The Stormers have selected a new centre pairing and moved Damian Willemse to fullback for Friday night’s Vodacom URC match against Cardiff at the Arms Park.
Willemse started at No 12 in the 38-38 draw against Ulster in Belfast last week.
Into the midfield come Jonathan Roche, who returns from a long injury lay-off, and Wandisile Simelane, who moves from the right wing to outside centre. Suleiman Hartzenberg gets the No 14 jersey.
In the forwards, Paul de Villiers starts at openside flank, while Neethling Fouché returns in place of Sazi Sandi at tighthead and captains the team in the absence of injured duo Deon Fourie and Ruhan Nel.
With Fourie out, JJ Kotze is selected as backup hooker to André-Hugo Venter.
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There is also a welcome return to the match 23 for Bok lock Salmaan Moerat after a long absence due to toe surgery. He and Marcel Theunissen provide lock cover.
Stefan Ungerer and Jurie Matthee again cover the backline.
The Stormers face a second consecutive outing on the dreaded 4G turf against seventh-placed Cardiff, who are still in a scrap to make the playoffs.
The Stormers sit second, a single point behind the Glasgow Warriors who are away to Ulster at the same time on Friday night.
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STORMERS – 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Jonathan Roche, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Imad Khan, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 Adré Smith, 3 Neethling Fouché (c), 2 André-Hugo Venter, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu.
Bench: 16 JJ Kotze, 17 Oli Kebble, 18 Zachary Porthen, 19 Salmaan Moerat, 20 Marcel Theunissen, 21 Keke Morabe, 22 Stefan Ungerer, 23 Jurie Matthee.
Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images
The post Stormers rejig backline for Cardiff clash appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
The Stormers have selected a new centre pairing and moved Damian Willemse to fullback for Friday night’s Vodacom URC match against Cardiff at the Arms Park.
The post Stormers rejig backline for Cardiff clash appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
