Double Bok boost as Stormers seek to bounce back
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Springbok forwards Frans Malherbe and Marvin Orie have been included in the Stormers team to face London Irish in a Champions Cup encounter at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday.
There are five changes in total for the Stormers’ first home game in the prestigious competition.
Willie Engelbrecht comes in at blindside flank for the injured Ernst van Rhyn, while in the backline scrumhalf Paul de Wet and wing Angelo Davids will both start after featuring among the replacements last week.
Davids is in for Alapati Leuia, who has been ruled out with a minor injury, while Dan du Plessis has also been given a further week to recover, with Damian Willemse continuing at inside centre.
Herschel Jantjies is one of two backs on the replacements bench and will earn his 50th Stormers cap when he comes on.
Stormers Head Coach John Dobson said that his team appreciate how important it is to win your home games in this competition.
“This is a very big game for us, apart from it being our first home game in the Champions Cup and historic from that point of view.
“It has been some time since we played at Stadium and the team is looking forward to getting out there and making the most of it,” he said.
Dobson paid tribute to scrumhalf Jantjies ahead of his milestone of 50 games.
“Herschel loves this team and at 26 still has many games for the Stormers ahead of him. It’s a great achievement and he can be proud of what he has done in a Stormers jersey over the last four seasons,” he said.
The Stormers coach added that having the likes of Malherbe and Orie coming in is ideal.
“Frans was just nominated as SA Rugby Player of the Year, he and Marvin will bring a level of calm and composure in our set-pieces and in general play. They will have an impact on the players around them that should lift the team for a big performance,” he said.
Stormers: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Angelo Davids, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Damian Willemse, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Paul de Wet, 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Willie Engelbrecht, 6 Deon Fourie, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Salmaan Moerat, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Steven Kitshoff (captain).
Replacements: 16 JJ Kotze, 17 Brok Harris, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Connor Evans, 20 Junior Pokomela, 21 Marcel Theunissen, 22 Herschel Jantjies, 23 Suleiman Hartzenberg.
Date: Saturday, December 17
Venue: Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town
Kick-off: 19.30 (17.30 GMT; 17.30 UK time)
Referee: Pierre Brousset (France)
Assistant referees: Tual Trainini (France) & Benoit Rousselet (France)
TMO: Thomas Charabas (France)
