Get ready for a showdown! The Stormers are about to face Investec Champions Cup titans La Rochelle, and the stakes couldn't be higher. But here's the kicker: they're getting a HUGE boost from returning Springboks!
This Saturday's clash in Gqeberha just got a whole lot more interesting with the inclusion of star Springbok halfbacks Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Cobus Reinach. Their presence is a game-changer, injecting world-class talent and experience into the Stormers' lineup as they prepare to battle the formidable La Rochelle, the reigning 2022 and 2023 Investec Champions Cup champions.
Reinach is even set to make his Champions Cup debut for the Cape Town-based club. Talk about pressure!
Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Reinach aren't the only Springboks bolstering the Stormers' ranks. In total, nine Springboks have been named in the starting XV, showcasing the depth and quality within the squad. Warrick Gelant, Evan Roos, and André-Hugo Venter are also back in the starting lineup. Gelant, who was sidelined due to illness before the previous match, has fully recovered and is ready to contribute. Ben-Jason Dixon, captain Salmaan Moerat, Neethling Fouché, and Ntuthuko Mchunu retain their starting positions after their impressive Round One victory against Bayonne.
Gelant’s return to the back three, alongside wings Dylan Maart and Leolin Zas, provides a significant attacking threat.
The inclusion of Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Reinach is timely, as it offsets the absence of lock Adre Smith, who is serving a one-match suspension following a red card for stamping against Bayonne. Every team faces challenges, but this highlights the importance of squad depth.
And this is the part most people miss: While the return of these Springboks is undoubtedly a positive, it also puts immense pressure on the team to perform. Can they live up to the heightened expectations?
Meanwhile, Springboks utility back Damian Willemse is currently sidelined, recovering from a hamstring niggle. The good news is that he’s expected to be available for selection when the Stormers take on the Lions in a United Rugby Championship derby in Cape Town next week. That game is shaping up to be a crucial one!
In other backline news, Ruhan Nel returns to the starting XV to partner Jonathan Roche in the centre. Up front, Roos gets the nod at number eight, having made a strong impact off the bench against Bayonne. He resumes his back-row partnership with flankers Dixon and Paul de Villiers. The second-row sees JD Schickerling partnering with Moerat, while hooker Venter starts between props Mchunu and Fouché.
Stormers director of rugby John Dobson has also named a powerful replacements bench, featuring players like hooker JJ Kotzé, lock Connor Evans, back-row Ruan Ackermann, scrum-half Imad Khan, and utility back Wandisile Simelane – all of whom started against Bayonne. They are joined by ex-Scotland international Oli Kebble and Sazi Sandi as the back-up props, and loose forward Marcel Theunissen.
Dobson is clearly aiming to maintain the momentum from their encouraging performance in France.
"It was great to win away from home, but we have to back that up now, and we know that it will take a big effort against a highly physical Stade Rochelais team," Dobson said. "We always get such fantastic support in Gqeberha, so we are all looking forward to what should be a big match with Test match intensity at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium."
Stormers Team to Face La Rochelle
- Stormers: 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
Match Details
- Date: Saturday, December 13
- Venue: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Gqeberha
- Kick-off: 15:00 local (13:00 GMT)
- Referee: Luke Pearce (Eng)
- Assistant Referees: Karl Dickson (Eng), Joe James (Eng)
- TMO: Ian Tempest (Eng)
- How to Watch: SuperSport / Premier Sports / beIN SPORTS / FloRugby
So, here's a question for you: Do you think the return of these Springboks guarantees a Stormers victory against La Rochelle? Or will the reigning champions prove too strong, even on South African soil? Let us know your predictions in the comments below!
