Stormers name side to welcome Siya Kolisi back to Cape Town

Pieter-Steph du Toit will make his long-awaited return from injury for the Stormers in the PRO14 Rainbow Cup SA opener against the Sharks at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday.

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Du Toit was originally sidelined with a leg injury at the end of February last year and will run out at 14:00 on Saturday in a starting line-up featuring seven Springboks which will be led by skipper Steven Kitshoff.

Lock Marvin Orie and No 8 Willie Engelbrecht will both play their first competitive match for the Stormers in the coastal clash against the Durban side.

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Du Toit and Engelbrecht are joined by openside flank Nama Xaba in the loose trio, while Orie is partnered by JD Schickerling at lock and the experienced trio of Kitshoff, Scarra Ntubeni and Frans Malherbe start in the front row.

Herschel Jantjies and Kade Wolhuter make an exciting halfback pairing, with Rikus Pertorius and Ruhan Nel in the midfield, while Damian Willemse, Seabelo Senatla and Edwill van der Merwe provide plenty of strike options out wide.

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Stormers coach John Dobson said that his team are determined to start the PRO14 Rainbow Cup SA on a positive note at their new home.

“This will be our first competitive match at our new home Cape Town Stadium and we want to ensure that we get some early momentum in this competition.

“The PRO14 Rainbow Cup SA is something we have all been looking forward to and our focus is on delivering a cohesive team performance that makes the most of the considerable talent we have running out for us on Saturday,” he said.

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Due to Covid-19 regulations there will be no supporters allowed at the match at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday.

TEAMS:

Stormers

15 Damian Willemse, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Rikus Pretorius, 11 Seabelo Senatla, 10 Kade Wolhuter, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Willie Engelbrecht, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Nama Xaba, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 JD Schickerling, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Steven Kitshoff (captain)

Substitutes (from): 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Ali Vermaak, 18 Neethling Fouche, 19 Ernst van Rhyn, 20 Evan Roos, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 Abner van Reenen, 23 Dan du Plessis, 24 David Meihuizen, 25 Marcel Theunissen, 26 Leolin Zas

Sharks

1. Ox Nche, 2. Fez Mbatha, 3. Thomas du Toit, 4. Ruben van Heerden, 5. Reniel Hugo, 6. Siya Kolisi, 7. Henco Venter, 8. Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 9. Grant Williams, 10. Curwin Bosch, 11. Yaw Penxe, 12. Jeremy Ward, 13. Lukhanyo Am (captain), 14. Sbu Nkosi, 15. Aphelele Fassi

Substitutes: 16. Kerron van Vuuren, 17. Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18. Wiehahn Herbst, 19. JJ van der Mescht, 20. Phepsi Buthelezi, 21. Sanele Nohamba, 22. Manie Libbok, 23. Werner Kok

READ | SIYA KOLISI TO START FOR SHARKS AGAINST OLD TEAM STORMERS