Dobson rings the changes for Sharks showdown
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Stormers will welcome back Evan Roos, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Salmaan Moerat from injury for the United Rugby Championship derby against the Sharks in Durban on Saturday.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu will start at inside centre alongside his former Bishops teammate Suleiman Hartzenberg, with Dan du Plessis ruled out with an ankle niggle picked up at training this week.
Flyhalf Jurie Matthee will make his first URC appearance, having made his Stormers debut in the Champions Cup against Leicester Tigers in December.
Roos will start on the side of the scrum, with Hacjivah Dayimani at No.8 and Marcel Theunissen rounding out the loose trio.
Neethling Fouche will lead the team from the front row, with Joseph Dweba and Ali Vermaak alongside him.
Moerat makes his return from a shoulder injury on a replacements bench which also features Wandisile Simelane, who will make his Stormers debut when he takes the field.
Head coach John Dobson said that after a month’s break, it will be vital to find some fluency as a group as quickly as possible.
“The break was good for us and it is fantastic to welcome back some top players from injury.
“We go straight into a big derby game away from home, so we understand the size of the task we face in Durban and hopefully we will be able to hit our straps as quickly as possible,” he said.
Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Ben Loader, 13 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 12 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Jurie Matthee, 9 Paul de Wet, 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Evan Roos, 6 Marcel Theunissen, 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 Adre Smith, 3 Neethling Fouche, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Ali Vermaak.
Replacements: 16 Andre-Hugo Venter, 17 Sti Sithole, 18 Brok Harris, 19 Salmaan Moerat, 20 Ben-Jason Dixon, 21 Herschel Jantjies, 22 Wandisile Simelane, 23 Angelo Davids.
Date: Saturday, February 17
Venue: Kings Park, Durban
Kick-off: 17.05 (15.05)
Referee: Morne Ferreira (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Cwengile Jadezweni (South Africa), Stephan Geldenhuys (South Africa)
TMO: Ben Crouse (South Africa)
