DHL Stormers director of rugby John Dobson has shown off the greater flexibility that players returning from injury have given him with his selection for Sunday’s Vodacom URC clash with the Dragons in Cape Town.
For much of the season Dobson has had to mix and match at the back because of the absence of players because of long term injuries. For instance, Wandisile Simelane has often found himself at fullback in addition to outside centre while when he has been fit Ruhan Nel, usually an outside centre, has occasionally found himself wearing the No 12 when Simelane as worn the No 13.
That was in the absence of the experienced Dan du Plessis, who has been out of rugby for quite some time, but Du Plessis returns to action this week to resume his longstanding partnership with skipper Nel. The pair haven’t played together for a while but they’ve played as a partnership since 2018 and Nel is aware of a record that the duo are homing in on.
“We are apparently the second most paired midfield in Stormers history behind I think it was De Wet Barry and Marius Joubert so that is something we are proud of,” said the Stormers captain.
The resumption of their partnership means that Damian Willemse this week will replace Warrick Gelant at fullback, a move that is obviously designed to give Willemse some game time in a position he often plays at international level and also give Du Plessis a chance to get some match fitness.
Another player from the Stormers’ first title winning season in the URC who is joining Du Plessis in returning this week is wing Seabelo Senatla, who replaces Suleiman Hartzenberg, while Evan Roos is also back at No 8 after missing last week’s win at Loftus over the Vodacom Bulls with a hip pointer injury.
Marcel Theunissen was outstanding as his replacement so he doesn’t miss out this week - he just moves to blindside flank, with Ben-Jason Dixon moving to the replacement’s bench.
“Ben-Jason has played a lot of minutes for us, which has been great, and he is also covering lock for us in this game, while we felt that after his excellent game in Pretoria we would give Marcel a chance to build some further momentum,” said Stormers forward coach Rito Hlungwani.
“Deon (Fourie) continues at openside flank because we felt that after seeing him play 35 minutes last week we would give him another chance to build further playing capacity as he has been out for a long time with injury.”
Vernon Matongo, so outstanding every time he comes onto the field as a replacement, slots into the starting loosehead position this week, with Ntuthuko Mchunu, who was good last week against the Bulls, moving into Matongo’s position on the bench. JJ Kotze is rotated with Andre-Hugo Venter at hooker to complete the changes to the pack.
There is one other backline change, with Stefan Ungerer moving to the bench in what looks a rotational move to allow Imad Khan a chance to start.
Here is your DHL Stormers team for Super Sunday at DHL Stadium.
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Meanwhile the Stormers’ depth will get a proper airing on Sunday for the Cape Town rugby faithful as the Stormers XXIII, as what used to be the Western Province Currie Cup team and the new under-23 team will be known, will face the touring team from the USA, the Seattle Sunwolves, in a friendly game immediately after the end of the URC game.
It is interesting to note some players returning to the playing field from long injury absences in that game, including looseforward Keke Morabe, who has been out since sustaining a serious leg injury in the 2024 Investec Champions Cup game against Toulon in Gqeberha, and utility back Jean-Luc du Plessis is on the bench.
Morabe will start at No 8 in a back row that also includes the fit again Divan Fuller, while there are several other fringe players, such as flyhalf Jurie Matthee, the locks Gary Porter and Connor Evans plus backline players Jonathan Roche and Suleiman Hartzenberg who were involved in last week’s win in Pretoria.
Former Cheetahs and NWU Varsity Cup winning hooker Vernon Paulo will make his debut as a Stormers aligned player by playing off the bench in that game. JC Mars, a young player who is probably the next cab off the rank as a fullback but who hasn’t played much for the Stormers, will wear the No 15 jersey and it will be interesting to see how he goes. Former Scotland international Oli Kebble will line up against the Americans as the starting loosehead.
DHL Stormers teams to play Dragons and Seattle Sunwolves at DHL Stadium on Sunday
DHL Stormers (to play Dragons in Vodacom URC): Damian Willemse, Seabelo Senatla, Ruhan Nel (captain), Dan du Plessis, Leolin Zas, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Imad Khan, Evan Roos, Marcel Theunissen, Deon Fourie, JD Schickerling, Adré Smith, Neethling Fouché, JJ Kotzé, Vernon Matongo. Replacements: André-Hugo VenterNtuthuko Mchunu, Sazi Sandi, Ben-Jason Dixon, Paul de Villiers, Hacjivah Dayimani, Stefan Ungerer, Wandisile Simelane.
DHL Stormers XXIII (to play Seattle Sunwolves in friendly match): JC Mars, Suleiman Hartzenberg, Josh Boulle, Jonathan Roche, Joel Leotlela, Jurie Matthee, Dewaldt Duvenage, Keke Morabe, Divan Fuller, Louw Nel, Gary Porter, Connor Evans, Herman Lubbe, Lukhanyo Vokozela, Oli Kebble. Replacements: Luca Bakkes, Olly Reid, Hencus van Wyk, Vernon Paulo, Tom Barnard, Reuben Kruger, Torren February, Adeeb Borraine, Jean-Luc du Plessis, Luke Burger, Bruce Sherwood, Mfundo Ndhlovu.