High-flying Stormers suffer Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu injury blow
South Africa fly-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu has been ruled out of Saturday’s United Rugby Championship derby against the Lions with a groin injury.
The Bok superstar is one of two changes from the backline that ran riot against La Rochelle in the Investec Champions Cup last week, with Ruhan Nel also out with a calf injury.
Jurie Matthee will start at fly-half instead, with Wandisile Simelane wearing 13 on his back.
The pack has seen slightly more tinkering by John Dobson, with three changes from the scrum that triumphed over Ronan O’Gara’s outfit.
Neethling Fouché will start once again though, bringing up his 100th appearance for the Stormers.
“We have not played at DHL Stadium since early October and it is a big South African derby, so it should be a great day out for everyone,” Dobson said.
“We have been disrupted by some injury concerns this week, but have confidence that every player selected will rise to the occasion.
“The only other props to have reached 100 caps for the DHL Stormers are Brok Harris, Frans Malherbe and Steven Kitshoff. Neethling is close with all three of them and fully deserves his status alongside them as one of the most dedicated and passionate to have pulled on the jersey.”
DHL Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Dylan Maart, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Jonathan Roche, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Jurie Matthee, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Marcel Theunissen, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 Salmaan Moerat (captain), 3 Neethling Fouché, 2 André-Hugo Venter, 1 Vernon Matongo.
Replacements: 16 Lukhanyo Vokozela, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Adré Smith, 20 JD Schickerling, 21 Ben-Jason Dixon, 22 Stefan Ungerer, 23 Suleiman Hartzenberg.
Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Kelly Mpeku, 13 Erich Cronje, 12 Bronson Mills, 11 Eduan Keyter, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Francke Horn (captain), 7 Ruan Venter, 6 Jarod Cairns, 5 Reinhard Nothnagel, 4 Etienne Oosthuizen, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 PJ Botha, 1 SJ Kotze.
Replacements: 16 Franco Marais, 17 Eddie Davids, 18 RF Schoeman, 19 Dylan Schoblom, 20 Darrien Landsberg, 21 Siba Qoma, 22 Nico Steyn, 23 Richard Kriel.
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