Stormers load up on Boks for face-off with French giants
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: There are nine Springboks in the Stormers starting line-up for the Champions Cup Round Two encounter with Stade Rochelais at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday.
Warrick Gelant, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Cobus Reinach, Evan Roos and André-Hugo Venter all come into the starting XV for the clash with the two-time champions.
Gelant has recovered from the illness which saw him ruled out on matchday ahead of the 26-17 win against Bayonne last week, and will have wings Dylan Maart and Leolin Zas with him at the back.
Damian Willemse is recovering from a slight hamstring niggle and should be available for selection next week.
Ruhan Nel is also back in the starting team and forms a midfield partnership with Jonathan Roche, with Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Reinach the halfback pairing.
Evan Roos starts this week after providing impact from the bench in Bayonne and resumes his combination with flanks Ben-Jason Dixon and Paul de Villiers.
JD Schickerling starts alongside captain Salmaan Moerat in the second row, while up front Venter starts with Springbok props Ntuthuko Mchunu and Neethling Fouché on either side of him.
The replacements bench includes the likes of hooker JJ Kotzé, lock Connor Evans, loose forward Ruan Ackermann, scrumhalf Imad Khan and utility back Wandisile Simelane, who all started in Bayonne last week. They are joined by props Oli Kebble and Sazi Sandi and loose forward Marcel Theunissen.
Director of Rugby John Dobson said that his team is looking to build on their encouraging performance in France last week.
“It was great to win away from home, but we have to back that up now, and we know that it will take a big effort against a highly physical Stade Rochelais team,” Dobson said.
“We always get such fantastic support in Port Elizabeth, so we are all looking forward to what should be a big match with Test match intensity at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium,” he added.
Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Dylan Maart, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Jonathan Roche, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Salmaan Moerat, 3 Neethling Fouché, 2 André-Hugo Venter, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu.
Replacements: 16 JJ Kotzé, 17 Oli Kebble, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Connor Evans, 20 Ruan Ackermann, 21 Marcel Theunissen, 22 Imad Khan, 23 Wandisile Simelane.
Date: Saturday, December 13
Venue: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Kick-off: 15.00 (14.00 French time; 13.00 GMT)
Referee: Luke Pearce (England)
Assistant referees: Karl Dickson (England), Joe James (England)
TMO: Ian Tempest (England)
