Midfielder Ruhan Nel leads the DHL Stormers into their first Vodacom United Rugby Championship battle on Friday night at Cape Town’s DHL Stadium, hoping to kick off the new season on a high note against defending champions Leinster.
While the Irish side will be without their British and Irish Lions players, the blockbuster clash is eagerly anticipated with the Stormers patching together a team without Springboks and several players because of injuries.
Nel was the obvious choice to lead the team, while there are debuts for Ruan Ackermann, who joined the team from Gloucester, and Pumas utility back Clinton Swart. There is also a very interesting debut for 19-year old prop Olly Reid - a player who coach John Dobson describes as Kitshoff-esque, due to the striking similarities with a young Steven Kitshoff.
Reid isn’t the only youngster in the 23-man squad - highly rated loosehead Vernon Matongo is there, as is former SA under-20 captain Zachary Porthen, the latter who joins Reid on the bench as the second half impact squad.
Without players like Warrick Gelant and Deon Fourie available, the Stormers are short a few older heads, and have had to patch some holes.
That is why Wandisile Simelane moves to fullback, a position he was quite vocal about not enjoying when he was at the Bulls. Leolin Zas and Seabelo Senatla are on the wings and there is a familiar look with Nel and Dan du Plessis in the midfield.
Jurie Mathee and Stefan Ungerer have enough experience at halfback while veteran Dewaldt Duwenhage and Swart are on the replacements bench.
Matongo will pack down alongside Boks Neethling Fouche and Andre-Hugo Venter while JD Schickerling and Adre Smith make up the second row.
The formidable pack is completed by Evan Roos, Ben-Jason Dixon and rising star Paul de Villiers. Ackermann is on the bench.
Director of Rugby John Dobson said that after a full pre-season, his team is determined to hit the ground running at home.
“There has been a lot of hard work put in from players and management to get to this point and we are all very excited to get going.
“Playing the defending champions at home means that we will have to be on our game to get the result we want, and we know we will have our fans right behind us as always.
“With Salmaan Moerat and Deon Fourie sidelined with injuries, Ruhan was the natural choice to take over as captain, and we know the team will be in good hands on the field. He has been part of the leadership group for some time and is completely aligned with the coaching team in terms of the way we want to play,” he said.
TEAM: Wandisile Simelane, Seabelo Senatla, Ruhan Nel (captain), Dan du Plessis, Leolin Zas; Jurie Matthee, Stefan Ungerer; Evan Roos, Ben-Jason Dixon, Paul de Villiers, JD Schickerling, Adre Smith, Neethling Fouche, Andre-Hugo Venter, Vernon Matongo.
REPLACEMENTS: JJ Kotze, Olly Reid, Zachary Porthen, Ruben van Heerden, Ruan Ackermann, Marcel Theunissen, Dewaldt Duvenage, Clinton Swart.