Nizaam Carr will start at openside flank when the Stormers play the Reds in Brisbane this Saturday.
Coach Allister Coetzee has expressed the need to keep Duane Vermeulen at No 8, even if it means playing Carr out of position. The selection of Carr at No 6 is a forced one, given the Stormers have lost Schalk Burger and Tiaan Liebenberg to injury.
Deon Fourie moves from No 6 to No 2. Carr fills the void at openside, while Siya Kolisi will play on the blindside.
Lock Ruan Botha (ankle injury) has failed a fitness test, and will be replaced by Jurie van Vuuren in the starting side. Tazz Fuzani and Sikhumbuzo Notshe, who only arrived in Australia on Monday, have been included in the match 23 as lock and loose forward cover respectively.
Changes to the backline see Damian de Allende moved to the wing, and Juan de Jongh reinstated at centre. Captain Jean de Villiers moves to No 12, while Louis Schreuder replaces Nic Groom at scrumhalf.
Fullback Jaco Taute has recovered from a shoulder injury and been included on the bench.
Stormers – 15 Gio Aplon, 14 Damian de Allende, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Jean de Villiers (c), 11 Sailosi Tagicakibau, 10 Peter Grant, 9 Louis Schreuder, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Siya Kolisi, 6 Nizaam Carr, 5 Michael Rhodes, 4 Jurie van Vuuren, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Deon Fourie, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Subs: 16 Stephan Coetzee, 17 Oliver Kebble, 18 Brok Harris, 19 Tazz Fuzani, 20 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 21 Nic Groom, 22 Demetri Catrakilis, 23 Jaco Taute.
Photo: Carl Fourie/Gallo Images
