Hume gets start for Investec Stormers

Smal made just one change to the starting lineup that trashed the Blues in Auckland last Friday, with Gavin Hume coming in for the injured De Wet Barry at inside centre. Barry did not recover sufficiently from a hamstring tear and his defence and attacking prowess would be sorely missed.

Hume, however, has impressed during his limited opportunities as substitute and Smal has all the confidence in the SWD Eagles man. The strong midfielder will start in the Stormers jersey for the first time.

The coach resisted the temptation of bringing Schalk Burger straight back into the starting XV, with Hendrik Gerber retaining the No 7 jersey after his brilliant performance against the Blues. Burger will be on the bench in place of Pierre Uys.

Another Springbok returning from injury, Selborne Boome, is also on the bench. He takes the place of Rob Linde.

Wing Pieter Rossouw, who missed the Blues game as he had to go back to South Africa for the birth of his second child, replaces Hume on the substitutes’ bench.

Investec Stormers: Werner Greeff, Tonderai Chavhanga, Marius Joubert, Gavin Hume, Gus Theron, Gaffie du Toit, Neil de Kock, Adri Badenhorst, Hendrik Gerber, Corne Krige (c), Willem Stoltz, Quinton Davids, Eddie Andrews, Pieter Dixon, Daan Human. Reserves: David Britz, Pat Barnard, Selborne Boome, Schalk Burger, Johannes Conradie, Chris Rossouw, Pieter Rossouw.