DHL Stormers director of rugby John Dobson has made just one change to his starting team for Saturday’s Vodacom United Rugby Championship coastal derby against the Hollywoodbets Sharks in Cape Town.
The change comes on the wing, where the injury to Leolin Zas, who limped off in the second half of the 29-10 win over the Emirates Lions last Saturday, means that Seabelo Senatla comes back into the Stormers starting team for a home match for the first time since his career threatening motor accident a few days before the 2022/23 URC final against Munster.
After the win last week, it was largely anticipated that Dobson would go for the same starting team if all the players were fit, which is the case fortunately for inside centre Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
Your DHL Stormers team for the @Vodacom #URC coastal clash at DHL Stadium on Saturday.
— DHL Stormers (@THESTORMERS) December 27, 2024
📢 Team announcement https://t.co/8J1wpdAEzR
🎟️ Tickets here https://t.co/V9PrjEbCZJ#STOvSHA #iamastormer #dhldelivers #SummerSeries pic.twitter.com/3By5vETlGs
The Springbok came off after just 27 minutes of last week’s match with a hip pointer injury but was back in training on Monday and thus averted any potential headache for Dobson when it came to the composition of his backline.
The match will be the landmark 50th for fullback Warrick Gelant, who would have come close to challenging lock JD Schickerling for the man of the match award last week.
A DHL Stormers 5⃣0⃣ for the one and only @WarrickGelant. #iamastormer #dhldelivers #50up #boogie pic.twitter.com/pNd3UiENDy
— DHL Stormers (@THESTORMERS) December 27, 2024
You have never seen another rugby player like @WarrickGelant #iamastormer #dhldelivers pic.twitter.com/HXY38A5Bz9
— DHL Stormers (@THESTORMERS) December 27, 2024
Talking about lock, there is one change on the bench, with former Sharks stalwart Ruben van Heerden returning to the match day squad as a back up for Schickerling and Salmaan Moerat.
Adre Smith, who it is understood will be heading to Japan on a six month sabbatical in January, is the man who makes way for the return of Van Heerden.
Dobson has stuck with a six/two bomb squad split between forwards and backs on the bench, with Paul de Villiers being rewarded for his good impact against the Lions with another run as Deon Fourie’s back-up as openside fetcher.
Fourie, who made a winning return to the Stormers after eight months away rehabilitating from injury against the Lions, will continue as the team captain.
DHL Stormers team: Warrick Gelant, Suleiman Hartzenberg, Ruhan Nel, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Seabelo Senatla, Manie Libbok, Herschel Jantjies, Marcel Theunissen, Ben-Jason Dixon, Deon Fourie (captain), JD Schickerling, Salmaan Moerat, Frans Malherbe, Joseph Dweba, Ali Vermaak.
Replacements: Andre-Hugo Venter, Brok Harris, Neethling Fouche, Ruben van Heerden, Willie Engelbrecht, Paul de Villiers, Paul de Wet, Jean-Luc du Plessis.