Stormers bulk up for Brumbies

Eben Etzebeth will start alongside Manuel Carizza in the Stormers second row for the match against the Brumbies at Newlands on Saturday.

Etzebeth missed the defeat against the Cheetahs in accordance with Saru's regulations on player management, but will replace Jean Kleyn in the No 4 jersey, with the latter dropping to the bench.

He will be partnered by Carizza in the second row, where the Argentinian replaces the injured Ruan Botha (ankle). Elsewhere among the forwards, Steven Kitshoff returns to the No 1 jersey in place of Oli Kebble, who drops out of the match-day squad.

Vice-captain Juan de Jongh has been named at outside centre, but he has been bracketed with Huw Jones after suffering a hip pointer injury against the Cheetahs.

He will be given until kick-off to prove his fitness, but should he fail, Jones will start at outside centre, with Pat Howard filling in on the bench.

'The Brumbies are a very good side. They’re very structured and don’t gift you any possession. They’re well coached and well organised in all aspects of their game. They’ve got a great maul and lineout [attacking-wise and defensively] and we really have to be up for this one,' said coach Allister Coetzee on Saturday's opposition.

'We’re obviously aware that we weren’t good enough last week and although we’ve had a disrupted week of training, with a lot of our players having been with the Springboks up until yesterday, we’re looking forward to being back at home in front of our supporters at Newlands.'

Stormers – 15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Johnny Kotze, 13 Juan de Jongh/Huw Jones, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Dillyn Leyds, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Duane Vermeulen (c), 7 Siya Kolisi, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Manuel Carizza, 4 Eben Etzebeth 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Subs: 16 Scara Ntubeni, 17 Allistair Vermaak, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Jean Kleyn, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Louis Schreuder, 22  Kurt Coleman, 23 Huw Jones/Pat Howard.

Super Rugby teams (Round 13)

Photo: Carl Fourie/Gallo Images