Stormers change up as experience returns for Lions game

It looks far from being the anticipated full strength first choice team but the DHL Stormers have welcomed back a raft of experienced players to the starting side for Saturday’s final Kick Off 2021 clash with the Emirates Lions at Cape Town Stadium.

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Lock Salmaan Moerat again leads the team and it includes several of the players who were first choice operators at the end of the Currie Cup season but also a smattering of newcomers. Among the latter is flyhalf Abner van Reenen, who plays ahead of Kade Wolhuter this week as he presses his case for a place in the Stormers’ Rainbow Cup plans. Halfback is an example of the selection being a mix between experience and youth as Van Reenen will be partnered by Springbok World Cup scrumhalf Herschel Jantjies.

Sergeal Petersen and Seabelo Senatla both return to the team to join Damian Willemse in the back three, while Dan du Plessis makes his first appearance of the preparation series phase in his preferred position of inside centre. Ruhan Nel continues in the No 13 jersey, with the outside backs beyond Van Reenen looking close to full strength.

Up front JD Schickerling comes in to partner Moerat in what looks a strong front row. The pool of Stormers lock talent becomes even more formidable when you see the name Marvin Orie, the former Lions lock and a Springbok, on the bench. Also on the bench is an entire Bok World Cup winning front row in the form of Bongi Mbonambi, Steven Kitshoff and Frans Malherbe.

Evan Roos gets his first chance at No 8 as Juarno Augustus takes a rest this week while there should be some excitement at the inclusion of Nama Xaba, a genuine opensider who has plenty of promise, at No 6. With Marcel Theunissen on the bench, the Stormers suddenly seem quite well served when it comes to this mould of flanker. Ernst van Rhyn will pack down on the blindside flank.

The front row selected for this game is the same one that did well against the Cheetahs at the start of the competition but the prospect of Mbonambi, Kitshoff and Malherbe coming on late in the game is something that will give the Lions’ front-rankers something to mull over.

Dawie Snyman has prepared the team for this game as regular head coach John Dobson continues with his policy of giving the wider coaching group an opportunity to get experience in the role. Having Snyman running training will not be new to the Stormers players as Dobson, although his official designation as coach, has often had to spend his time focusing on the duties you’d normally expect the director of rugby to handle in recent times and Snyman has often taken a leading role at training as a result.

“We have got some exciting players coming in this week and the key will be to build on what the rest of the squad have done over the last few weeks,” said Snyman.

“It is great to be back at home at Cape Town Stadium and the whole squad is determined to make a big impression in our last preparation match.”

DHL Stormers team: Damian Willemse, Sergeal Petersen, Ruhan Nel, Dan du Plessis, Seabelo Senatla, Abner van Reenen, Herschel Jantjies, Evan Roos, Ernst van Rhyn, Nama Xaba, JD Schickerling, Salmaan Moerat (captain), Neethling Fouché, Scarra Ntubeni, Ali Vermaak.

Replacements (from): Bongi Mbonambi, Steven Kitshoff, Frans Malherbe, Marvin Orie, Marcel Theunissen, Paul de Wet, Kade Wolhuter, Lyle Hendricks, Chad Solomon, Cornel Smit.