Stormers reveal 'new' captain and midfield combo
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Stormers coach John Dobson has made a number of changes, including a ‘new’ captain, for their United Rugby Championship encounter with Zebre at the Stadio Lanfranchi, in Parma, on Saturday.
Salmaan Moerat will captain a Stormers team which features centre Alapati Leuia on his debut.
There are a number of changes to the team for the defending champions’ first away match of the URC season.
Moerat is joined in the second row by Adre Smith.
Andre Hugo Venter is at hooker and Willie Engelbrecht comes in on the flank in the other changes to the forward pack.
In the backline, Springbok scrumhalf Herschel Jantjies makes his first start of the season.
There is an exciting new centre pairing – as Leiua links up with Sacha Mngomezulu in midfield, with Damian Willemse moving to fullback.
Springbok lock Marvin Orie is on a replacements bench, which also features Nama Xaba for the first time this season, along with scrumhalf Paul de Wet and centre Dan du Plessis, who both started the first two games.
Dobson said that he is looking forward to seeing some of the new combinations in action.
“This is a team full of potential, just looking at some of the combinations we have out there,” the coach said.
“It is fantastic to have someone of Salmaan’s stature to step in as captain and we are excited to see what the likes of Alapati, Sacha, Willie, Adre and Herschel can do as they all make their first starts of the campaign.
“We know it will be tough against a competitive Zebre side away from home, but preparations have gone well and we are looking forward to the challenge,” he added.
Stormers: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 13 Alapati Leuia, 12 Sacha Mngomezulu, 11 Angelo Davids, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Willie Engelbrecht, 6 Junior Pokomela, 5 Adre Smith, 4 Salmaan Moerat (captain), 3 Neethling Fouche, 2 Andre-Hugo Venter, 1 Allister Vermaak.
Replacements: 16 Chad Solomon, 17 Kwenzo Blose, 18 Brok Harris, 19 Marvin Orie, 20 Nama Xaba, 21 Marcel Theunissen, 22 Paul de Wet, 23 Dan du Plessis.
Date: Saturday, October 8
Venue: Stadio Lanfranchi, Parma
Kick-off: 16.00 (16.00 SA time; 14.00 GMT)
Referee: Eoghan Cross (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Dario Merli (Italy), Alberto Favaro (Italy)
TMO: Olly Hodges (Ireland)
