[caption id="attachment_39210" align="alignright" width="405"] RARING TO GO: Gio Aplon is back for the Stormers before heading to Grenoble. Picture: GALLO IMAGES[/caption]
THREE months after a horrific elbow dislocation, utility back Gio Aplon will start for the Stormers against the Bulls at Newlands on Saturday to complete a remarkable recovery.
Initially it appeared as if Aplon's season was over but his rehabilitation went smoothly and the flyer will be able to complete his Stormers career on the field before heading to Grenoble.
Aplon is one of three changes to the Stormers team that beat the Sharks 21-19 in Durban before the June test window with flank Schalk Burger and hooker Deon Fourie also returning.
"The first thing you ask your medical staff after an injury like that is, 'how long will he be out?' " Stormers coach Allister Coetzee said.
"I have to compliment the medical staff because they believed Gio would make it for the last two games and they were spot on.
"It's great to see Gio back and able to represent the Stormers before he leaves us. He has trained very well over the past two weeks and is itching to get back on the field."
Coetzee also revealed that No8 Duane Vermeulen would have until captain's run tomorrow to prove his fitness. He is suffering from general aches and pains after almost non-stop rugby for the past year.
Vermeulen was substituted after 60 minutes while playing for the Springboks against Scotland last week and he has not trained with the Stormers at all this week.
The centre pairing is also reshuffled after Damian de Allende was injured against the Sharks, meaning that wing Sailosi Tagicakibau will be playing in the No13 jersey for the first time this season.
There are also three new faces on the bench in the form of the pairing of hooker Tiaan Liebenberg and scrumhalf Louis Schreuder, while SA Sevens and former SA U20 wing Seabelo Senatla comes in for his first taste of Super Rugby.
Senatla will be available for the Stormers for the next two weeks, having signed a twin deal with WP Rugby and the South African Rugby Union, before he heads for the Commonwealth Games later this month.
"An injury to Kobus van Wyk [calf muscle] has opened the door for us to select Seabelo – it's an exciting selection for us and the player," Coetzee said.
"At the same time Aplon's return is timely and he will slot back into the wing position and provide the necessary experience for youngsters like Seabelo and Cheslin Kolbe to flourish around him.
"Juan de Jongh will be closer to the action at No12, but we're also excited to see how Sailosi goes at outside centre. He has played there for London Irish and has trained well this week and gives us an extra attacking force in our backline."
Stormers: 15 Jaco Taute, 14 Gio Aplon, 13 Sailosi Tagicakibau, 12 Juan de Jongh, 11 Cheslin Kolbe, 10 Kurt Coleman, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Schalk Burger (captain), 6 Nizaam Carr, 5 Ruan Botha, 4 Michael Rhodes, 3 Pat Cilliers, 2 Deon Fourie, 1 Alistair Vermaak.
Replacements: 16 Tiaan Liebenberg, 17 Sti Sithole, 18 Martin Dreyer, 19 Manuel Carizza, 20 Siya Kolisi, 21 Louis Schreuder, 22 Peter Grant, 23 Seabelo Senatla. - Craig Ray