DHL Stormers team named for historic clash with New Zealand

The DHL Stormers team to face New Zealand for the first time in the history of the club has been named.

Outside centre Ruhan Nel will captain the team that will face the visiting side for the first match of their tour at DHL Stadium, with kick-off at 7pm on Friday night.

Nel is joined in midfield by Jonathan Roche, with 20-year-old flyhalf Yaqeen Ahmed set to link up with scrumhalf Imad Khan in his first appearance for the Stormers.

Fullback Warrick Gelant will have wings Seabelo Senatla and Leolin Zas alongside him, with the experienced Dewaldt Duvenage and the versatile Wandisile Simelane set to provide backline impact off the replacements bench.

Up front hooker André-Hugo Venter will have props Vernon Matongo and Neethling Fouché either side of him, with JJ Kotzé, Ntuthuko Mchunu and Sazi Sandi on the replacements bench.

Adré Smith and Connor Evans will link up in the second row, with Ruan Ackermann set to be unleashed in the second half.

The loose trio of Evan Roos, Hacjivah Dayimani and Deon Fourie is the same combination that started the 2022 Vodacom URC Grand Final, which saw the Stormers claim the inaugural title at DHL Stadium. Keke Morabe and Wandile Mlaba have been rewarded for their impressive form in the Carling Currie Cup with places on the bench.

Director of Rugby John Dobson said that his team will embrace the occasion at DHL Stadium.

“This is history in the making as the DHL Stormers take on New Zealand for the first time, and our team is determined to make it one to remember for our fans.

“For a club side to take on an international team ranked second in the world is a massive opportunity and one that every player and management member is looking forward to,” he said.

Meanwhile, All Black head coach Dave Rennie has named his team to play the DHL Stormers at DHL Stadium, Cape Town, on Friday in the opening match of the Castle Double Malt Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour.

Prop Siale Lauaki and inside back Josh Jacomb look set to make their All Blacks debut from the bench, while seven other All Blacks will be making their first appearance in the black jersey this year: forwards Ollie Norris, Fabian Holland, Simon Parker and Ethan Blackadder; and Kyle Preston, Beauden Barrett and Rieko Ioane in the backs.

Lock Patrick Tuipulotu will captain the All Blacks for the second time after previously captaining the side against Japan in October 2024.

“Firstly, I want to congratulate the new All Blacks Siale and Josh,” said Rennie. “It will be a very exciting and proud day for them and their families.

“We’ve had a great welcome in Cape Town and we’re excited to get this tour underway.

“We are really pleased with how our leaders, including match day captain Patrick and tour captain Codie, have prepared the group. We can’t wait for Friday.

“We’re well aware of how good this Stormers side is. They made the semifinals of the United Rugby Championship last year and they are a big, physical side with a mix of talented youngsters and Springboks, so we are preparing for a real war of attrition.”

MATCH FACTS

• The All Blacks will be playing an historic first ever match against the DHL Stormers. The team played their predecessor Western Province five times, for three wins (1949, 1960 and 1970) and two losses to the All Blacks in 1928 and 1976.

• The Stormers match will be the All Blacks second appearance at DHL Stadium. All 10 previous Test matches in Cape Town were played at Newlands.

• In total the All Blacks have played 25 times in Cape Town, for 17 wins, seven losses and one draw.

DHL Stormers starting XV: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Ruhan Nel (capt), 12 Jonathan Roche, 11 Leolin Zas; 10 Yaqeen Ahmed, 9 Imad Khan; 8 Evan Roos, 7 Hacjivah Dayimani, 6 Deon Fourie; 5 Connor Evans, 4 Adré Smith; 3 Neethling Fouché, 2 André-Hugo Venter, 1 Vernon Matongo. Replacements: 16 JJ Kotzé, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Ruan Ackermann, 20 Keke Morabe, 21 Wandile Mlaba, 22 Dewaldt Duvenage, 23 Wandisile Simelane.

All Black starting XV: 15 Josh Moorby, 14 Leroy Carter, 13 Billy Proctor, 12 Anton Lienert-Brown, 11 Rieko Ioane; 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Cortez Ratima; 8 Wallace Sititi, 7 Peter Lakai, 6 Simon Parker; 5 Patrick Tuipulotu (capt), 4 Fabian Holland; 3 Pasilio Tosi, 2 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 1 George Bower. Replacements: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 Ollie Norris, 18 Siale Lauaki, 19 Sam Darry, 20 Ethan Blackadder, 21 Kyle Preston, 22 Josh Jacomb, 23 Caleb Clarke.