Dobson shakes up Stormers for final run

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Stormers coach John Dobson has made a number of changes to the team for the final match of the regular season, when they face Italian outfit Benetton at the Danie Craven Stadium on Friday.

Scrumhalf Paul de Wet will play his 50th match for the Stormers in Stellenbosch.

Clayton Blommetjies is at fullback and is joined in the back three by Angelo Davids.

Damian Willemse has been moved to inside centre to partner Dan du Plessis in midfield and Ruhan Nel is among the replacements in a rotational switch.

Having featured off the replacements bench last week, Evan Roos starts at No.8, with Hacjivah Dayimani moving to blindside flank.

There are two changes to the front row, with prop Neethling Fouche and hooker Jean-Jacques Kotze coming into the starting line-up.

Dobson said that it was important to ensure that everyone in the squad has enough gametime under the belt ahead of the play-offs.

"We have made a few rotational changes to make sure that everyone will be ready to perform in the knock-out phase of the competition," Dobson said.

"We want to raise our game and put in a confidence-building performance to take some momentum forward," he added.

Stormers: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Angelo Davids, 13 Dan du Plessis, 12 Damian Willemse, 11 Seabelo Senatla, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Paul de Wet, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Hacjivah Dayimani, 6 Willie Engelbrecht, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Ruben van Heerden, 3 Neethling Fouche, 2 Jean-Jacques Kotze, 1 Steven Kitshoff (captain).

Replacements: 16 Joseph Dweba, 17 Ali Vermaak, 18 Frans Malherbe, 19 Ernst van Rhyn, 20 Ben-Jason Dixon, 21 Marcel Theunissen, 22 Herschel Jantjies, 23 Ruhan Nel.

Date: Friday, April 21

Venue: Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch

Kick-off: 18.30 (18.30 Italian time; 16.30 GMT)

Referee: Hollie Davidson

Assistant referees: Cwengile Jadezweni, Morne Ferreira

TMO: Mike Adamson