Siya Kolisi’s return headlines a new-look Stormers 23 for Friday night’s URC clash in Edinburgh, with John Dobson also making changes across the pack and backline.
The Capetonians will aim to build on their 29-15 win against Connacht in Galway last week, but Edinburgh can make the most of their first home game of the season after beating Ulster 34-29.
Dobson’s men are third on the URC standings, two places ahead of their hosts, whose only victory in the six previous meetings between the clubs was in October 2024.
Kolisi will play for the Stormers for the first time in over five years in the round-two encounter at Hive Stadium, and will earn his 119th cap when he runs out.
He starts at openside flank, with Louw Nel moving to blindside and Riley Norton in the second row. The only other change to the forward pack sees Ntuthuko Mchunu start in the front row this week.
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In the backline, Stefan Ungerer and Yaqeen Ahmed come in at halfback. There is one new face on the bench, with Wandile Mlaba covering loose forward.
“Last week’s performance against Connacht was encouraging in many ways, but we would like to see a more ruthless edge to our game, which we have worked on this week,” director of rugby Dobson said.
“We know that Edinburgh is a tough place to play and we have some experience coming in, with Siya, Ntuthuko and Stefan included along with Yaqeen Ahmed nd Wandile Mlaba, who are both really exciting young players.
“It will take a big effort from all 23 players to get the result before we go back to Cape Town for what will be a crucial period in the context of our season.”
ALSO: Edinburgh to fight Stormers fire with fire
STORMERS – 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Ruhan Nel (c), 12 Jonathan Roche, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Yaqeen Ahmed, 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Louw Nel, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Riley Norton, 3 Neethling Fouché, 2 André-Hugo Venter, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu.
Bench: 16 Vernon Paulo, 17 Vernon Matongo, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Connor Evans, 20 Adré Smith, 21 Wandile Mlaba, 22 Andre Warner, 23 Wandisile Simelane.
EDINBURGH – 15 Piers O’Conor, 14 Malelili Satala, 13 Matt Currie (co-capt), 12 Kienan Higgins, 11 Geordie Gwynn, 10 James Grayson, 9 Hector Patterson, 8 Magnus Bradbury (co-capt), 7 Freddy Douglas, 6 Liam McConnell, 5 Glen Young, 4 Callum Hunter-Hill, 3 Ollie Blyth-Lafferty, 2 Harri Morris, 1 Pierre Schoeman.
Bench: 16 Jerry Blyth-Lafferty, 17 Alec Hepburn, 18 Paul Hill, 19 Euan McVie, 20 Tom Currie, 21 Conor McAlpine, 22 Cammy Scott, 23 Rory McHaffie.
Photo: urcofficial_rsa/Instagram
The post Siya back for reshuffled Stormers appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Siya Kolisi’s return headlines a new-look Stormers 23 for Friday night’s URC clash in Edinburgh, with John Dobson also making changes across the pack and backline.
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