Stormers make four changes to face the Lions in Super Rugby

There are four changes to the Stormers starting line-up to take on the Lions in their Super Rugby match in Johannesburg on Saturday.

Scrumhalf Godlen Masimla, loose forward Juarno Augustus and prop Wilco Louw will all make their first starts of the season in the South African derby which kicks off at 3.05 pm on Saturday at Ellis Park.

Masimla and Augustus come in for the injured Herschel Jantjies and Jaco Coetzee respectively, with Johan du Toit shifting to flank from the back of the scrum.

Stormers’ centurion Frans Malherbe is among the replacements, which include a fit-again JD Schickerling and scrumhalf Paul de Wet, who is set to make his first appearance of the season.

Stormers coach John Dobson said that his team face a serious challenge if they are to maintain their winning start to the season.

“It is always a tough assignment to travel up to Johannesburg, but it is a challenge that the team has really embraced this week,” said Dobson.

“We have made a solid start to the season at home, but we need to back that up with good performances away from home and that starts this weekend against the Emirates Lions,” he said.

Stormers team: 15 Dillyn Leyds, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Seabelo Senatla, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Godlen Masimla, 8 Juarno Augustus, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Johan du Toit, 5 Chris van Zyl, 4 Salmaan Moerat, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Steven Kitshoff (captain).

Replacements: 16 Chad Solomon, 17 Ali Vermaak, 18 Frans Malherbe, 19 JD Schickerling, 20 Cobus Wiese, 21 Ernst van Rhyn, 22 Paul de Wet, 23 Jean-Luc du Plessis.

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