Stormers copy Springboks’ hooker ploy amid injury crisis as Evan Roos equals legend’s record
Stormers loose forward Evan Roos and an inset of Deon Fourie.
Director of Rugby John Dobson has been forced into making changes to his Stormers team as the side chase their first-ever win in Belfast on Friday night against Ulster.
The Capetoians head into the penultimate round of the United Rugby Championship clash ranked second overall on the log and well positioned to secure a home quarter-final.
However, Dobson has been dealt untimely setbacks for the clash against a high-flying Ulster side, who booked their place in the Challenge Cup finals last weekend.
Damian Willemse switches roles again for Ulster showdown
Most notably in the centres where captain Ruhan Nel has been replaced by Damian Willemse, who shifts from full-back to inside centre, and partners Dan du Plessis, who now dons the 13 jumper.
Warrick Gelant returns to the run-on team to plug Willemse’s void at full-back, and the Springbok is joined by wingers Leolin Zas and Wandisile Simelane in the back-three. The other change from the team that beat the Glasgow Warriors last time out sees Imad Khan start at scrum-half and will partner Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, with Cobus Reinach sustaining a knee injury.
In Nel’s absence, Deon Fourie will captain the Stormers from the back row with the veteran forward earning his 140th appearance. Meanwhile, Evan Roos will draw level with Springboks legend Duane Vermeulen for the most starts in the Stormers No.8 jersey as he starts his 73rd game at the back of the scrum. Ben-Jason Dixon rounds out the familiar-looking loose trio with Dobson, naming three loose forwards on the bench in Paul de Villiers, Hacjivah Dayimani, and Keke Morabe.
Ruben van Heerden and Adré Smith continue in the second row – a position hit by injuries with Salmaan Moerat and JD Schickerling sidelined – while Sazi Sandi joins Springboks André-Hugo Venter and Ntuthuko Mchunu up front. Oli Kebble, Zachary Porthen and Connor Evans feature among the replacements. Stefan Ungerer and Jurie Matthee are the two backline replacements.
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John Dobson adopts Springboks ploy amid injury crisis
De Villiers has been named in the number 16 jersey, but it is Fourie who will provide cover at hooker if required, with Dobson adopting a similar ploy used by the Springboks at the 2019 and 2023 Rugby World Cups with Schalk Brits and Fourie, respectively.
World Rugby Law 3.8 requires teams to have at least six front rowers in 23-man squads, but does not specify that those players have to be on the bench. Law 3.11 adds: “A replacement front-row player may start the match in another position.”
“We have been forced to make a few changes, but we are excited about what this team can do and we know it will take the best of us to get the win,” Dobson said.
“As we get closer to the play-offs the stakes get higher each week and this is a crucial match in the context of our season.”
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Ulster v Stormers teams
Ulster: 15 Michael Lowry, 14 Werner Kok, 13 Ethan McIlroy, 12 Jude Postlethwaite, 11 Zac Ward, 10 Jack Murphy, 9 Nathan Doak, 8 Juarno Augustus, 7 Nick Timoney, 6 Cormac Izuchukwu, 5 Charlie Irvine, 4 Iain Henderson (C), 3 Tom O’Toole, 2 James McCormick, 1 Angus Bell
Replacements: 16 Tom Stewart, 17 Eric O’Sullivan, 18 Scott Wilson, 19 Harry Sheridan, 20 Bryn Ward, 21 Conor McKee, 22 Jake Flannery, 23 Wilhelm De Klerk
Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Wandisile Simelane, 13 Dan du Plessis, 12 Damian Willemse, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Imad Khan, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Deon Fourie (c), 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 Adré Smith, 3 Sazi Sandi, 2 André-Hugo Venter, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu
Replacements: 16 Paul de Villiers, 17 Oli Kebble, 18 Zachary Porthen, 19 Connor Evans, 20 Hacjivah Dayimani, 21 Keke Morabe, 22 Stefan Ungerer, 23 Jurie Matthee
Venue: Affidea Stadium (Belfast)
Date: Friday, May 8
Kick-off: 19:45 IRE & UK / 20:45 ITA & SA
Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR, 60th game)
Assistant referees: Padraic Reidy (IRFU), Jack MacNeice (IRFU)TMO: Matteo Liperini (FIR)
How to watch: Premier Sports, SuperSport, URC.tv and FloRugby
