Coetzee mixes up his Stormers

Published: Wednesday, 1. February, 2012 in category Super Rugby

Stormers coach Allister Coetzee has made numerous changes, including a complete reshuffle of his backline, for the Super Rugby pre-season encounter with the Lions at Newlands on Saturday.

The backline will see Gerhard van den Heever at fullback, Danie Poolman and Ederies Arendse on the wings, with , JP du Plessis and Marcel Brache the new midfield combination.

Demetri Catrakilis will get his chance to shine at flyhalf, with Nic Groom his halfback partner.

The pack will feature two new props - Frans Malherbe and Springbok Deon Carstens - from last week's win over the Cheetahs, while Rynhardt Elstadt (at lock) and Nizaam Carr also get starts.

Stormers: 15 Gerhard van den Heever, 14 Danie Poolman, 13 JP du Plessis, 12 Marcel Brache, 11 Ederies Arendse, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Siya Kolisi, 6 Schalk Burger (captain), 5 De Kock Steenkamp, 4 Rynhardt Elstadt, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Deon Fourie, 1 Deon Carstens.
Replacements - from: Siyabonga Ntubeni, Steven Kitshoff, Brok Harris, Eben Etzebeth, Don Armand, Nick Fenton-Wells, Rohan Kitshoff, Johannes Conradie, Kurt Coleman, Michael van der Spuy, Berton Klaasen.

Date: Saturday, February 4
Venue: Newlands, Cape Town
Kick-off: 17.00 (15.00 GMT)
Referee: Craig Joubert
Assistant referees: Matt Kemp, Marc van Zyl