The DHL Stormers are reloading the chamber for a bruising Vodacom URC coastal derby against the Hollywoodbets Sharks in Durban on Saturday – a contest that promises trench warfare with no quarter asked or given.
With a four-week break waiting beyond the final whistle, the Stormers know this is no time to coast. Instead, they arrive at Hollywoodbets Kings Park (17h00) intent on carrying winning momentum into the pause, like a pack driving through the final metres with the tryline in sight.
Several changes to the matchday squad underline that urgency.
The match 23 for our @Vodacom #URC return derby in Durban on Saturday.
📢 Team announcement https://t.co/vHaKdNT3IO
📺 Watch it on @SuperSportTV #SHAvSTO #inittogether pic.twitter.com/z9ofx3AjRi— DHL Stormers (@THESTORMERS) January 30, 2026
Damian Willemse (pictured above) shifts to fullback, acting as both last defender and attacking general, while Jonathan Roche slots in at inside centre and Dylan Maart patrols the right wing. It’s a backline adjusted for balance and bite with more function, built to punch holes and counter when space opens.
Impact will come later from the bench, where Stefan Ungerer, Jurie Matthee and Warrick Gelant are poised to change the tempo, ready to exploit tired legs when the derby begins to creak at the seams.
Up front, Oli Kebble packs down at loosehead prop, anchoring a scrum that will be under relentless pressure. The engine room sees a brand-new lock pairing, with Ruben van Heerden alongside a fit-again Adré Smith. The fresh timber will be tasked with winning the aerial battles and shoving the Sharks backwards.
In the loose trio, Evan Roos returns at the back of the scrum, bringing explosive carries and confrontational edge, while props Ntuthuko Mchunu and Zachary Porthen, plus lock JD Schickerling, add steel and depth to the replacements bench.
Director of Rugby John Dobson made it clear there will be no half-measures in Durban.
“Playing back-to-back derbies against the same opposition is a fairly unique situation, and we are desperate to put in a more convincing performance than we managed at home last week.
“We have been boosted by the return from injury of some key players, and you can be sure that all 23 will be going out there to show what it means to play in our jersey for our fans,” he said.
For the Stormers, this trip east is about fronting up, winning the collisions and taking control of the contact zone. If they can dominate the set-piece and survive the Sharks’ surge, they may yet leave Durban with points in the bag and confidence in their stride.
Sharks: belief, but no complacency
The Hollywoodbets Sharks, meanwhile, have also rung the changes as they look to back up last weekend’s bonus-point victory. There’s a completely new front row, with Ox Nche, Fez Mbatha and Hanro Jacobs all starting, while Corne Rahl comes into the engine room, with Jason Jenkins named among the replacements.
In the loose forwards, Phepsi Buthelezi is the only starter retained from last week, joined by Siya Kolisi and Vincent Tshituka, both of whom made their impact off the bench in the first encounter.
The backline sees Grant Williams start at scrumhalf ahead of Jaden Hendrikse, the pair swapping jerseys, while Edwill van der Merwe replaces Yaw Penxe on the wing in the final tweak to the starting XV.
Despite the confidence that comes with a derby win, Sharks captain Andre Esterhuizen insists there is no room for complacency.
“We have a lot to improve on, we are working hard, but to know there is so much improvement ahead of us after the win last weekend is a good sign that we are on the right path,” he admits.
“Last week was a tough and brutal game, but that’s a South African derby and you have to get up for everyone. We’re all in the right mindset, knowing that we can’t just give a once-off performance like that, we must back it up this weekend again.”
With the break looming, Esterhuizen says motivation is sky-high.
“Everyone wants to go into that break in a good way; there is massive motivation for this weekend.”
Since taking over the captaincy, Esterhuizen’s influence has mirrored the Sharks’ improved form. While he credits a shift in mindset under coach JP Pietersen, his own lead-from-the-front approach remains central.
“I’m getting used to the role and enjoying leading the team and with the backing of the boys and coaching staff, that makes it so much easier.
“I’m a big believer that you can’t tell someone to do something you wouldn’t do yourself.”
What to expect
Expect collisions to echo, scrums to creak and tempers to simmer. The Sharks will look to turn Kings Park into a fortress and land back-to-back blows, while the Stormers arrive with pride wounded and packs reloaded, intent on proving last week was a stumble, not a trend.
In a derby where inches matter and moments decide everything, this one shapes as a contest fought in the trenches and finished by nerve.
Team line-ups
DHL Stormers
15 Damian Willemse, 14 Dylan Maart, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Jonathan Roche, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (captain), 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 Adré Smith, 3 Neethling Fouché, 2 André-Hugo Venter, 1 Oli Kebble.
Replacements:
16 JJ Kotzé, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Zachary Porthen, 19 JD Schickerling, 20 Marcel Theunissen, 21 Stefan Ungerer, 22 Jurie Matthee, 23 Warrick Gelant.
Hollywoodbets Sharks
Ox Nche, Fez Mbatha, Hanro Jacobs, Corne Rahl, Emile van Heerden, Siya Kolisi, Vincent Tshituka, Phepsi Buthelezi, Grant Williams, Jordan Hendrikse, Jaco Williams, Andre Esterhuizen (C), Ethan Hooker, Edwill van der Merwe, Aphelele Fassi.
Replacements:
Eduan Swart, Phatu Ganyane, Vincent Koch, Jason Jenkins, Nick Hatton, Jaden Hendrikse, Siya Masuku, Jurenzo Julius.
Featured Photo Credit: Rashied Isaacs
