Stormers Out To Maintain Unbeaten Run As The Lions Come To Town
The DHL Stormers – the most in-form side in world rugby – will be looking to make it nine consecutive wins this season when the South African derby against the Lions at DHL Stadium on Saturday.
The Cape Town side have won all their games across all competitions this season and will want to maintain their unbeaten start as they look to make it seven wins from seven in the United Rugby Championship following their two from two record in the Investec Champions Cup.
Neethling Fouché – who is set to make his 100th appearance for the Stormers at his homeground in front of friends and family – is joined in the front row by fellow Springbok André-Hugo Venter and Vernon Matongo, while in the second row Ruben van Heerden returns from injury to start alongside captain Salmaan Moerat.
The only change to the loose trio sees Marcel Theunissen come into the starting line-up, with Springboks Ben-Jason Dixon and Ntuthuko Mchunu among the six forwards on the replacements bench.
Injuries to Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (groin) and Ruhan Nel (calf) have forced some changes to the backline, with Jurie Matthee back in at flyhalf and Jonathan Roche linking up with Wandisile Simelane in midfield.
Suleiman Hartzenberg is set to make his return from injury in the second half, with scrumhalf Stefan Ungerer the other back on the replacements bench.
The Lions come into the game following consecutive defeats in the EPCR Challenge Cup to Benetton at home and Newcastle Red Bulls at Kingston Park.
In both games, the Lions dominated proceedings but contrived to lose when victory seemed certain. The defeat against Newcastle in particular will be seen as a massive blow to their Challenge Cup prospects when they dominated every facet.
Before those defeats, the Lions were on a hot run of form in the United Rugby Championship – where they currently occupy seventh place on the table – as they secured massive wins over Scarlets and Ulster at Ellis Park – as well as the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld.
Stormers head coach John Dobson said that his team is looking forward to being back at DHL Stadium.
“We have not played at DHL Stadium since early October, and it is a big South African derby, so it should be a great day out for everyone.
“We have been disrupted by some injury concerns this week, but have confidence that every player selected will rise to the occasion,” he said.
Dobson paid tribute to Fouché on reaching this significant milestone.
“The only other props to have reached 100 caps for the DHL Stormers are Brok Harris, Frans Malherbe, and Steven Kitshoff. Neethling is close with all three of them and fully deserves his status alongside them as one of the most dedicated and passionate to have pulled on the jersey,” he said.
DHL Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Dylan Maart, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Jonathan Roche, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Jurie Matthee, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Marcel Theunissen, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 Salmaan Moerat (captain), 3 Neethling Fouché, 2 André-Hugo Venter, 1 Vernon Matongo.
Replacements: 16 Lukhanyo Vokozela, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Adré Smith, 20 JD Schickerling, 21 Ben-Jason Dixon, 22 Stefan Ungerer, 23 Suleiman Hartzenberg.
