Kolisi makes his Stormers comeback in Edinburgh

Siya Kolisi will play for the DHL Stormers for the first time in over five years in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship encounter with Edinburgh at the Hive Stadium on Friday night.

Having made his return to the team where he started his professional career, Kolisi will earn his 119th DHL Stormers cap when he runs out in Edinburgh for kick-off at 8.45pm SAST on Friday.

Kolisi starts at openside flank, with Louw Nel moving to blindside and Riley Norton in the second row. The only other change to the forward pack sees Ntuthuko Mchunu start in the front row this week.

In the backline, Stefan Ungerer and Yaqeen Ahmed come in at halfback to pull the strings.

There is one new face on the replacements bench, with Wandile Mlaba covering loose forward.

Director of Rugby John Dobson said that the focus is on ending the tour with a win before returning home to Cape Town for four consecutive home games.

“Last week’s performance against Connacht was encouraging in many ways, but we would like to see a more ruthless edge to our game, which we have worked on this week.

“We know that Edinburgh is a tough place to play and we have some experience coming in, with Siya, Ntuthuko and Stefan included along with Yaqeen Ahmed and Wandile Mlabaa, who are both really exciting young players.

“It will take a big effort from all 23 players to get the result before we go back to Cape Town for what will be a crucial period in the context of our season,” he said.

Edinburgh Rugby head coach Sean Everitt said: “We’re incredibly excited to be back playing in front of our fans; it has felt like a long time since we’ve had competitive rugby at our home and as a squad and staff we can’t wait to get out there tomorrow night.

"We know Stormers bring a different challenge, with physicality and directness from their forwards and a strong kicking game in their backs but it's a challenge we're going to meet head on.”

Meanwhile, speed sensation Lleyton Davids has signed a contract with the Stormers after an impressive pre-season showing.

Known affectionately as the ‘Robertson Express’, the three-time national triple jump champion first caught the eye playing club rugby for Robertson Town.

He was included in the Stormers’ pre-season preparations and scored an incredible try at Faure Street Stadium in Paarl in a practice match against the Vodacom Bulls.

Dobson said that Davids’ performances in training across pre-season was enough to confirm that he has serious potential.

“Lleyton obviously has searing out-and-out pace, having run a sub-11 second 100 metre barefoot but what he showed us in pre-season is that he has a real instinct for rugby.

“This is a great example of how our recruitment system is working. While players are being identified at a young age and the Stormers Rugby Institute is developing the best talent, there is still so much untapped potential in our region.

“I saw him playing for Robertson Town live and it was clear that he has something special. Now the onus is on us to develop him as a player to ensure that he can make an impact at a higher level.

“We want to ensure that all local players regardless of where they are playing can see a pathway to our squad. Credit must go to all involved in making this signing happen, especially his agent Shafiek Mouton who went above and beyond,” he said.

Davids said that being given an opportunity like this is incredibly exciting.

“Like any local boy, I grew up watching the DHL Stormers and training with the squad over the past months has been a dream come true.

“I have rubbed shoulders with some great players and I want to show that I can keep improving and that I belong in what is one of the strongest squads in world club rugby,” he said.

DHL Stormers starting XV: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Ruhan Nel (capt), 12 Jonathan Roche, 11 Leolin Zas; 10 Yaqeen Ahmed, 9 Stefan Ungerer; 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Louw Nel, 6 Siya Kolisi; 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Riley Norton; 3 Neethling Fouché, 2 André-Hugo Venter, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu. Replacements: 16 Vernon Paulo, 17 Vernon Matongo, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Connor Evans, 20 Adré Smith, 21 Wandile Mlaba, 22 Andre Warner, 23 Wandisile Simelane.

FRIDAY

Edinburgh Rugby v DHL Stormers

Hive Stadium, Edinburgh – KO 7.45pm IRE & UK/8.45pm ITA & SA

Referee: Eoghan Cross (IRFU, 41st league game)

AR 1: Jonny MacKenzie (SRU) AR 2: Ciaran Stark (SRU)

TMO: Paul Haycock (IRFU)

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