Stormers' Warrick Gelant (R) celebrates with teammate Stefan Ungerer at the end of the European Champions Cup first round day 4, pool 4 Rugby Union match between Stade Francais and Stormers at the Jean-Bouin Stadium, in Paris Stefan Ungerer (pictured left) will provide backline cover on the bench for the Stormers for their United Rugby Championship opener against Ospreys. They will be without Warrick Gelant (right) as he is ruled out through injury. Picture: Geoffroy Van der Hasselt/AFP
The Stormers will go into Saturday night’s United Rugby Championship opener against Ospreys at Dunraven Brewery Field in Bridgend without one of their key attacking weapons.
The Cape side are without Springbok fullback Warrick Gelant for the clash, as he he still recovering from a calf injury sustained during pre-season. However, he is expected to be back for the clash against Zebre next Saturday.
Another Springbok Damian Willemse, who has recovered from a finger injury, will play in the No 15 jersey, while Jurie Matthee have been picked at flyhalf for the clash.
Centre Dan du Plessis will captain the Stormers, while loose forward David Ewers will make his debut for the team.
Ruhan Nel also makes his return and will join captain Du Plessis in midfield, while Matthee partners Paul de Wet at halfback.
Stefan Ungerer, Jean-Luc du Plessis and Angelo Davids will provide backline cover on the replacements bench.
In the loose trio Ewers will link up with fit-again No.8 Keke Morabe and the hard-working Marcel Theunissen, with Ben-Jason Dixon among the replacements having joined the squad this week after being released by the Springboks.
JD Schickerling will pull on a Stormers jersey for the first time since 2021 and forms a lock partnership with Ruben van Heerden, while up front prop Sti Sithole and Neethling Fouche start either side of hooker Joseph Dweba.
Stormers Director of Rugby John Dobson said that his side is determined to make it a strong start to their campaign.
"We are very happy to welcome back a few players who missed the end of last season through injury and will be putting everything into starting this campaign on the front foot.
"We know that Ospreys will provide a stern challenge as they always do at a venue we have never played at, but it is a challenge we have embraced," he said.
Stormers: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Dan du Plessis (captain), 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Jurie Matthee, 9 Paul de Wet, 8 Keke Morabe, 7 David Ewers, 6 Marcel Theunissen, 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 JD Schickerling, 3 Neethling Fouche, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Sti Sithole.
Replacements: 16 Andre-Hugo Venter, 17 Leon Lyons, 18 Brok Harris, 19 Adre Smith, 20 Ben-Jason Dixon, 21 Stefan Ungerer, 22 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 23 Angelo Davids.
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