Ronan O'Gara has his work cut out for him as Boks return for Stormers

The Stormers have continued to welcome back their contingent of South Africa internationals for their Investec Champions Cup clash with Ronan O’Gara’s La Rochelle on Saturday.

The United Rugby Championship leaders travelled to Bayonne last week with only two Springboks in their squad who were part of Rassie Erasmus’ squad for their Quilter Nations Series campaign – Ben-Jason Dixon and Ntuthuko Mchunu.

They left the Stade Jean-Dauger victorious, but face a more formidable Top 14 foe this weekend at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in the form of two-time champions La Rochelle, who picked up a bonus-point victory over Leicester Tigers in round one.

For that clash, John Dobson has called in his heavy artillery, welcoming back the Bok half-back duo of Cobus Reinach and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu. Form No.8 Evan Roos has also returned to the starting XV, having been on the bench last week.

There is still more Bok firepower to come, with Damian Willemse not included in the squad, but the Stormers seem intent on maintaining their unbeaten start to the season.

Fixture

Investec Champions Cup

Stormers

42 - 21

Full-time

Stade Rochelais

All Stats and Data

“It was great to win away from home, but we have to back that up now and we know that it will take a big effort against a highly physical Stade Rochelais team,” Dobson said.

“We always get such fantastic support in Gqeberha, so we are all looking forward to what should be a big match with Test match intensity at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.”

DHL Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Dylan Maart, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Jonathan Roche, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Salmaan Moerat, 3 Neethling Fouché, 2 André-Hugo Venter, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu
Replacements: 16 JJ Kotzé, 17 Oli Kebble, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Connor Evans, 20 Ruan Ackermann, 21 Marcel Theunissen, 22 Imad Khan, 23 Wandisile Simelane