De Villiers to skipper Stormers

The Stormers have made four changes to the team that will run out against the Cheetahs at Newlands on Saturday.

As their injury woes continue to subside, there is very little doubt that the changes have strengthened the Stormers considerably.

Captain Jean de Villiers returns along with his Springbok counterpart Schalk Burger, in a move that will add some much needed experience to this young side.

De Villiers has missed the last two weeks, while Burger was a late withdrawal to the team that saw off the Force at home last weekend.

The return of the Springbok captain has seen Damian de Allende switch back to the wing, while in the other backline change Kurt Coleman starts at flyhalf ahead of Peter Grant.

In the only other change to the pack, Alistair Vermaak will get his first Super Rugby start at prop at the expense of Brok Harris. Meanwhile, Oli Kebble has recovered from a concussion to take his place on the bench.

Stormers – 15 Jaco Taute, 14 Damian de Allende, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Jean de Villiers (c), 11 Cheslin Kolbe, 10 Kurt Coleman, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Schalk Burger, 6 Nizaam Carr, 5 Ruan Botha, 4 Michael Rhodes, 3 Pat Cilliers, 2 Deon Fourie, 1 Alistair Vermaak.
Subs: 16 Stephan Coetzee, 17 Oli Kebble, 18 Brok Harris, 19 Jean Kleyn, 20 Siya Kolisi, 21 Dylon Frylinck, 22 Peter Grant, 23 Kobus van Wyk.

Photo: Johan Pretorius/Getty Images