Kitshoff leads as injuries ravage Stormers

Injuries have ruled skipper Siya Kolisi, fellow Springbok loose-forward Pieter-Steph du Toit and flank Kobus van Dyk out of the DHL Stormers team to play the Emirates Lions in their must-win Vodacom Super Rugby clash in Johannesburg on Saturday.

All three were members of the pack that started in the 34-22 win over the Highlanders at Newlands last week and their absence significantly diminishes the Cape team's chances of scoring the win that will keep their challenge for a playoff place on track.

Springbok prop Steven Kitshoff will take over the captaincy reins and Stormers fans will recall that he was leading when their team last played an away game with a weakened team.

And that will encourage them as it was in the match against the Rebels in Melbourne, when the Stormers scored an upset win against the odds.

Neither Kolisi (knee) nor Du Toit (shoulder) have injuries that are considered serious and they should be back in the mix should the Stormers remain in the fight for playoff places after this weekend.

The Stormers have matches against the Sunwolves and the Sharks to come, both of them at Newlands.

There has been a reshuffle to the Stormers back row to accommodate the absence of Van Dyk and Kolisi, with the abrasive No 8 Jaco Coetzee switching to openside flank, a move that was always on the cards were Kolisi not to make it.

FORMIDABLE SECOND ROW

Sikhumbuzo Notshe is promoted from the bench to be the starting No 8, while Johan du Toit also wins promotion from the bench in place of his brother.

The dearth of available loose-forwards - also on the injured list aside from the above-mentioned players is Juarno Augustus - means that Marno Redelinghuys comes into the squad for what will be his first Stormers cap should he get onto the field.

Counterbalancing the loss of the injured trio is the return to the team of experienced Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth., who missed last week’s match against the Highlanders after withdrawing on the morning of the game with a bout of flu.

He will team up with the in form Cobus Wiese in what looks a formidable second row.

Another strong player back in the mix is Ernst van Rhyn, who has the ability to play lock, flank or No 8. He will cover second row and presumably also the back row positions, along with Redelinghuys.

With Etzebeth back and Van Rhyn joined by Springbok prop Frans Malherbe on the bench, Stormers coach Robbie Fleck will feel he still has a formidable enough tight five to bother the Lions, while Coetzee’s shift to the No 6 jersey brings a good balance to the back row.

The younger of the two Du Toit brothers has also generally been impressive when he has come on at blindside flank.

However, you suspect that with the Lions appearing to be running back into form this was a game where the Stormers needed all their star players to be fit.

DHL Stormers team: Damian Willemse, Seabelo Senatla, JJ Engelbrecht, Damian de Allende, Dillyn Leyds, Josh Stander, Herschel Jantjies, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Johan du Toit, Jaco Coetzee, Cobus Wiese, Eben Etzebeth, Wilco Louw, Scarra Ntubeni, Steven Kitshoff (captain).

Replacements: Chad Solomon, Corne Fourie, Frans Malherbe, Ernst van Rhyn, Marno Redelinghuys, Justin Philllips, Jean-Luc du Plessis, Dan Kriel.