Senatla thrown into deep end

SEABELO Senatla will make his first Super Rugby start of the season on the wing for the Stormers against the Sunwolves in Singapore today.

South Africa’s all-time leading Sevens try-scorer is one of seven changes to the Stormers starting lineup that beat the Southern Kings 41-10 nearly two weeks ago.

The Stormers travelled to Asia without several key players, such as locks Eben Etzebeth and Pieterdu Toit‚ who are being rested as part of a Springbok player management agreement.

Captain Siya Kolisi‚ who was rested against the Kings‚ returns, while loose forward Cobus Wiese, 19, will make his debut if he comes off the bench. Dillyn Leyds will start at fullback in a new back three, alongside Senatla and Bjorn Basson. Dan Kriel is back from injury to partner EW Viljoen in the midfield.

There is an all-new lock pairing, as JD Schickerling debuts alongside Chris van Zyl. On the bench prop Caylib Oosthuizen is in line to make his Stormers debut and scrumhalf Godlen Masimla is set for his first action of the season.

Stormers squad is: Dillyn Leyds; Bjorn Basson‚ EW Viljoen‚ Dan Kriel‚ Seabelo Senatla; Robert du Preez‚ Dewaldt Duvenage; Sikhumbuzo Notshe‚ Siya Kolisi (capt)‚ Rynhardt Elstadt‚ JD Schickerling‚ Chris van Zyl‚ Wilco Louw‚ Bongi Mbonambi‚ JC Janse van Rensburg.

Replacements: Ramone Samuels‚ Caylib Oosthuizen‚ Oli Kebble‚ Jan de Klerk‚ Cobus Wiese‚ Godlen Masimla‚ Kurt Coleman‚ Dan du Plessis. — TMG Digital