The Stormers have been bolstered by the return of three Springboks in their backline for their United Rugby Championship (URC) derby against the Sharks at the Cape Town Stadium on Saturday night (kick-off 7:30pm).
Current Boks Scrumhalf Cobus Reinach, inside centre Damian Willemse and former Bok fullback Warrick Gelant are back in the starting line-up for the massive coastal clash, the first of a double header between the two teams with them playing in Durban next weekend.
Reinach partners captain Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who captains the team again, at halfback, while Willemse slots into the midfield alongside Wandisile Simelane, with Gelant at the back where he will link up with Leolin Zas and Suleiman Hartzenberg.
Imad Khan and Jurie Matthee are the two backs on a replacements bench which also sees forwards Sazi Sandi, Salmaan Moerat and Louw Nel come into the Stormers matchday squad.
The front row of Ntuthuko Mchunu, Neethling Fouché and André-Hugo Venter start together once again, with Connor Evans and JD Schickerling the lock pairing.
There has been one change to loose trio, with Marcel Theunissen coming in for Evan Roos, who has been rested as a precaution with a minor groin strain.
Special occasion
Stormers Director of Rugby John Dobson said that it will be another special occasion in front of a packed Cape Town Stadium.
“This is our third and final home (South African) derby of the season and we are set for another blockbuster in front of a huge crowd,” said Dobson.
“These are the matches that players, coaches and fans live for and we know that it will take a big performance to get the result. We have some quality players coming into the team and they will all need to hit the ground running and bring plenty of intensity.
“It is fantastic to have the likes of Cobus, Damian and Warrick back in the mix and we are also excited to see what the likes of Marcel and Louw can do given this opportunity.”
It should be a cracking match as the unbeaten table topping Stormers try keep their brilliant record intact, while the desperate Sharks will be hunting a morale boosting win to try and climb up the URC log, while both will want momentum heading into the second derby in Durban next weekend.
Stormers XV
Warrick Gelant, Suleiman Hartzenberg, Wandisile Simelane, Damian Willemse, Leolin Zas, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (c), Cobus Reinach, Marcel Theunissen, Ben-Jason Dixon, Paul de Villiers, JD Schickerling, Connor Evans, Neethling Fouché, André-Hugo Venter, Ntuthuko Mchunu
Bench: JJ Kotzé, Vernon Matongo, Sazi Sandi, Salmaan Moerat, Ruben van Heerden, Louw Nel, Imad Khan, Jurie Matthee.
