Stormers head honcho John Dobson has whipped up a whirlwind of changes for their clash against Benetton this Saturday in the picturesque Treviso. With a hefty eight modifications to the starting XV, the squad sees the return of powerhouse Bok lock Salmaan Moerat and the debut of the fleet-footed Springbok scrumhalf Cobus Reinach, who's itching to make sparks fly from the bench. All eyes are on this shake-up as the Stormers aim to bag a historic first win in Treviso and keep their immaculate season streak alive.
Dobson's strategic shuffle reintroduces Moerat, who will join forces with JD Schickerling in the second row, while the front row is bolstered by Sazi Sandi, André-Hugo Venter, and Vernon Matongo, all fit and ready to rumble. In the backline, the reliable Dewaldt Duvenage pairs up with Jurie Matthee at halfback, giving Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu a well-earned breather.
The bench isn't short of excitement either, featuring Oli Kebble who's set for his first Stormers appearance since 2017, alongside the much-anticipated Reinach. This game is not just about winning; it’s about laying down a marker, as the Stormers look to close out their tour with a flourish before the international break kicks in.
"We know just how tough it is to win in Treviso, so it will take a big effort to get the result we need,"
Dobson commented, emphasizing the challenge ahead. He continued, "The players coming in are all hungry to make an impression and we will be giving it everything to finish the tour with another win ahead of the international break. There are still several areas of our game we would like to improve, so this is an opportunity for us to build on the encouraging start we have made to the season."
The Stormers' lineup for Saturday is a blend of seasoned warriors and eager newcomers, poised to make a statement in European rugby. The starting team features Warrick Gelant at fullback, with Seabelo Senatla and Leolin Zas on the wings. Ruhan Nel captains the team, partnering with Damian Willemse in the midfield. Evan Roos, Ben-Jason Dixon, and Paul de Villiers make up a formidable loose trio, ensuring Benetton will have their work cut out for them.
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Stormers head honcho John Dobson has whipped up a whirlwind of changes for their clash against Benetton this Saturday in the picturesque Treviso. With a hefty eight modifications to the starting XV, the squad sees the return of powerhouse Bok lock Salmaan Moerat and the debut of the fleet-footed Springbok scrumhalf Cobus Reinach, who's itching to make sparks fly from the bench. All eyes are on this shake-up as the Stormers aim to bag a historic first win in Treviso and keep their immaculate season streak alive.
Dobson's strategic shuffle reintroduces Moerat, who will join forces with JD Schickerling in the second row, while the front row is bolstered by Sazi Sandi, André-Hugo Venter, and Vernon Matongo, all fit and ready to rumble. In the backline, the reliable Dewaldt Duvenage pairs up with Jurie Matthee at halfback, giving Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu a well-earned breather.
The bench isn't short of excitement either, featuring Oli Kebble who's set for his first Stormers appearance since 2017, alongside the much-anticipated Reinach. This game is not just about winning; it’s about laying down a marker, as the Stormers look to close out their tour with a flourish before the international break kicks in.
"We know just how tough it is to win in Treviso, so it will take a big effort to get the result we need,"
Dobson commented, emphasizing the challenge ahead. He continued, "The players coming in are all hungry to make an impression and we will be giving it everything to finish the tour with another win ahead of the international break. There are still several areas of our game we would like to improve, so this is an opportunity for us to build on the encouraging start we have made to the season."
The Stormers' lineup for Saturday is a blend of seasoned warriors and eager newcomers, poised to make a statement in European rugby. The starting team features Warrick Gelant at fullback, with Seabelo Senatla and Leolin Zas on the wings. Ruhan Nel captains the team, partnering with Damian Willemse in the midfield. Evan Roos, Ben-Jason Dixon, and Paul de Villiers make up a formidable loose trio, ensuring Benetton will have their work cut out for them.
STORMERS – Starting XV: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Ruhan Nel (c), 12 Damian Willemse, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Jurie Matthee, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Salmaan Moerat, 3 Sazi Sandi, 2 André-Hugo Venter, 1 Vernon Matongo. Bench: 16 JJ Kotze, 17 Oli Kebble, 18 Zachary Porthen, 19 Adré Smith, 20 Ruben van Heerden,