The Stormers have hauled out their heavy artillery for Saturday’s United Rugby Championship derby against the Sharks at DHL Stadium, naming a star-studded match-day 23 boasting no fewer than 11 Springboks.
Seven of those World Cup winners and international stars will make their first DHL Stormers appearances of the season as Director of Rugby John Dobson unleashes maximum firepower for the Cape Town clash (kickoff 4pm).
Running out in a striking new black kit — an homage to the iconic 1999 “Men in Black” era — the Stormers have reloaded their backline with Bok playmakers. Damian Willemse returns at fullback, while Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu links up with veteran scrumhalf Cobus Reinach in a explosive new-look halfback pairing.
Up front, tighthead prop Wilco Louw makes his first Stormers start since 2020, anchoring a formidable pack alongside Ntuthuko Mchunu and André-Hugo Venter. In the back row, Springbok captain Siya Kolisi shifts to blindside flank to accommodate returning openside Paul de Villiers, while lock Adré Smith comes into the engine room for his first start of the campaign.
The bench carries equal weight. Veteran World Cup-winning hooker Deon Fourie provides experienced cover alongside props Neethling Fouché and Vernon Matongo. Explosive loose forward Evan Roos is primed to impact the second half, while highly rated young scrumhalf Haashim Pead is set to make his Stormers debut off the bench alongside utility back Wandisile Simelane.
Dobson admitted that welcoming back his international contingent has raised the intensity ahead of their first home fixture at DHL Stadium after travelling back from Scotland following their 17-13 defeat at the hands of Edinburgh.
“It is fantastic to be able to name a team like this which is full of exceptional talent, from Deon Fourie with 141 Stormers caps through to Haashim Pead who makes his first appearance for us,” Dobson said.
“It has been really encouraging to see the way the players returning from national duty have stepped up this week and added immensely to our preparations. It was a tough team to select, with many quality players missing out.
“This weekend we also play our first match in the new Men in Black kit, which is a great nod to our past and something that resonates deeply with our supporters. It is going to be a fantastic occasion at DHL Stadium on Saturday, beyond the rugby which will be typically intense.”
Stormers team to face Sharks:
15 Damian Willemse, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Ruhan Nel (c), 12 Jonathan Roche, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Siya Kolisi, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Adré Smith, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 André-Hugo Venter, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu.
Replacements: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Vernon Matongo, 18 Neethling Fouché, 19 Riley Norton, 20 Connor Evans, 21 Evan Roos, 22 Haashim Pead, 23 Wandisile Simelane.
