Bok superstars back for Stormers
The Stormers wasted no time reintroducing two of their Springbok superstars for Friday night’s Vodacom URC clash with the Scarlets in Llanelli
Damian Willemse and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu – returning from national duty – will make their first appearances of the season as the Stormers chase a third straight win in their first tour fixture of the campaign, kicking off at 8:45pm.
Willemse starts at fullback, adding world-class assurance to a backline reshuffle that sees Wandisile Simelane move to outside centre and captain Ruhan Nel shift inside to partner Feinberg-Mngomezulu at flyhalf.
In the forwards, there’s further rotation as flanks Paul de Villiers and Ben-Jason Dixon reclaim starting roles, while Ruben van Heerden, JJ Kotzé, Sazi Sandi and Ali Vermaak all earn their first starts of the season.
On the bench, veteran flank Deon Fourie and scrumhalf Imad Khan are also set for their first appearances of the campaign.
It has been an encouraging start to the season and we are determined to build on that in this first tour game,” said director of rugby John Dobson.
“There are a few areas that we want to improve on, and our preparations have obviously been limited by the travel this week.
“We have got some good players coming in from the national team and some who have been in our squad and are making their first starts. We know that everyone will have to be on their game for us to continue the winning momentum on the road.”
STORMERS – 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Ruhan Nel (c), 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 JD Schickerling, 3 Sazi Sandi, 2 JJ Kotzé, 1 Ali Vermaak.
Bench: 16 André-Hugo Venter, 17 Vernon Matongo, 18 Zachary Porthen, 19 Connor Evans, 20 Marcel Theunissen, 21 Deon Fourie, 22 Imad Khan, 23 Jurie Matthee.
