DHL Stormers change seven for Benetton clash

There are seven changes to the DHL Stormers starting line-up for the Vodacom United Rugby Championship encounter with Benetton in Treviso on Saturday.

There is an all-new tight five and a new halfback pairing for the match against the Italian outfit, which kicks off at 6.30pm on Saturday at Stadio Monigo.

The Stormers will be looking to end their tour on a high as they target their first-ever win in Treviso, to make it five consecutive victories at the start of the season.

Salmaan Moerat makes his return from injury and is joined in the second row by JD Schickerling, with a fit-again Sazi Sandi alongside André-Hugo Venter and Vernon Matongo up front.

At halfback, the experienced Dewaldt Duvenage will link up with Jurie Matthee as Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu is rested this week, while Springbok scrumhalf Cobus Reinach is set to make his Stormers debut off a replacements bench that also features Oli Kebble, who will make his first appearance for the team since 2017.

Director of Rugby John Dobson said that his team will be going all-out in their last game for over a month.

“We know just how tough it is to win in Treviso, so it will take a big effort to get the result we need.

“The players coming in are all hungry to make an impression and we will be giving it everything to finish the tour with another win ahead of the international break.

“There are still several areas of our game we would like to improve, so this is an opportunity for us to build on the encouraging start we have made to the season,” he said.

DHL Stormers starting XV: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Ruhan Nel (capt), 12 Damian Willemse, 11 Leolin Zas; 10 Jurie Matthee, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage; 8 Evan Roos, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Paul de Villiers; 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Salmaan Moerat; 3 Sazi Sandi, 2 André-Hugo Venter, 1 Vernon Matongo. Replacements: 16 JJ Kotze, 17 Oli Kebble, 18 Zachary Porthen, 19 Adré Smith, 20 Ruben van Heerden, 21 Ruan Ackerman, 22 Cobus Reinach, 23 Wandisile Simelane.

SATURDAY

Benetton v DHL Stormers

Stadio Monigo, Treviso – KO 5.30pm IRE & UK/6.30pm ITA & SA

Referee: Hollie Davidson (SRU, 23rd league game)

AR 1: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR) AR 2: Luca Bisetto (FIR)

TMO: Andrew McMenemy (SRU)

Live on: Sky Italia, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv