The unbeaten Stormers are set to roll out their strongest possible side when they host the Bulls at a sold-out DHL Stadium on Saturday (6pm kick-off), in what will be their first United Rugby Championship (URC) north-south derby of the season.
With Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Damian Willemse both set to return after injury layoffs, director of rugby John Dobson suddenly finds himself with the kind of selection headaches coaches love — and that could prove decisive in a fixture that rarely needs extra spice.
Dobson will name his side on Friday, but Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s return at flyhalf feels almost automatic. His combination with Springboks halfback partner Cobus Reinach promises a game at tempo, sharp decision-making and a running threat that will really stress the Bulls’ leaky defence.
Willemse’s reintegration, however, is where things could get a bit tricky. While he is a mainstay at fullback for both club and country, a shift to inside centre — where he has been performing for the Capetonians — could give the Stormers a powerful second distributor and defensive organiser in midfield.
That scenario would see Willemse lining up alongside Wandisile Simelane at outside centre — a mouth-watering prospect for Stormers supporters. Simelane has been electric whenever he’s been given minutes in the URC, consistently beating defenders and punching holes with ball in hand. With Willemse keeping defenders busy on the inside, Simelane could find himself with even more space to exploit when they have the ball in hand.
At the back, maverick Warrick Gelant is likely to reprise his role as chief counter-attacking threat, forming a potential back three with the pace of Dylan Maart and Leolin Zas. Suleiman Hartzenberg’s return from injury adds another layer of intrigue.
While he is pushing hard for a starting berth, his versatility across the backline could make him a valuable impact option off the bench — a potential trump card if the game opens up late.
Up front, the Stormers are expected to stick with a six-two split on the replacement bench, a non-negotiable aspect in a derby that will be decided by physical dominance as much as flair. The starting pack will be tasked with setting the tone early, particularly against a Bulls side boasting one of the most destructive scrums in the competition.
Evan Roos at eighth man, with Paul de Villiers and Ben-Jason Dixon on the flanks, should give the Stormers the mobility and power needed to counter the Bulls’ renowned loose trio. But the real battleground will be the front row. Ntuthuko Mchunu and Neethling Fouché, with André-Hugo Venter between them, look the best-equipped combination to blunt the influence of Wilco Louw and company.
If the Stormers can dominate or hold their own at scrum time, their unbeaten run — and derby bragging rights — should remain intact. If they lose that battle, even at home, the challenge becomes far steeper.
