Willemse and Feinberg-Mngomezulu start for Stormers against Scarlets

Springboks Damian Willemse and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu will feature for the DHL Stormers for the first time this season in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship encounter with Scarlets in Llanelli on Friday.

There are several changes to the team this week as they look to make it three consecutive wins this season in their first tour game, which kicks off at 8.45pm (SAST) on Friday night.

Willemse slots in at fullback, with Wandisile Simelane at outside centre and captain Ruhan Nel shifting to inside centre, alongside flyhalf Feinberg-Mngomezulu.

In the forward pack flanks Paul de Villiers and Ben-Jason Dixon are back in the starting line-up, while there are first starts this season for lock Ruben van Heerden, hooker JJ Kotzé and props Sazi Sandi and Ali Vermaak.

The replacements bench features experienced flank Deon Fourie and talented scrumhalf Imad Khan, who are both in line to take the field in a Stormers jersey for the first time this season.

Director of Rugby John Dobson said that after two good wins at home, the focus is on getting the tour off to a positive start.

“It has been an encouraging start to the season and we are determined to build on that in this first tour game. There are a few areas that we want to improve on and our preparations have obviously been limited by the travel this week.

“We have got some good players coming in from the national team and some who have been in our squad and are making their first starts. We know that everyone will have to be on their game for this one for us to continue the winning momentum on the road,” he said.

Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel said: “Stormers have been very good so far. We all know how dangerous they are in terms of broken field and transition play but they also have real strength up front and that is the challenge. It is about putting in a performance and competing, being brave with and without the ball. Injuries haven’t helped our preparation, we have a smaller squad this season and it does test your depth but it also provides opportunities for younger players, who have shown that they are ready and hungry for their chance.”

DHL Stormers starting XV: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Ruhan Nel (capt), 11 Leolin Zas; 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Stefan Ungerer; 8 Evan Roos, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Paul de Villiers; 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 JD Schickerling; 3 Sazi Sandi, 2 JJ Kotzé, 1 Ali Vermaak. Replacements: 16 André-Hugo Venter, 17 Vernon Matongo, 18 Zachary Porthen, 19 Connor Evans, 20 Marcel Theunissen, 21 Deon Fourie, 22 Imad Khan, 23 Jurie Matthee.

FRIDAY

Scarlets v DHL Stormers

Parc Y Scarlets, Llanelli – KO 7.45pm IRE & UK/8.45pm ITA & SA

Referee: Federico Vedovelli (FIR, 16th league game)

AR 1: Ben Connor (WRU) AR 2: Carwyn Sion (WRU)

TMO: Stefano Penne (FIR)

Live on: S4C, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv