Stormers field new halfback-axis, Springbok duo also back

Stefan Ungerer and Kade Wolhuter will pull the strings at halfback for the Stormers in their Champions Cup encounter with Clermont Auvergne at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday.

There are three changes in total to the starting lineup for the Stormers’ final pool match of the tournament, which kicks off at 19h30 on Saturday.

Wolhuter pips Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu to the No 10 jersey in the injury-enforced absence of Manie Libbok, while Ungerer beats Herschel Jantjies to a starting berth at scrumhalf in place of Paul de Wet who is also out injured.

The other change is in the forward pack, where Willie Engelbrecht starts at blindside flank in place of Junior Pokomela.

All three changes come as the result of concussions picked up in the win against London Irish last week, with Pokomela, De Wet and Libbok all unavailable for selection.

Springboks Jantjies and Evan Roos will both make their return from injury via the replacements bench, which also features flyhalf Jean-Luc du Plessis and hooker JJ Kotze.

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DOBSON WANTS STORMERS TO RISE TO CHAMPIONS CUP OCCASSION:

Stormers head coach John Dobson said that the team are looking forward to what should be a great occasion in Cape Town.

“This has all the makings of a Champions Cup classic, with a place in the play-offs at stake and we want to do it justice.

“Three concussions in one week poses a bit of a challenge for us, but we are keen to see what impact the players coming in can make.

“We are also obviously delighted to have players of the calibre of Herschel, Evan, JJ and Jean-Luc back in the mix off the bench, so there is a lot to look forward to on Saturday night,” he said.

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Stormers — 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Dan du Plessis, 11 Angelo Davids, 10 Kade Wolhuter, 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Willie Engelbrecht, 6 Deon Fourie, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Connor Evans, 3 Neethling Fouche, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Steven Kitshoff (captain).
Subs: 16 JJ Kotze, 17 Ali Vermaak, 18 Brok Harris, 19 Ben-Jason Dixon, 20 Evan Roos, 21 Herschel Jantjies, 22 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 23 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.