Senatla comeback completed and Fouche leads in Gqeberha

Substance was added to the bones of the remarkable comeback to rugby of former Blitzbok Seabelo Senatla when the wing was included in the DHL Stormers match day squad for Saturday’s opening Investec Champions Cup clash with Toulon in Gqeberha.

Senatla is one of two backs chosen on the bench for the match with the French giants at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, scrumhalf Herschel Jantjies being the other. It was announced on Thursday that Senatla, who was involved in a horrific car accident in 2023 and has been out of rugby for a year and a half, had recovered so well from the injuries and trauma that he has been awarded a new deal with the Cape franchise.

Senatla’s inclusion in the Stormers’ Championship squad for the Champions Cup competition was unfortunately at the expense of two World Cup-winning Springboks, Damian Willemse and Steven Kitshoff, both of whom have long term injuries and were removed from the squad.

In the stand-out selections for Saturday’s game, Jean-Luc du Plessis comes into the starting team at inside centre following the injury that has ruled out the Stormers captain from the first part of this season, Jean Luc’s cousin Dan. Young Jonathan Roche has been added to the Stormers Champions Cup squad but will not feature in this game.

Tighthead prop Neethling Fouche, who was a stand-out performer for the Stormers in the narrow Vodacom United Rugby Championship loss to the Hollywoodbets Sharks last week, replaces Du Plessis as captain.

Fouche will line up alongside hooker Joseph Dweba in the front row, with Dweba earning his 50 cap in this game, as does No 8 Willie Engelbrecht. In what can be considered an interesting selection Keke Morabe, normally a No 8, comes into the starting team after playing off the bench last week in what for him is the less familiar position of openside flank.

No 6 has been a problem area for the Stormers this season and it can be assumed Stormers director of rugby John Dobson has selected Morabe in that role to be abrasive and strong over the ball at the breakdowns. Regular Stormers openside flank Deon Fourie is expected to return from a long term injury lay-off later in this month.

Morabe replaces Dave Ewers on the flank while Engelbrecht is in for Marcel Theunissen, who moves to the bench. Manie Libbok finished the game last week due to the injury to Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and will wear the No 10 jersey at a stadium where he excelled against the Dragons two years ago.

The only other change to the Stormers team that started in Durban last weekend is the return of Paul de Wet at scrumhalf for Jantjies. The tight five that did so well against the Sharks in the set-pieces has been retained. Leon Lyons though has been brought in as a prop replacement for veteran Brok Harris.

DHL STORMERS TEAM: Warrick Gelant, Suleiman Hartzenberg, Ruhan Nel, Jean-Luc du Plessis, Leolin Zas, Manie Libbok, Paul de Wet, Willie Engelbrecht, Ben-Jason Dixon, Keke Morabe, Ruben van Heerden, JD Schickerling, Neethling Fouche, Joseph Dweba, Ali Vermaak.

REPLACEMENTS: Andre-Hugo Venter, Leon Lyons, Sazi Sandi, Adre Smith, Marcel Theunissen, Louw Nel, Herschel Jantjies.