It’s a sign of how well DHL Stormers coach John Dobson has developed his squad depth that he can call out a much changed team for Friday night’s opening Investec Champions Cup clash with Bayonne and it doesn’t set off the alarm bells that usually ring when a team is under-strength.
In all Dobson has made seven changes to the team that started last weekend’s excellent come from behind Vodacom United Rugby Championship win over Munster in Limerick. While for instance star No 8 Evan Roos is playing off the bench this time, the fact that Ruan Ackermann will be at the back of the scrum means the Cape side still has plenty of experience in the position.
Former Hollywoodbets Sharks Springbok Ntuthuko Mchunu also hardly weakens an impressive front row as he comes in for his first game as a replacement for Vernon Matongo, who is rested this week, with the experienced Ali Vermaak backing up this time as part of yet another formidable Stormers bench. Oli Kebble, who made his return to the Stormers squad last week after a few years overseas during which time he was capped for Scotland, isn’t part of the match 23 in Bayonne.
There was some debate during the week whether the six/two split when applied to the Stormers should be known as a ‘bomb squad’ or changed to ‘storm squad’, but it doesn’t matter - it features some of the same power players as last week, namely Adre Smith, JD Schickerling and Sazi Sandi, plus now Roos and Vermaak. Hooker Lukhanyo Vokozela will be making his debut for the Stormers from the bench, with JJ Kotze starting this week in the front row instead of Bok capped Andre-Hugo Venter.
There are three changes at the back, with Dan du Plessis returning to replace Ruhan Nel’s experience with similar experience, while Wandisile Simelane will want to continue the good attacking form of last week on his outside. Dylan Maart, the Griquas wing who is on loan, scored a try on debut and deserves another start, with the other changes to the backs being at halfback, where young scrumhalf Imad Khan partners Clinton Swart, on loan from the Pumas.
Swart would appear an odd selection unless Jurie Matthee, a settled alternative to Feinberg-Mngomezulu in the No 10 jersey and solid in last week’s win, is unavailable because of injury or for some other reason. Dobson was set to hold a press conference explaining his decisions later on Thursday.
Apart from the selection of Kotze and Ackermann in the starting team after they were both bench players last week, and Mchunu coming in for his debut, the other change to the pack is the return of Bok blindside flank Ben-Jason Dixon to the No 7 jersey.
Speaking of experience, the ever-green Dewaldt Duvenage continues his role as the scrumhalf backup, but the outside back reserve in the six/two split this week is Jonathan Roche, the young centre who had an impressive breakthrough season last year but has been injured up to this point for the new season.
Our team for the Investec Champions Cup opener in Bayonne on Friday night.
— DHL Stormers (@THESTORMERS) December 4, 2025
📢 Team announcement https://t.co/VeIXcChg8u
📺 Watch it live on @SuperSportTV #BAYvSTO #inittogether pic.twitter.com/0io1UnME0S
Captain Salmaan Moerat makes his 50th start for the team as he again partners Connor Evans at lock.
Dobson said that his team understands the magnitude of the challenge in Bayonne.
“We are up against a team with an impressive home record and it will require a big performance to start this competition with a win away from home.
“We are excited about some of the new combinations and feel we are well set up to maintain full intensity for 80 minutes on Friday night,” he said.
DHL Stormers: Warrick Gelant, Dylan Maart, Wandisile Simelane, Dan du Plessis, Leolin Zas, Clinton Swart, Imad Khan, Ruan Ackermann, Ben-Jason Dixon, Paul de Villiers, Connor Evans, Salmaan Moerat (captain), Neethling Fouché, JJ Kotzé, Ntuthuko Mchunu.
Replacements: Lukhanyo Vokozela, Ali Vermaak, Sazi Sandi, Adré Smith, JD Schickerling, Evan Roos, Dewaldt Duvenage, Jonathan Roche.