Stormers centre and captain Ruhan Nel will be itching to get onto the field against the Bulls on Saturday after a lengthy injury layoff.
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The Stormers have received a timely boost ahead of their North-South derby against the Bulls, with captain Ruhan Nel among several experienced campaigners returning for Saturday’s United Rugby Championship (URC) clash in Pretoria.
Centurions Neethling Fouché, Deon Fourie, and Damian Willemse are all named in the starting XV, alongside Nel, who resumes the captaincy for the high-stakes derby at Loftus Versfeld (2pm kick-off).
Nel will line up in the midfield with Willemse. They will be tasked with sharpening up the defence against the Bulls’ powerful attack, and also with creating opportunities out wide for the Stormers’ dangerous back-three.
Suleiman Hartzenberg starts on the right wing in the only change to the starting backline, joining fellow speedster Leolin Zas and fullback Warrick Gelant in a lively backfield combination.
Up front, Fouché packs down alongside fellow Springboks André-Hugo Venter and loosehead Ntuthuko Mchunu in the front row. Replacement hooker JJ Kotzé is joined on the bench by props Vernon Matongo and Sazi Sandi, who are set to provide impact in the second half.
The second row remains unchanged, with lineout specialist JD Schickerling partnering the combative Adré Smith. In the loose trio, Marcel Theunissen comes in for the injured Evan Roos and joins Fourie and Ben-Jason Dixon in the back row.
Dynamic forwards Paul de Villiers and Hacjivah Dayimani are expected to bring energy off the bench, while scrumhalf Imad Khan, centre Jonathan Roche and versatile back Wandisile Simelane provide backline cover.
Director of rugby John Dobson said the return of several experienced players comes at the perfect time ahead of a crucial derby.
“It is fantastic to have these experienced players back in the mix this week. They have all played in many big games like this, and their presence will lift those around them as well.
“We are also really excited about the impact the players on the replacements bench will make. We know that it will take a huge effort from all 23 to get the result we need this weekend.”
Stormers XV
15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 13 Ruhan Nel (captain), 12 Damian Willemse, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Marcel Theunissen, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Deon Fourie, 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Adré Smith, 3 Neethling Fouché, 2 André-Hugo Venter, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu.
Replacements: 16 JJ Kotzé, 17 Vernon Matongo, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Paul de Villiers, 20 Hacjivah Dayimani, 21 Imad Khan, 22 Jonathan Roche, 23 Wandisile Simelane.