Salmaan Moerat makes his return from injury and will captain the DHL Stormers in the Investec Champions Cup clash with Harlequins in London on Saturday.
The imposing lock will make his first appearance of the season when he leads a matchday squad which includes five DHL Stormers debutants at Twickenham Stoop, with kick-off at 22:00 (SA Time) on Saturday.
Loosehead prop Vernon Matongo is the only player on debut in the starting line-up, with tighthead Corne Weilbach, flank Paul de Villiers, centre Jonathan Roche and outside back JC Mars all set to make their first DHL Stormers appearance from the replacements bench.
Clayton Blommetjies is another player returning from injury at fullback, with Seabelo Senatla and Angelo Davids on the wings.
Wandisile Simelane comes into the midfield, with Jurie Matthee and Stefan Ungerer as the halfbacks.
Louw Nel and Dave Ewers will start on either side of the scrum, while Moerat is joined by the fit-again Connor Evans in the second row.
Hooker JJ Kotze and prop Sazi Sandi will start alongside Matongo up front, with lock Gary Porter and scrumhalf Dewaldt Duvenage included among the replacements.
Director of Rugby John Dobson said that his team is primed to take on the challenge at Twickenham Stoop.
“This team has a good blend of youth and experience and the one thing they all have in common is that they are hungry to perform this weekend.
“These combinations have been training together in preparation for this match for some time and we are looking forward to seeing what they can do on the big stage on Saturday,” he said.
DHL Stormers: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Angelo Davids, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 11 Seabelo Senatla, 10 Jurie Matthee, 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Willie Engelbrecht, 7 Louw Nel, 6 Dave Ewers, 5 Connor Evans, 4 Salmaan Moerat (c), 3 Sazi Sandi, 2 JJ Kotze, 1 Vernon Matongo. Replacements: 16 Andre-Hugo Venter, 17 Leon Lyons, 18 Corne Weilbach, 19 Gary Porter, 20 Paul de Villiers, 21 Dewaldt Duvenage, 22 Jonathan Roche, 23 JC Mars.
Recent Posts
- United Rugby Championship Local Franchises Team Of The Week
- Only Three Unbeaten Teams Left In 2025/26 United Rugby Championship
- Hollywoodbets Sharks Not Ready To Throw In The Towel
- Three Try Blitzkrieg Enough To Secure Win For Ulster Against Vodacom Bulls
- Leinster Cruised Past Hollywoodbets Sharks At Aviva In Dublin
- Benetton Cruise Past Fumbling Lions In Treviso
- Hoërskool Nelspruit Appoints Airlink Pumas Assistant Coach As Head Of Rugby
- Both Vodacom Bulls And Ulster Will Be Fighting To Remain Unbeaten
- “Stormers Family, I Salute You” – Manie Libbok
- DHL Western Province Claim SA Rugby U20 Women’s Week Crown In Dominant Display
- Hollywoodbets Sharks And Leinster Rugby Still Looking For A First Win In 2025/26 United Rugby Championship Season
- Lions Banking On Morne van den Berg’s Leadership Qualities Against Benetton
- DHL Stormers Pay Heavy Price For Win Over Scarlets
- Can The Lions Bounce Back From Two Close Losses Against Benetton?
- DHL Stormers Cruise To Third Win In A Row Against The Scarlets