Stormers make four changes for battle with Bulls

There are four changes to the DHL Stormers starting XV for the Vodacom United Rugby Championship Origin Round clash against the Vodacom Bulls in Pretoria on Saturday.

Two of the changes are in the backline, with the other two in the front row for the South African derby, which kicks off at 5pm on Saturday at Loftus Versfeld.

Wing Leolin Zas has recovered from the illness that ruled him out of the previous Origin Round clash with the Emirates Lions a fortnight ago, while the other change to the backline sees Stefan Ungerer come in at scrumhalf.

In the front row, hooker Joseph Dweba and tighthead prop Neethling Fouche both start, with the two most-capped DHL Stormers Brok Harris and Frans Malherbe set to come off the replacements bench.

Director of Rugby John Dobson said that his team is ready to give it all they have after two good weeks of preparation.

“Travelling to Loftus Versfeld is always an exciting challenge for a DHL Stormers team and we will need a full 80-minute performance to get the result we need.

“We have kept some good continuity and expect to see a higher standard across the board as we look to rise to what should be another big occasion,” he said.

Vodacom Bulls starting XV: 15 Devon Williams (Paarl Boys High), 14 Sebastian de Klerk (Laerskool Durbanville), 13 Stedman Gans (Hoërskool Waterkloof), 12 David Kriel (Eikestad Primary),11 Canan Moodie (Boland Landbou Laerskool George Suid); 10 Willie le Roux (Locnerhof Primary School), 9 Embrose Papier (Hoerskool Gaasfontein); 8 Nizaam Carr (Bishops School), 7 Reinhardt Ludwig (capt) (Afrikaans Hoër Seunskool), 6 Marco van Staden (Hoërskool Bekker); 5 JF van Heerden (Grey College), 4 Cobus Wiese (Hoërskool Upington); 3 Wilco Louw (Laerskool Wolseley/HTS Drostdy), 2 Johan Grobbelaar (Paarl Gymnasium), 1 Gerhard Steenekamp (Laerskool Mooirivier). Replacements: 16 Akker van der Merwe (Laerskool George Suid), 17 Jan-hendrik Wessels (Hoerskool Grey Kollege), 18 Francois Klopper (Winterton Primary School), 19 Ruan Vermaak (Wysneusies), 20 Celimpilo Gumede (Durban High School), 21 Zak Burger (Paarl Gimnasium), 22 Keagan Johannes (Laerskool Swartland Primary), 23 Sergeal Petersen (Grey High).

DHL Stormers starting XV: 15 Warrick Gelant (Outeniqua), 14 Ben Loader (Wellington College), 13 Wandisile Simelane (Jeppe), 12 Dan du Plessis (Paul Roos), 11 Leolin Zas (Hermanus); 10 Jurie Matthee (Paarl Gim), 9 Stefan Ungerer (Maritzburg College); 8 Evan Roos (Paarl Boys), 7 Ben-Jason Dixon (Paul Roos), 6 Deon Fourie (Pietersburg); 5 Ruben van Heerden (Affies), 4 Salmaan Moerat (capt) (Paarl Boys); 3 Neethling Fouche (Grey College), 2 Joseph Dweba (HTS Louis Botha), 1 Ali Vermaak (Hentie Cilliers). Replacements: 16 Andre-Hugo Venter (Grey College), 17 Brok Harris (Bastion), 18 Frans Malherbe (Paarl Boys), 19 Gary Porter (Michaelhouse), 20 Marcel Theunissen (Grey College), 21 Willie Engelbrecht (Die Wilgers), 22 Paul de Wet (Paarl Boys), 23 Jonathan Roche (Bishops).