Neethling Fouché Tighthead prop Neethling Fouché is back in the starting line-up and will lead the Stormers against Ulster on Friday in Belfast. Photo: AFP
Image: Geoffroy Van der Hasselt/AFP
Suleiman Hartzenberg is keen to play at outside centre for the Stormers, and director of rugby John Dobson hopes that shuffling his team for Friday’s clash with Ulster brings the X-factor of the utility back to the fore.
The youngster returns from a broken hand, and is one of several changes to the side for the United Rugby Championship duel at the Kingspan Stadium (9.35pm start).
Fullback Warrick Gelant, captain Salmaan Moerat and Frans Malherbe are the notable players out, with only Malherbe taking a Bok-enforced breather.
Gelant and Moerat, stars in the previous match against the Scarlets, sustained injuries and were unavailable for selection.
Returning after the birth of his second child, tighthead prop Neethling Fouché is back in the starting line-up in the absence of Malherbe and will also captain the side.
Another surprise by Dobson was selecting Dewaldt Duvenage as the scrumhalf ahead of Paul de Wet, with the latter occupying the bench alongside flyhalf Jurie Matthee and utility back Wandisile Simelane.
“Salmaan and Warrick are injured. Salmaan has a foot injury, which luckily is not serious, while Warrick twisted his knee,” Dobson revealed.
“Alongside Deon (Fourie, concussion), those changes were enforced ones. We wanted to get scrumhalf Dewaldt on the field in these conditions... he knows it well. The referee too. That is a tactical change.”
Springbok utility back Damian Willemse starts for the first time in several months, and claims the fullback jersey from the mercurial Gelant, while loose forward Dave Ewers and lock Connor Evans are the changes up front for Fourie and Moerat.
Dobson said his team are keen to build on the momentum they’ve gained in their last two URC games, and he is excited about the trio of Willemse, Hartzenberg and flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
“It’s a very exciting trio that, even without Warrick and Manie (Libbok). I think Warrick has been brilliant for us. The way Sacha, Damian and Dan communicate, that axis is great.
“Given what conditions will look like on Friday, Damian is a good option at fullback. Hopefully, we won’t miss Warrick too much.
“Hopefully the conditions we are expecting don’t make this game a lottery, because if these guys can get running on a 4G pitch, it can be very exciting.”
Dobson wanted to go for the six-two bench split to favour the forwards, especially with the Irish conditions in mind.
But with three players recently returning from injury at the back, he opted for the three backline options on the bench.
“They haven’t played in so long, so we needed someone to cover at the back. That is why we went for the extra backline player,” said Dobson.
Stormers Team
15 Damian Willemse 14 Ben Loader 13 Suleiman Hartzenberg 12 Dan du Plessis 11 Leolin Zas 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu 9 Dewaldt Duvenage 8 Evan Roos 7 Marcel Theunissen 6 Dave Ewers 5 Ruben van Heerden 4 Connor Evans 3 Neethling Fouché (captain) 2 Joseph Dweba 1 Ali Vermaak.
Bench: 16 André-Hugo Venter 17 Brok Harris 18 Sazi Sandi 19 Gary Porter 20 Willie Engelbrecht 21 Paul de Wet 22 Jurie Matthee 23 Wandisile Simelane.