Lions URC match sees Stormers make eight changes

Saturday’s United Rugby Championship match in Johannesburg between the Stormers and the Lions will feature a drastically altered Stormers roster.

The starting lineup comprises eight changes from the team that lost last weekend in Cardiff, Wales.

There are five changes in the forward pack and three in the backline.

Angelo Davids, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Paul de Wet will all start in the backline for the 4pm kickoff of the South African derby, while Dan du Plessis goes to outside centre.

Evan Roos begins as No. 8 in the front row, while Junior Pokomela and Hacjivah Dayimani round out the loose trio on the sides.

Marvin Orie is joined by the captain Ernst van Rhyn in the second row, while Neethling Fouche and Brok Harris join the run-on side in the front row.

Ali Vermaak, Sazi Sandi, and Herschel Jantjies comprise the bench’s props.

John Dobson, the head coach of the Stormers, is happy with the strength of the team traveling to Johannesburg, despite the absence of five Springbok players.

This season, we’ve been able to establish a solid depth chart, and we’re eager to see what these guys can do up there.

“We were obviously dissatisfied with last week’s result, and while this week’s training time has been limited, we can’t wait to see how some of these new combinations perform,” he said.

Stormers: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Angelo Davids, 13 Dan du Plessis, 12 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Paul de Wet, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Hacjivah Dayimani, 6 Junior Pokomela, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Ernst van Rhyn (captain), 3 Neethling Fouche, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Brok Harris.

Replacements: 16 JJ Kotze, 17 Ali Vermaak, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Ben-Jason Dixon, 20 Willie Engelbrecht, 21 Nama Xaba, 22 Herschel Jantjies, 23 Suleiman Hartzenberg.