Photo Credit: Speedshots.co.za
The DHL Stormers will kick-off their match against the Toyota Cheetahs at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday at 17h15. The match signals the beginning of an exciting new era for the DHL Stormers at the iconic stadium in Greenpoint, which is their new home.
The experienced Chris Van Zyl leads a DHL Stormers team with a balance of exciting young talent and established performers, for the encounter with the Free State.
In the front row, Scarra Ntubeni (hooker) will have powerful props Ali Vermaak and Neethling Fouche at his side, while Van Zyl is joined in the second row by David Meihuizen.
Juarno Augustus is at the back of the scrum and will link up with hard-working flanks Ben-Jason Dixon and Marcel Theunissen in the loose trio.
Experienced scrumhalf Godlen Masimla will partner with exciting 19-year-old flyhalf Kade Wolhuter, while in midfield Cornel Smit starts alongside the seasoned Ruhan Nel.
Tristan Leyds is at fullback and will link up with wings Edwill van der Merwe and Leolin Zas.
DHL Stormers head coach John Dobson said that there is much excitement in the squad to get started at the team's new home base.
"This is a team brimming with talent, with experienced heads in key positions and we are all looking forward to seeing what they can produce," said Dobson.
"It will be our first game with Cape Town Stadium as our home and everyone is looking forward to making a big impression, although our faithful fans will be missed."
Recruits Schalk Ferreira (prop) and Rynier Bernardo (lock) were both included in the Toyota Cheetahs' starting line-up.
Ferreira, who recently turned 38 years old, joined the Toyota Cheetahs on a two-year deal after he was out of contract for 10 months. The well-travelled front ranker previously turned out for Boland, DHL Western Province and the Stormers, Eastern Province, the Southern Kings and Toulouse in France.
The 29-year-old Bernardo returned to the Free State outfit from Japanese club Canon Eagles and has previously also played for Eastern Province, the Southern Kings and Welsh clubs Ospreys and Scarlets.
Pienaar's return will be good news for Toyota Cheetah supporters. The 2007 RWC winner is on the bench after being ruled out of action in the early rounds of Vodacom Super Rugby Unlocked last year, when he injured his knee against the Vodacom Bulls.
Hawies Fourie (coach) has picked a strong looking team despite injuries to several players - Charles Marais (neck), Junior Pokomela (wrist), William Small-Smith (concussion) and Louis van der Westhuizen (knee) are all unavailable.
DHL Stormers: 15 Tristan Leyds, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Cornel Smit, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Kade Wolhuter, 9 Godlen Masimla, 8 Juarno Augustus, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Marcel Theunissen, 5 Chris van Zyl (captain), 4 David Meihuizen, 3 Neethling Fouche, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Ali Vermaak. Replacements: 16 Chad Solomon, 17 Leon Lyons, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Johan du Toit, 20 Ernst van Rhyn, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 Abner van Reenen, 23 Mnombo Zwelendaba.
Toyota Cheetahs: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Duncan Saal, 13 Chris Smit, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Rosko Specman, 10 Reinhardt Fortuin, 9 Tian Meyer, 8 Jeandré Rudolph, 7 George Cronje, 6 Andisa Ntsila, 5 Rynier Bernardo, 4 Carl Wegner (captain), 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Wilmar Arnoldi, 1 Schalk Ferreira. Replacements: 16 Marnus van der Merwe, 17 Conraad van Vuuren, 18 Khutha Mchunu, 19 Victor Sekekete, 20 Aidon Davis, 21 Ruan Pienaar, 22 Dries Swanepoel, 23 Rhyno Smith.