Redemption and URC momentum on the line as Stormers reshuffle for Sharks return clash

Stormers director of rugby John Dobson has made sweeping changes to his side for Saturday’s decisive United Rugby Championship (URC) coastal derby return clash against the Sharks at Kings Park.

With a four-week Six Nations break approaching, the Stormers head to Durban (5pm kick-off) in search of valuable momentum after a shock home defeat to the Sharks last weekend.

Heading to the Shark Tank, the Stormers will line up with Springbok Damian Willemse at fullback. He replaces Warrick Gelant, who drops to the bench. In the midfield, rookie Jonathan Roche partners Wandisile Simelane, while speedster Dylan Maart takes the place of the underperforming Suleiman Hartzenberg.

Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu continues to captain the team from flyhalf, while his combination with veteran Springbok and former Sharks star Cobus Reinach will come under close scrutiny. The pair were outplayed by brothers Jaden and Jordan Hendrikse last weekend and will be eager to set the record straight, particularly after the Stormers’ misfiring attack.

Up front, the return of eighthman Evan Roos and lock Adré Smith adds much-needed physicality on both defence and attack. The absence of the injured Salmaan Moerat allows Smith to assume a more prominent enforcer role. Smith and fellow lock Ruben van Heerden will also be looking to improve the lineout performance alongside hooker André-Hugo Venter.

Loosehead prop Oli Kebble steps into the starting XV, with Springbok Ntuthuko Mchunu dropping to the bench to provide second-half impact alongside Zachary Porthen and JD Schickerling.

Dobson said his team would go all out to secure an away victory heading into the break.

“Playing back-to-back derbies against the same opposition is a fairly unique situation, and we are desperate to put in a more convincing performance than we managed at home last week,” he said.

“We have been boosted by the return from injury of some key players, and you can be sure that all 23 will be going out there to show what it means to play in our jersey for our fans.”

Stormers XV

15 Damian Willemse, 14 Dylan Maart, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Jonathan Roche, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (captain), 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 Adré Smith, 3 Neethling Fouché, 2 André-Hugo Venter, 1 Oli Kebble.

Replacements: 16 JJ Kotzé, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Zachary Porthen, 19 JD Schickerling, 20 Marcel Theunissen, 21 Stefan Ungerer, 22 Jurie Matthee, 23 Warrick Gelant.