, with Nizaam Carr shifting to flank and Rynhardt Elstadt moving to the replacements bench.
Stormers Head Coach Robbie Fleck said that his team is determined to get back to winning ways after disappointing results in the last two weeks.
“The players know that we have to make a big step up in terms of our performance, and we have worked incredibly hard this week to ensure that we are at our best against a competitive Bulls side,” he said.
Stormers
15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Kobus van Wyk, 13 Johnny Kotze, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Schalk Burger, 7 Siya Kolisi, 6 Nizaam Carr, 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe (captain), 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Oli Kebble.
Replacements: 16 Scarra Ntubeni, 17 Alistair Vermaak, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Rynhardt Elstadt, 20 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 21 Louis Schreuder, 22 Brandon Thomson, 23 Huw Jones.
