A grizzled campaigner is set to feature for a Jean-Luc du Plessis-led Stormers XXIII side featuring six Currie Cup debutants against defending champions Griquas on Friday night.
Flyhalf Du Plessis will lead a match 23 at Cape Town Stadium that blends seasoned stalwarts with emerging talent as the Stormers begin a new chapter in rugby’s oldest competition under coach Tom Dawson-Squibb.
Fullback Dylan Miller, wing Mfundo Ndhlovu, lock Tom Barnard, No 8 Wandile Mlaba, flanker Xola Nyali and utility back Dominic Malgas are all set to make their Currie Cup debuts.
Veteran hooker Scarra Ntubeni, who earned one Springbok cap against Argentina at Loftus in 2019, is in line to make an impact off the bench.
The 35-year-old made what many thought was his final appearance for the Stormers against Connacht in April.
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There are also first Currie Cup appearances in Stormers colours for hooker Vernon Paulo, prop Hencus van Wyk and scrumhalf Tiaan Fourie.
Du Plessis will partner experienced scrumhalf Stefan Ungerer in the halfbacks, while Josh Boulle and Cornel Smit combine in midfield. Gino Cupido joins Miller and Ndhlovu in an exciting back three.
Up front, veteran loosehead Oli Kebble packs down alongside Paulo and young tighthead Herman Lubbe in the front row.
Former Sharks lock Gerbrandt Grobler brings valuable experience to the second row alongside Barnard.
Mlaba anchors a mobile loose trio with Divan Fuller and Keke Morabe, while Nyali is among the impact players on the bench.
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Dawson-Squibb says his side has embraced the challenge of taking on the defending champions in their opening match.
“We are new as a team, which brings with it the chance of some adapting through the game but more importantly, it brings with it massive enthusiasm and competitiveness.
“My message for the last four weeks has been to compete ‘unreasonably’. We want this team to go above and beyond in every area and push ourselves as far as we can, which is what we mean by being unreasonable. What better way to test this than against the defending champions who are high on confidence.
“This is a big moment as we start a new era, and what better place to do so than DHL Stadium. The players and management are all looking forward to the challenge and giving all we have to make a positive start.”
The Stormers will also be looking to end Griquas’ dominance in this fixture, with the defending champions having won the last eight meetings between the teams.
STORMERS XXIII – 15 Dylan Miller, 14 Gino Cupido, 13 Josh Boulle, 12 Cornel Smit, 11 Mfundo Ndhlovu, 10 Jean-Luc du Plessis (c), 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Wandile Mlaba, 7 Divan Fuller, 6 Keke Morabe, 5 Gerbrandt Grobler, 4 Tom Barnard, 3 Herman Lubbe, 2 Vernon Paulo, 1 Oli Kebble.
Bench: 16 Scarra Ntubeni, 17 Mhleli Khuzwayo, 18 Hencus van Wyk, 19 Dylan de Leeuw, 20 Enos Ndiao, 21 Xola Nyali, 22 Tiaan Fourie, 23 Dominic Malgas.
Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images
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A grizzled campaigner is set to feature for a Jean-Luc du Plessis-led Stormers XXIII side featuring six Currie Cup debutants against defending champions Griquas on Friday night.
The post Stormers turn to old Bok for opener appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
