The DHL Stormers are loading their cannons with Springbok firepower as they prepare to storm Llanelli on Friday night, chasing a third straight United Rugby Championship win against the Scarlets.
For the first time this season, Damian Willemse and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu pull on Stormers jerseys, giving the Cape side a backline with the kind of sharp edge that could cut through Welsh defences like a hot knife through butter.
Willemse slots into the No 15 jersey, while Feinberg-Mngomezulu lines up at flyhalf, linking up with skipper Ruhan Nel at inside centre and Wandisile Simelane outside him.
In the engine room, fresh legs and familiar bruisers combine. Flankers Paul de Villiers and Ben-Jason Dixon return to the scrum’s coalface, while lock Ruben van Heerden, hooker JJ Kotzé and props Sazi Sandi and Ali Vermaak get their first starts of the campaign
On the bench, warrior Deon Fourie and livewire scrumhalf Imad Khan wait to make their seasonal bows.
Director of Rugby John Dobson knows the real tour begins now.
“It has been an encouraging start to the season and we are determined to build on that in this first tour game,” Dobson said, sounding like a general before the first charge.
“There are a few areas that we want to improve on and our preparations have obviously been limited by the travel this week.
“We have got some good players coming in from the national team and some who have been in our squad and are making their first starts. We know that everyone will have to be on their game for this one for us to continue the winning momentum on the road.”
Kick-off is at 20:45 SAST, under the Welsh night sky. With Bok reinforcements arriving like cavalry at the right moment, the Stormers will be looking to rattle Scarlets on their own turf and keep their unbeaten march rolling forward.
DHL Stormers XV: Damian Willemse; Seabelo Senatla, Wandisile Simelane, Ruhan Nel (capt), Leolin Zas; Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Stefan Ungerer; Evan Roos, Ben-Jason Dixon, Paul de Villiers; Ruben van Heerden, JD Schickerling; Sazi Sandi, JJ Kotzé, Ali Vermaak.
Replacements: André-Hugo Venter, Vernon Matongo, Zachary Porthen, Connor Evans, Marcel Theunissen, Deon Fourie, Imad Khan, Jurie Matthee.
