DHL Stormers welcome back experience for Loftus battle

The DHL Stormers welcome back three players with over 100 caps for the club in their Vodacom URC derby against the Vodacom Bulls at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

Centurions Neethling Fouché, Deon Fourie and Damian Willemse are all in the starting line-up, along with Ruhan Nel who takes over the captaincy for the North-South clash, which kicks off at 2pm on Saturday in Pretoria.

Nel will line up in the midfield alongside Willemse, with Suleiman Hartzenberg on the right wing in the other change to the starting backline. Scrumhalf Imad Khan, centre Jonathan Roche and utility back Wandisile Simelane are on the replacements bench.

In the front row, Fouché will link up with fellow Springboks André-Hugo Venter and Ntuthuko Mchunu, with JJ Kotzé, Vernon Matongo and Sazi Sandi set to make an impact in the second half.

The second row is unchanged, while in the loose trio Marcel Theunissen comes in for the injured Evan Roos and joins Fourie and Ben-Jason Dixon, with both Paul de Villiers and Hacjivah Dayimani set to be unleashed from the replacements bench.

Director of Rugby John Dobson said that the return of the likes of Nel, Fourie, Willemse and Fouché is a big boost ahead of a crucial game.

“It is fantastic to have these experienced players back in the mix this week. They have all played in many big games like this, and their presence will lift those around them as well.

“We are also really excited about the impact the players on the replacements bench will make. We know that it will take a huge effort from all 23 to get the result we need this weekend,” he said.

Vodacom Bulls starting XV: 15 David Kriel, 14 Sebastian de Klerk, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse; 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Embrose Papier; 8 Jeandre Rudolph, 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Marcell Coetzee (capt); 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Ruan Vermaak; 3 Wilco louw, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp. Replacements: 16 Jan Hendrik Wessels, 17 Alu Tshakweni, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Cobus Wiese, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Marco van Staden, 22 Paul de Wet, 23 Willie le Roux.

DHL Stormers starting XV: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 13 Ruhan Nel (capt), 12 Damian Willemse, 11 Leolin Zas; 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Stefan Ungerer; 8 Marcel Theunissen, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Deon Fourie; 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Adré Smith; 3 Neethling Fouché, 2 André-Hugo Venter, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu. Replacements: 16 JJ Kotzé, 17 Vernon Matongo, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Paul de Villiers, 20 Hacjivah Dayimani, 21 Imad Khan, 22 Jonathan Roche, 23 Wandisile Simelane.

SATURDAY

ROUND 8

Vodacom Bulls v DHL Stormers

Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria – KO 12pm IRE & UK/1pm ITA/2pm SA

Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU, 28th league game)

AR 1: Morne Ferreira (SARU) AR 2: Griffin Colby (SARU)

TMO: Marius Jonker (SARU)

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