Japan skipper to face Stormers

Chiefs coach Dave Rennie made six changes to the starting XV to play the Stormers in a Super Rugby Round Five match at Newlands on Saturday.

Regular captain Liam Messam will start at flank and Japanese captain Michael Leitch will make his Super Rugby debut for the Chiefs at No.8.

Brad Weber starts at scrumhalf and is joined by Tim Nanai-Williams at centre, Bryce Heem on the right wing and Damian McKenzie at fullback.

Jamie Mackintosh, Augustine Pulu, Andrew Horrell and Tom Marshall all join the replacement bench.

The match will be played on Saturday 14 March at 3.00pm local time (Sunday 15 March 2.00am New Zealand time).

Chiefs: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Bryce Heem, 13 Tim Nanai-Williams, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 James Lowe, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Brad Weber, 8 Michael Leitch, 7 Sam Cane, 6 Liam Messam, 5 Michael Fitzgerald, 4 Matt Symons, 3 Ben Tameifuna, 2 Hika Elliot, 1 Pauliasi Manu.

Replacements: 16 Quentin MacDonald, 17 Siate Tokolahi, 18 Jamie Mackintosh, 19 Michael Allardice, 20 Maama Vaipulu, 21 Augustine Pulu, 22 Andrew Horrell, 23 Tom Marshall.

Date: Saturday, March 14

Venue: Newlands, Cape Town

Kick-off: 15.00 (13.00 GMT; 02.00 Sunday, March 15 NZ time)

Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)

Assistant referees: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa), Quinton Immelman (South Africa)

TMO: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)