Stormers load starting team with Boks for Scarlets showdown
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Stormers Director of Rugby John Dobson has unveiled his matchday squad for the United Rugby Championship Round 13 showdown with Scarlets in Llanelli on Saturday.
There are eight Springboks in Dobson’s starting line-up.
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu starts at flyhalf on his return from injury in the clash with the Welsh outfit.
The only other change to the backline that did duty in the win against the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld sees Herschel Jantjies start at scrumhalf, with Dewaldt Duvenage, Jurie Matthee and Damian Willemse providing cover on the replacements bench.
In the forward pack, Marcel Theunissen starts at blindside flank in place of the injured Ben-Jason Dixon, while Frans Malherbe, Joseph Dweba and Ali Vermaak form an experienced front row.
Dobson said that while the team only arrived in Wales on Wednesday, they made the most of the two-week period building up to this match.
“It is obviously fantastic to have players of Sacha and Damian’s quality back in the group and we have made good use of the break to prepare for this game.
“Scarlets have been impressive this season and we know that it will have to be an 80-minute performance to get the result that we need from this one,” he said.
Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Ben Loader, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Dan du Plessis, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Marcel Theunissen, 6 Deon Fourie, 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 Salmaan Moerat (captain), 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Ali Vermaak.
Replacements: 16 André-Hugo Venter, 17 Brok Harris, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Gary Porter, 20 Willie Engelbrecht, 21 Dewaldt Duvenage, 22 Jurie Matthee, 23 Damian Willemse.
Date: Saturday, March 22
Venue: Parc Y Scarlets, Llanelli
Kick-off: 15.00 (17.00 SAST; 15.00 GMT)
Referee: Eoghan Cross (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Mike English (Wales), Tom Spurrier (Wales)
TMO: Olly Hodges (Ireland)
United Rugby Championship
To be first in line for Rugby World Cup 2027 Australia tickets, register your interest here
