Springboks star Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu preferred over Manie Libbok as Stormers look to ‘rise to the challenge’ against Sharks

Springboks starlet Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu returns to the rugby field this Saturday when the Stormers take on the Sharks in a United Rugby Championship clash.

Feinberg-Mngomezulu impressed for South Africa during the mid-year Tests against Wales and the early part of the Rugby Championship before injury struck.

He started the Springboks‘ first three matches of that tournament in the fly-half jersey and it is that position he will run out in against the Sharks in Durban.

First game of the season

It’s also Feinberg-Mngomezulu‘s first game of the season for his club in the United Rugby Championship, with the derby one of the pick of the round’s ties.

He’ll be partnered at half-back by the experienced Herschel Jantjies, with Stefan Ungerer and Bok Manie Libbok the backline cover on the Stormers‘ bench.

Loosehead prop Ali Vermaak also makes his return from injury and will line up alongside Joseph Dweba and Neethling Fouche in the front-row on Saturday.

Marcel Theunissen starts in the eight jersey with Dave Ewers and Ben-Jason Dixon either side of him, with JD Schickerling and Ruben van Heerden the locks.

Siya Kolisi ‘experiment’ continues as Springboks-laden Sharks named for Stormers clash

Stormers director of rugby John Dobson said that having made good use of the break, his team is keen to step up in Durban as they face a fully-loaded Sharks.

“After working together as a group for the last few weeks, we are aiming to rise to the challenge we’ll face in Durban on Saturday,” insisted head coach Dobson.

“These South African derbies are always big occasions and this is a great opportunity for us to show what we are all about.”

The Sharks announced their team on Thursday and their starting side includes the likes of Springboks captain Siya Kolisi, Ox Nche, Jaden Hendrikse, Makazole Mapimpi, Andre Esterhuizen, Lukhanyo Am and Aphelele Fassi, with Trevor Nyakane, Grant Williams and Jordan Hendrikse among those on bench duty for John Plumtree’s men.

Stormers team to face Sharks

Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Dan du Plessis (c), 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Marcel Theunissen, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Dave Ewers, 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 JD Schickerling, 3 Neethling Fouche, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Ali Vermaak
Replacements: 16 Andre-Hugo Venter, 17 Brok Harris, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Adre Smith, 20 Keke Morabe, 21 Louw Nel, 22 Stefan Ungerer, 23 Manie Libbok

Date: Saturday, November 30
Venue: Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban
Kick-off: 15.00 IRE & UK / 16.00 ITA / 17.00 SA
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU)
Assistant Referees: Christopher Allison (SARU), Hanru van Rooyen (SARU)
TMO: Marius Jonker (SARU)

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