Edinburgh head coach Sean Everitt has made six changes to his side that will face Stormers at Hive Stadium on Saturday night, including dropping Ben Healy. 

A year ago, the fly-half arrived having helped Munster to the United Rugby Championship (URC) title and played almost every minute in the league during his debut season in the capital. 

He was second choice to summer signing Ross Thompson for the first two games of the season, and after earning a start last weekend, has paid the price for a dreadful collective first-half showing. 

Everitt, who has also restored Ali Price at scrum-half in place of co-captain Ben Vellacott, admitted his side were "directionless" in attack in Johannesburg. 

Healy will instead play for Edinburgh 'A' against Bath tomorrow. 

Everitt said: “We just felt that we were a bit directionless on attack. We know that Ben has got a good skill set and he’s led the team well.

"We just feel that Ross has obviously done a good job for us, and instead of Ben sitting on the bench behind Ross this weekend we thought we’d send him down to Bath to play for the 'A' team and get some more game time.

"Players that are in spinal positions within the team need to play. 

“Cammy Scott has done well in the 'A' team over the last two weeks, so it’s good that he gets an opportunity on the bench."

Unsurprisingly, Everitt said the message to his returning half-back pairing is to give the team the direction he feels they badly missed in a calamitous opening 40 minutes a week ago.  

He added: “It’s just about giving the team direction on attack and bringing experience as far as game management is concerned.

"We’re facing a similar defence system as we did against Leinster and I thought those two did really well against Leinster so it makes sense that we return to those two players against a team like the Stormers.”

Hamish Watson is another notable absentee, but Everitt confirmed he is being rested this week with Ben Muncaster into the number seven jersey.

"He’s carried a load with him, he’s had the full pre-season, plus he played against Gloucester," Everitt said of Watson. 

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Elsewhere in the pack, Paddy Harrison starts at hooker with both Ewan Ashman and Dave Cherry injured, and Harri Morris - who has just one appearance for the Edinburgh first team three years ago - is his back-up from the replacements.

Jamie Hodgson comes in for Marshall Sykes at lock, while out wide there is a return for Duhan van der Merwe - the Scotland wing overcoming the injury that forced his withdrawal shortly before kick-off last weekend. 

On the selection, Everitt added: “We know that last week’s performance was unacceptable, but we also know what went wrong for us. 

“The DHL Stormers bring similar challenges to the Lions and Bulls, being hugely physical and fast in transition, but we know if we perform at our best, we’ll be able to get a result.”

Stormers also make six changes after beating Zebre last weekend as Springbok cap Warrick Gelant returns at fullback, allowing Damian Willemse to move to fly-half. 

The teams

Edinburgh: Wes Goosen, Darcy Graham, Mosese Tuipulotu, Matt Scott, Duhan van der Merwe, Ross Thompson, Ali Price; Pierre Schoeman, Paddy Harrison, Paul Hill, Jamie Hodgson, Grant Gilchrist (captain), Jamie Ritchie, Ben Muncaster, Magnus Bradbury

Replacements: Harri Morris, Boan Venter, D'arcy Rae, Marshall Sykes, Luke Crosbie, Ben Vellacott, Cammy Scott, Matt Currie 

Stormers: Warrick Gelant, Angelo Davids, Ruhan Nel, Dan du Plessis (captain), Leolin Zas, Damian Willemse, Paul de Wet; Brok Harris, Andre-Hugo Venter, Neethling Fouche, JD Schickerling, Ruben van Heerden, Dave Ewers, Ben-Jason Dixon, Keke Morabe

Replacements: JJ Kotze, Sti Sithole, Sazi Sandi, Adre Smith, Marcel Theunissen, Willie Engelbrecht, Stefan Ungerer, Wandisile Simelane