Stormers load up on Springboks for Gqeberha Champions Cup battle

Nine Springboks feature in the Stormers’ starting XV for Saturday’s Champions Cup showdown with La Rochelle at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.

Warrick Gelant, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Cobus Reinach, Evan Roos and André-Hugo Venter all return to the run-on side for the clash in Gqeberha (3pm kick-off).

Gelant is back to full fitness after the illness that sidelined him before last week’s 26–17 win over Bayonne, and he’ll link up with wings Dylan Maart and Leolin Zas in the back three.

With utility back Damian Willemse nursing a minor hamstring issue and expected back next week, the midfield sees Ruhan Nel reunited with Jonathan Roche. Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Reinach form the halfback axis for this round.

Roos, who made a powerful impact off the bench in France, starts at No 8 alongside flankers Ban-Jason Dixon and Paul de Villiers. JD Schickerling joins captain Salmaan Moerat in the engine room, while Venter packs down between Springbok props Ntuthuko Mchunu and Neethling Fouché.

The bench is stacked with players who started in Bayonne — hooker JJ Kotzé, lock Connor Evans, loose forward Ruan Ackermann, scrumhalf Imad Khan and utility back Wandisile Simelane. They are joined by props Oli Kebble and Sazi Sandi, plus loose forward Marcel Theunissen.

Director of Rugby John Dobson said the focus is on backing up last week’s encouraging away performance.

“Winning on the road was important, but we know we’ll need to go up another level against a very physical La Rochelle side. The support in Gqeberha is always incredible, and we’re expecting a clash with real Test-match intensity,” he said.

The Stormers matchday squad will be officially announced by EPCR at 2pm on Friday.

Stormers XV

15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Dylan Maart, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Jonathan Roche, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Salmaan Moerat, 3 Neethling Fouché, 2 André-Hugo Venter, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu.

Replacements: 16 JJ Kotzé, 17 Oli Kebble, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Connor Evans, 20 Ruan Ackermann, 21 Marcel Theunissen, 22 Imad Khan, 23 Wandisile Simelane.