Stormers

Steven Kitshoff of the Stormers. Photo: Springboks website

TEAM NEWS: Kitshoff returns for Stormers, Brink set for Bulls URC debut

The Bulls and Stormers are the latest teams to have revealed their matchday lineups for United Rugby Championship (URC) duty.

Stormers

Steven Kitshoff of the Stormers. Photo: Springboks website

Springbok prop Steven Kitshoff is back in the Stormers’ starting team for their United Rugby Championship (URC) clash with Cardiff in Cape Town on Sunday.

The encounter with the Welsh outfit kicks off at 14:00 on Sunday at DHL Stadium and will be televised live on SuperSport.

Kitshoff is back to take his place at loosehead prop after being rested last week, with Brok Harris shifting across to tighthead and Neethling Fouche among the replacements. The backline that did duty against Zebre Parma in Stellenbosch last week is unchanged.

The only other change to the match-day squad sees hooker Chad Solomon come onto the replacements bench in place of the injured Andre-Hugo Venter.

Stormers head coach John Dobson said that the focus is on building some winning momentum after last week’s performance against Zebre Parma.

“We have managed to keep some continuity in our team this week which is pleasing,” said Dobson.

“We know that we can improve in many areas and we will have to be sharp as ever to get the result we need on Sunday.”

Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Damian Willemse, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Hacjivah Dayimani, 6 Deon Fourie, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Adre Smith, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Steven Kitshoff (captain). Replacements: 16 Chad Solomon, 17 Ali Vermaak, 18 Neethling Fouche, 19 Ernst van Rhyn, 20 Junior Pokomela, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 Tim Swiel, 23 Rikus Pretorius.

The Stormers are eighth on the URC table, while the Bulls are in 10th spot

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Meanwhile, Cyle Brink is set to make his United Rugby Championship debut when the Bulls host Welsh outfit, Scarlets, in Pretoria on Friday night.

The Bulls will end what has been a demanding week of rugby with a visit from the Llanelli-based side, this on the back of a mid-week Currie Cup win over THE Sharks on Wednesday and a historic URC victory against Munster last Saturday.

The team from Pretoria have made four changes to the victorious side that beat Munster last weekend.

The 28-year-old Brink, a former Junior Springbok who played for the Lions and Leicester Tigers in England before moving to Pretoria, has been included at flank in place of Arno Botha, while Canan Moodie will start in the No 14 jersey and Cornal Hendricks shifts to outside centre in place of Lionel Mapoe. 

Zak Burger is back in the starting XV at scrumhalf, with Botha joining Keagan Johannes (scrumhalf), Mapoe (centre), Joe van Zyl (hooker) and Reinhardt Ludwig (lock) on the bench.

“It has been a very busy week for us as a squad this week – playing three tough matches in a space of seven days in both the Vodacom URC and Carling Currie Cup,” said Bulls Director of Rugby, Jake White.

“Management of our playing personnel has been key this week. As a result, we have made a total of 10 changes to the team that was on duty on Wednesday night against the Sharks in the Currie Cup.

“We have another tough match against a Scarlets team that has shown what a threat they can be in the URC. We will need to be sharp and prepared to play an 80-minute game in what promises to be a highly competitive encounter.”

The match will kick-off at 19:10 on Friday, and it will be televised on SuperSport.

Vodacom Bulls: 15 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 Cornal Hendricks, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Madosh Tambwe, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Zak Burger, 8 Elrigh Louw, 7 Cyle Brink, 6 Marcell Coetzee (captain), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Walt Steenkamp, 3 Jacques van Rooyen, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp. Replacements: 16 Joe van Zyl, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Robert Hunt, 19 Reinhardt Ludwig, 20 Arno Botha, 21 Keagan Johannes, 22 Morne Steyn, 23 Lionel Mapoe.