Stormers Name 11 Springboks for URC Derby Against Sharks at Cape Town Stadium
- John Dobson named a 23-man Stormers squad featuring 11 Springboks for Saturday's URC clash against the Sharks
- Seven of those Springboks will be making their first Stormers appearance of the season, adding significant firepower to the lineup
- Scrumhalf Haashim Pead is set for a possible debut off the bench as the Stormers look to bounce back from their recent defeat
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CAPE TOWN — Stormers head coach John Dobson has named a squad packed with international talent for Saturday's URC derby against the Sharks at Cape Town Stadium, with 11 Springboks included in the 23-man group and scrumhalf Haashim Pead in line for his first appearance in Stormers colours off the bench.
The selection follows a 17-13 defeat to Edinburgh in round two, pushing the Stormers to eighth in the URC standings. By contrast, the Sharks head into the fixture as log leaders after two successive bonus-point victories at Kings Park.
Springboks bolster Stormers backline and loose trio
Seven of the 11 Springboks named will be playing their first game for the Stormers this season. Among the most notable inclusions is Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who will partner Cobus Reinach at halfback, while Damian Willemse starts at fullback.
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Three changes have been made to the backline in total, with Wandisile Simelane also among the replacements. In the loose trio, Paul de Villiers' return sees Siya Kolisi shift to the blindside flank.
Adré Smith enters the starting XV at lock for the first time this season, and Wilco Louw is set to earn his first Stormers cap since 2020 in the front row. Veteran Deon Fourie, who holds 141 Stormers caps, will provide hooker cover from the bench alongside props Neethling Fouché and Vernon Matongo, while Evan Roos and Riley Norton are also among the replacements.
Dobson confident ahead of coastal rivalry fixture
Dobson expressed enthusiasm about the depth and quality available to him this week.
"It is fantastic to be able to name a team like this which is full of exceptional talents, from Deon Fourie with 141 Stormers caps through to Haashim Pead who makes his first appearance for us," he said, according to SA Rugby Magazine.
He added that the returning Springboks had made a strong impression in training:
"It has been really encouraging to see the way the players returning from national duty have stepped up this week and added immensely to our preparations.
"It was a tough team to select with many quality players missing out."
Dobson also noted that Saturday's match will mark the Stormers' first outing in their new 'Men in Black' kit, describing it as "a great nod to our past and something which resonates deeply with our fans."
The Sharks, coached by JP Pietersen, arrive after winning the last meeting between the two sides 30-19 in Cape Town on 24 January and will seek a third consecutive URC victory over their coastal rivals.
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Sharks arrive in Cape Town after statement Leinster win
Briefly News also reported that André Esterhuizen put a turbulent Springbok captaincy period behind him as he helped the Sharks secure a 26-20 victory over defending URC champions Leinster at Kings Park.
The result leaves the Sharks unbeaten after 2 rounds, setting up an intriguing clash with the Stormers in Cape Town on Saturday, 10 October.
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Source: Briefly News
