Muller gets shot at record as Gaza makes another switch
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Stormers have named their team to face Glasgow Warriors in the United Rugby Championship Round 16 top of the table clash this Saturday at DHL Stadium.
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu will play his 50th match for the Stormers at DHL Stadium on Saturday.
Having made his debut in a URC quarterfinal at the same venue in 2022, the mercurial playmaker reaches the half-century milestone in a table-topping clash with the Scottish team.
There are two changes to the backline, with Damian Willemse at fullback and Wandisile Simelane starting on the right wing, with Markus Muller set to become the youngest-ever Stormer when he comes off the replacements bench.
The debut for Muller will see him join Willemse as the only other player to ever pull on a Stormers jersey before the age of 19.
Imad Khan and Jurie Matthee will provide further backline cover, while there are a few changes to the starting forward pack.
Flank Paul de Villiers, lock Ruben van Heerden, prop Neethling Fouché and hooker André-Hugo Venter all come into the starting line-up having featured off the bench last week.
Hooker JJ Kotzé and loose forward Keke Morabe come onto the replacements bench to join the likes of Zachary Porthen, Oli Kebble and Marcel Theunissen.
Director of Rugby John Dobson said that the final home match of the regular season will be a big one for his team in the context of their season.
“With the play-offs getting closer all the time, it is important that we make the most of this opportunity to play at home in front of our fans.
“It has been a good week of training, and we are looking forward to seeing what the players coming into the mix can add in what is a crucial match against a strong Glasgow team,” he said.
Dobson said that Feinberg-Mngomezulu deserves all the plaudits he gets ahead of this milestone.
“There is a lot expected of Sacha, and he handles the pressure so well. He will be a key player in our squad for years to come, and hopefully we can make this match memorable for him,” he said.
Stormers: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Wandisile Simelane, 13 Ruhan Nel (captain), 12 Dan du Plessis, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 Adré Smith, 3 Neethling Fouché, 2 André-Hugo Venter, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu.
Replacements: 16 JJ Kotzé, 17 Oli Kebble, 18 Zachary Porthen, 19 Marcel Theunissen, 20 Keke Morabe, 21 Imad Khan, 22 Jurie Matthee, 23 Markus Muller.
Date: Saturday, April 25
Venue: DHL Stadium, Cape Town
Kick-off: 13.45 (12.45 BST; 11.45 GMT)
Referee: Eoghan Cross (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Griffin Colby (South Africa), Dylen November (South Africa)
TMO: Peter Martin (Ireland)
