Suleiman Hartzenberg makes his fiftieth Stormers look as Manie Libbok and Neethling Fouche return to face Cardiff in Cape City on Friday night time.
Hartzenberg begins the Vodacom URC spherical 18 conflict at Cape City Stadium on the correct wing, in an thrilling again three with fellow speedster Leolin Zas and Damian Willemse.
Willemse shifts to fullback after incomes his one centesimal cap at inside centre in final week’s 48-12 victory in opposition to Dragons. Dan du Plessis is available in at No 12 to companion Wandisile Simelane, who scored a brace of tries within the large win for John Dobson’s males.
The return of Libbok, who has been sidelined since January with a knee damage, at flyhalf sees Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu drop to the bench that options veteran hooker Scarra Ntubeni – in line for simply his first look of the season.
Scrumhalf Herschel Jantjies runs out alongside fellow Springbok Libbok to finish the adjustments within the backline.
Tighthead prop Fouche, having accomplished a three-match ban, packs down within the entrance row with Bok rake Joseph Dweba and Sti Sithole, on his ninth outing of 2024-25.
ALSO: ‘Recent’ Fouche able to fizz
The towering JD Schickerling and skipper Salmaan Moerat hyperlink up within the second row, whereas Marcel Theunissen, Louw Nel and Dave Ewers type a new-look free trio.
The Stormers enter the ultimate spherical of URC league motion as favourites, with three successive bonus-point wins and excessive on confidence after securing a quarter-final spot final week.
Dobson’s expenses go into their final regular-season match trying to safe fifth place on the log, which may end in an away quarter-final in opposition to Glasgow if the defending champions lose to Leinster and slip to fourth.
The Capetonians can even draw inspiration from the truth that Cardiff, who went right down to the Vodacom Bulls at Loftus in spherical 17, have solely gained three away video games this season.
Nevertheless, the ninth-placed Welsh guests nonetheless have a shot of sneaking into the playoffs with victory within the shadow of Desk Mountain, because the seventh and eighth-placed Benetton and Munster battle it out with each other.
WATCH: Damian performed did it on his milestone
“The final three matches at residence have seen us acquire some confidence and safe our play-off spot with a sport to go, however we all know we’re in for a giant take a look at in opposition to a Cardiff aspect that has all of it to play for,” director of rugby John Dobson advised the Stormers’ official web site.
“We have now made some adjustments to make sure that we have now sufficient gamers with current gametime heading into the play-offs and we’re wanting ahead to seeing what these coming into the combo this week can do.
“We’re additionally very conscious that we’re unlikely to play at residence once more this season, so we wish to put collectively an excellent efficiency for the followers which have proven us such unimaginable assist.”
STORMERS – 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Dan du Plessis, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Marcel Theunissen, 7 Louw Nel, 6 Dave Ewers, 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Salmaan Moerat (c), 3 Neethling Fouche, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Sti Sithole.
Bench: 16 Scarra Ntubeni, 17 Vernon Matongo, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Connor Evans, 20 Paul de Villiers, 21 Paul de Moist, 22 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 23 Ben Loader.
Our crew to tackle Cardiff beneath the lights at DHL Stadium on Friday night time.
📢 Full crew announcement https://t.co/tje52JNZNc
🎟️ Tickets https://t.co/cAmkRLjH2L#STOvCAR #iamastormer @Vodacom #URC pic.twitter.com/xUwn0RqPSK— DHL Stormers (@THESTORMERS) May 15, 2025
Photograph: Grant Pitcher/Gallo Photographs
