Damian Willemse takes centre stage for North-South derby
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Stormers Director of Rugby John Dobson has named his team for Saturday’s United Rugby Championship North-South derby against the Bulls in Cape Town.
The Capetonians have been boosted by the return from injury of Springbok stars Damian Willemse and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu
Willemse makes his 100th start in a Stormers jersey in the first match of 2026.
He will be joined in midfield by Wandisile Simelane, outside Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who links up with fellow Springbok Cobus Reinach at halfback.
The only other change to the backline sees Suleiman Hartzenberg come into the starting line-up on the right wing, having featured off the replacements bench in the win against the Lions.
In the forward pack, Ali Vermaak starts at loosehead prop, while there is also a switch in the second row as JD Schickerling joins captain Salmaan Moerat at lock.
The only change to the loose trio sees Ruan Ackermann start at openside flank as Paul de Villiers joins Adré Smith, Ruben van Heerden, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Sazi Sandi and Lukhanyo Vokozela in the group of forwards that will finish the game.
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Dobson said that his team is looking forward to what should be a special occasion at DHL Stadium.
“This is one of the biggest club rugby matches in the world and will be played in front of a sold-out DHL Stadium. It should be an incredible experience for everyone there.
“We know that we will need to be at our absolute best throughout the game to come away with the result, so it is a challenge that every player and management member is looking forward to,” he said.
Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Damian Willemse, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Ruan Ackermann, 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Salmaan Moerat (captain), 3 Neethling Fouché, 2 André-Hugo Venter, 1 Ali Vermaak.
Replacements: 16 Lukhanyo Vokozela, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Adré Smith, 20 Ruben van Heerden, 21 Paul de Villiers, 22 Stefan Ungerer, 23 Jurie Matthee.
Date: Saturday, January 3
Venue: DHL Stadium, Cape Town
Kick-off: 18.00 (16.00 GMT)
Referee: Griffin Colby (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Morne Ferreira (South Africa), Sean Muller (South Africa)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
