Ahmed set for Stormers debut against All Blacks
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Stormers team to face New Zealand for the first time in the history of the club has been named.
Outside centre Ruhan Nel will captain the team that will face the visiting side for the first match of their tour at DHL Stadium, with kick-off at 19.00 on Friday night.
Nel is joined in midfield by Jonathan Roche, with 20-year-old flyhalf Yaqeen Ahmed set to link up with scrumhalf Imad Khan in his first appearance for the Stormers.
Fullback Warrick Gelant will have wings Seabelo Senatla and Leolin Zas alongside him, with the experienced Dewaldt Duvenage and the versatile Wandisile Simelane set to provide backline impact off the replacements bench.
Up front, hooker André-Hugo Venter will have props Vernon Matongo and Neethling Fouché either side of him, with JJ Kotzé, Ntuthuko Mchunu and Sazi Sandi on the replacements bench.
Adré Smith and Connor Evans will link up in the second row, with Ruan Ackermann set to be unleashed in the second half.
The loose trio of Evan Roos, Hacjivah Dayimani and Deon Fourie is the same combination that started the 2022 URC Grand Final, which saw the Stormers claim the inaugural title at DHL Stadium.
Keke Morabe and Wandile Mlaba have been rewarded for their impressive form in the Currie Cup with places on the bench.
Director of Rugby John Dobson said that his team will embrace the occasion at DHL Stadium.
“This is history in the making as the Stormers take on New Zealand for the first time, and our team is determined to make it one to remember for our fans.
“For a club side to take on an international team ranked second in the world is a massive opportunity and one that every player and management member is looking forward to,” he said.
DHL Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Ruhan Nel (captain), 12 Jonathan Roche, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Yaqeen Ahmed, 9 Imad Khan, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Hacjivah Dayimani, 6 Deon Fourie, 5 Connor Evans, 4 Adré Smith, 3 Neethling Fouché, 2 André-Hugo Venter, 1 Vernon Matongo.
Replacements: 16 JJ Kotzé, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Ruan Ackermann, 20 Keke Morabe, 21 Wandile Mlaba, 22 Dewaldt Duvenage, 23 Wandisile Simelane.
Date: Friday, August 7
Venue: DHL Stadium, Cape Town
Kick-off: 19.00 SAST (17.00 GMT; 05.00 NZST Saturday, August 8)
Referee: Karl Dickson (England)
Assistant referees: Matthew Carley (England), Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
TMO: Andrew Jackson (England))
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