The DHL Stormers will have their sights set on continuing their formidable form this season when they line up against severely weakened Stade Rochelais in round two of the Investec Champions Cup on Saturday at 15:00 in Gqeberha.
The DHL Stormers will be wary of their French visitors at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium following their 39-20 victory against the Leicester Tigers last week, which saw the two-time former Champions Cup winners top the table. However, the French giants have struggled on the road this season, losing five of their six away games across all competitions.
La Rochelle's coach, Ronan O’Gara, has called on 15 academy graduates, with several senior internationals rested after what the club has described as a draining logistical schedule.
That said, the Capetonians have been in red-hot form this season, winning all six of their Vodacom United Rugby Championship matches, which has seen them remain the only unbeaten team in the competition, while their impressive 26-17 victory against Bayonne in France last week will boost their confidence even more.
The teams have a history of tight, physical encounters. Their last two meetings in the Champions Cup saw the Stormers win one match 21-20 and Stade Rochelais win the other 22-21, highlighting the intensity of their rivalry.
The match is anticipated to be a "bone-jarring" scrum battle, with both teams facing front-row injury concerns.
The Stormers are boosted by the return of several Springboks to their line-up, while Stade Rochelais welcomes back Jonathan Danty from suspension.
The Stormers will look to leverage their strong home form and the support of a large crowd at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
There are nine Springboks in the DHL Stormers starting line-up. Warrick Gelant, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Cobus Reinach, Evan Roos and André-Hugo Venter all come into the starting XV for the clash with the two-time champions, which kicks off at 15h00 on Saturday in Gqeberha.
Gelant has recovered from the illness which saw him ruled out on matchday ahead of the 26-17 win against Bayonne last week and will have wings Dylan Maart and Leolin Zas with him at the back.
Ruhan Nel is also back in the starting team and forms a midfield partnership with Jonathan Roche, with Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Reinach the halfback pairing.
Evan Roos starts this week after providing impact from the bench in Bayonne and resumes his combination with flanks Ban-Jason Dixon and Paul de Villiers.
JD Schickerling starts alongside captain Salmaan Moerat in the second row, while up front Venter starts with Springbok props Ntuthuko Mchunu and Neethling Fouché either side of him.
The replacements bench includes the likes of hooker JJ Kotzé, lock Connor Evans, loose forward Ruan Ackermann, scrumhalf Imad Khan and utility back Wandisile Simelane, who all started in Bayonne last week. They are joined by props Oli Kebble and Sazi Sandi and loose forward Marcel Theunissen.
Teams:
DHL Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Dylan Maart, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Jonathan Roche, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Salmaan Moerat (c), 3 Neethling Fouché, 2 André-Hugo Venter, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu. Replacements: 16 JJ Kotzé, 17 Oli Kebble, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Connor Evans, 20 Ruan Ackermann, 21 Marcel Theunissen, 22 Imad Khan, 23 Wandisile Simelane
Stade Rochelais: 15 Nathan Bollengier, 14 Suliasi Vunivalu, 13 Adrien Seguret, 12 Simeli Daunivucu, 11 Hoani Bosmorin, 10 Diego Jurd, 9 Nolhann Couillaud, 8 Lucas Andjisseramatchi (c), 7 Kirill Fraindt, 6 Charles Kante Samba, 5 Kane Douglas, 4 Ultan Dillane, 3 Karl Sorin, 2 Quentin Lespiaucq, 1 Reda Wardi. Replacements: 16 Nikoloz Sutidze, 17 Christian Luaki, 18 Joel Sclavi, 19 Simon Huchet, 20 Aleksandre Kuntelia, 21 Edouard Richer, 22 Thomas Berjon, 23 Dillyn Leyds.