CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA – FEBRUARY 17: Damian de Allende of the Stormers celebrates his try during the Super Rugby match between DHL Stormers and Jaguares at DHL Newlands Stadium on February 17, 2018 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by Carl Fourie/Gallo Images)
Super Rugby: Highlanders v Stormers – Teams, kick off time and live stream
The injury-ravaged Stormers complete their tour Down Under with a trip to Dunedin.
CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA – FEBRUARY 17: Damian de Allende of the Stormers celebrates his try during the Super Rugby match between DHL Stormers and Jaguares at DHL Newlands Stadium on February 17, 2018 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by Carl Fourie/Gallo Images)
The Stormers complete what’s been a rather wretched tour Down Under as they travel to Dunedin to take on the Highlanders on Friday. Robbie Fleck’s men come off a 45-28 thumping at the hands of Super Rugby champions, the Crusaders, their second successive defeat on the road.
Their opponents come off a bye and have only featured once in this year’s edition of the southern hemisphere’s premier franchise rugby competition. That being the 41-34 thriller against the Auckland Blues where they emerged victorious.
Teams
Highlanders
Ben Smith (c), Waisake Naholo, Rob Thompson, Teihorangi Walden, Tevita Nabura, Lima Sopoaga, Aaron Smith, Luke Whitelock, Dillon Hunt, Liam Squire, Tom Franklin, Jackson Hemopo, Siate Tokolahi, Liam Coltman, Daniel Lienert-Brown.
Subs: Greg Pleasants-Tate, Aki Seiuli, Tyrel Lomax, Shannon Frizell, Elliot Dixon, Josh Renton, Fletcher Smith, Matt Faddes.
Stormers
SP Marais, Dillyn Leyds, EW Viljoen, Damian de Allende, Raymond Rhule, Damian Willemse, Dewaldt Duvenage, Nizaam Carr, Kobus van Dyk, Siya Kolisi (c), Chris van Zyl, Jan de Klerk, Wilco Louw, Ramone Samuels, Steven Kitshoff.
Subs: Dean Muir, JC Janse van Rensburg, Carlu Sadie, Salmaan Moerat, Pieter-Steph du Toit/George Whitehead, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Justin Phillips, JJ Engelbrecht.
Injury news
On the injury front, the Cape side have some major problems on their hands with two important players expected to be out for a massive chunk of the season.
Powerhouse second rower, JD Schickerling is expected to be out for up to four months after undergoing surgery on a torn chest muscle, while Springbok hooker, Bongi Mbonambi is only expected to resume full training in June, let alone be considered for selection, after also going under the knife.
Bok skipper, Eben Etzebeth is recovering from a shoulder injury, while his lock partner, Pieter-Steph du Toit’s selection for Friday’s clash is subject to a fitness test.
The good news, however, is that Fleck should soon be able to call upon flyhalf, Jean-Luc du Plessis who should be fully recovered from a career-threatening groin injury in the coming weeks. His namesake, and cousin, Dan is also expected to be back in the reckoning sooner and should feature in their next game against the Blues at Newlands next week.
Kick off time
The game will kick off at 08:35 (SAST).
TV and live stream
Supersport 1 (SS1).
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