John Dobson has named a Stormers 23 with 11 Springboks and a possible debut for Haashim Pead in Saturday’s URC clash against the Sharks at Cape Town Stadium.
The Stormers come off a 17-13 loss to Edinburgh in round two, and Dobson has leaned on the experience and dynamism of the likes of Deon Fourie and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu to reinforce this week’s team.
Seven Springboks will play their first match for the Stormers this season on Saturday, while scrumhalf Pead is set to make his Stormers bow off the bench.
There are three changes to the backline, with Damian Willemse at fullback and Feinberg-Mngomezulu linking up with Cobus Reinach at halfback. Pead and Wandisile Simelane are the two backs among the replacements.
In the front row, Wilco Louw is set to earn his first Stormers cap since 2020, while Fourie provides hooker cover and will sit with props Neethling Fouché and Vernon Matongo on the bench.
Lock Adré Smith comes into the starting XV for the first time this season. In the loose trio, Paul de Villiers makes his return which sees Siya Kolisi move to blindside flank.
Evan Roos and Riley Norton are set to make an impact off the wood.
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Dobson’s troops head into the encounter in eighth place on the URC standings while the unbeaten Sharks top the log after successive bonus-point wins at Kings Park.
JP Pietersen’s men won the last meeting 30-19 in Cape Town on 24 January, and are looking to complete a hat-trick of victories over their coastal rivals in the URC.
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“It is fantastic to be able to name a team like this which is full of exceptional talents, from Deon Fourie with 141 Stormers caps through to Haashim Pead who makes his first appearance for us,” Dobson said.
“It has been really encouraging to see the way the players returning from national duty have stepped up this week and added immensely to our preparations. It was a tough team to select with many quality players missing out.
“This weekend we also play our first match in the new ‘Men in Black’ kit, which is a great nod to our past and something which resonates deeply with our fans.”
STORMERS – 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Ruhan Nel (c), 12 Jonathan Roche, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Siya Kolisi, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Adré Smith, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 André-Hugo Venter, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu.
Bench: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Vernon Matongo, 18 Neethling Fouché, 19 Riley Norton, 20 Connor Evans, 21 Evan Roos, 22 Haashim Pead, 23 Wandisile Simelane.
Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images
The post Stormers reload Boks for derby revenge appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
John Dobson has named a Stormers 23 with 11 Springboks and a possible debut for Haashim Pead in Saturday’s URC clash against the Sharks at Cape Town Stadium.
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