The DHL Stormers have had to make a late change to their team for Saturday’s Vodacom URC clash with Ulster in Cape Town.
Inside centre Jonathan Roche has sustained an injury that has ruled him out on the eve of the game and Stormers director of rugby John Dobson has called 19-year-old Markus Muller in to play as his replacement.
Muller, who was a sensation at school level just last year, was one of six newcomers in the 37-man Springbok squad announced by national coach Rassie Erasmus earlier this week. He will play outside another new Bok selectee Yaqeen Ahmed, who will be wearing the Stormers No 10 in the crucial final game of this block of URC fixtures.
Ahmed only recently turned 20 so the Stormers will have two relatively inexperienced players standing together in the 10/12 playmaking axis. However, both players have oodles of talent as well as the lack of fear that often comes with youth.
It is not disclosed what injury was sustained by Roche, himself a highly skilled youngster, to rule him out of Saturday’s game. Muller started for the Stormers for the first time in last week’s fourth round clash with the Scarlets due to Roche struggling with a concussion sustained in the Investec Champions Cup clash with the Bristol Bears.
Change to our team to take on Ulster with Markus Muller coming in at 12 after Jonathan Roche was withdrawn due to injury. #inittogether #STOvULS @Vodacom #URC https://t.co/EORHWQ3L5a
— DHL Stormers (@THESTORMERS) October 30, 2026
Muller will benefit against Ulster from having the vastly experienced outside centre and Stormers captain Ruhan Nel alongside him in the midfield. Nel did not play in last week’s match.
DHL Stormers team: Damian Willemse, Seabelo Senatla, Ruhan Nel (captain), Markus Muller, Leolin Zas, Yaqeen Ahmed, Cobus Reinach, Evan Roos, Louw Nel, Paul de Villiers, JD Schickerling, Adré Smith, Wilco Louw, Vernon Paulo, Ntuthuko Mchunu. Replacements: Bongi Mbonambi, Vernon Matongo, Neethling Fouché, Riley Norton, Connor Evans, Wandile Mlaba, Haashim Pead, Wandisile Simelane.