Stormers get timely double Bok boost
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Stormers have the luxury of Springbok duo Evan Roos and Herschelle Jantjies back in the mix for their Champions Cup clash with Clermont Auvergne at the Cape Town Stadium on Saturday, albeit from the bench.
Jantjies and Roos will both make their return from injury via a replacements bench which also features flyhalf Jean-Luc du Plessis and hooker JJ Kotze.
Stormers coach John Dobsons’ hand was also forced to pick a new halfback pairing which sees Stefan Ungerer and Kade Wolhuter move to the starting line-up as replacement for the injured Paul de Wet and Manie Libbok, who both hobbled off in the game against London Irish last week due to concussion.
In the only other change, Willie Engelbrecht starts at blindside flank in the place of Junior Pokomela, yet another victim of concussion.
Dobson said that the team are looking forward to what should be a great occasion at Cape Town Stadium.
“This has all the makings of a Champions Cup classic, with a place in the play-offs at stake and we want to do it justice.
“Three concussions in one week poses a bit of a challenge for us, but we are keen to see what impact the players coming in can make.
“We are also obviously delighted to have players of the calibre of Herschel, Evan, JJ and Jean-Luc back in the mix off the bench, so there is a lot to look forward to on Saturday night,” he said.
Stormers: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Dan du Plessis, 11 Angelo Davids, 10 Kade Wolhuter, 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Willie Engelbrecht, 6 Deon Fourie, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Connor Evans, 3 Neethling Fouche, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Steven Kitshoff (captain).
Replacements: 16 JJ Kotze, 17 Ali Vermaak, 18 Brok Harris, 19 Ben-Jason Dixon, 20 Evan Roos, 21 Herschel Jantjies, 22 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 23 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
Date: Saturday, January 21
Venue: Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town
Kick-off: 19.30 (18.30 France time; 17.30 GMT)
Referee: Christophe Ridley (England)
Assistant Referees: Luke Pearce (England), Jamie Leahy (England)
TMO: Tom Foley (England)
