Stormers replace one Bok playmaker with another
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Stormers Director of Rugby John Dobson has revealed his team to face Cardiff at Cape Town Stadium in the final round of the United Rugby Championship on Friday.
There are several changes to the team as they look for a fourth straight win to end the league phase of the season.
Springbok flyhalf Manie Libbok returns from injury to wear the No.10 jersey and his halfback partner will be Herschel Jantjies.
Suleiman Hartzenberg will play his 50th game for the Stormers and he is joined by Leolin Zas and Damian Willemse in a potent back three.
Wandisile Simelane and Dan du Plessis will combine midfield.
Scrumhalf Paul de Wet, utility back Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and wing Ben Loader will provide impact in the second half from the replacements bench.
Up front tighthead prop Neethling Fouché makes his return from suspension and will line up alongside Sti Sithole and Joseph Dweba in the front row.
Captain Salmaan Moerat is joined by JD Schickerling in the second row, with Dave Ewers and Louw Nel on the flanks and Marcel Theunissen at the back of the scrum.
Experienced hooker Scarra Ntubeni, who is back from a short loan spell with the Sharks, features on a replacements bench that also includes the likes of props Vernon Matongo and Sazi Sandi as well as lock Connor Evans and flank Paul de Villiers.
Dobson said that his side understands that they will need to be at their best to continue the winning momentum they have built up in the last month.
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“The last three matches at home have seen us gain some confidence and secure our play-off spot with a game to go, but we know we are in for a big test against a Cardiff side that has it all to play for.
“We have made some changes to ensure that we have enough players with recent gametime heading into the play-offs and we are looking forward to seeing what those coming into the mix this week can do.
“We are also very aware that we are unlikely to play at home again this season, so we want to put together a good performance for the fans that have shown us such incredible support,” he said.
Stormers: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Dan du Plessis, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Marcel Theunissen, 7 Louw Nel, 6 Dave Ewers, 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Salmaan Moerat (captain), 3 Neethling Fouché, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Sti Sithole.
Replacements: 16 Scarra Ntubeni, 17 Vernon Matongo, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Connor Evans, 20 Paul de Villiers, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 23 Ben Loader.
Date: Friday, May 16
Venue: Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town
Kick-off: 19.00 (18.00 UK & Ireland time; 17.00 GMT)
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy)
Assistant referees: AJ Jacobs (South Africa), Hanru van Rooyen (South Africa)
TMO: Andrea Piardi (Italy)
