Stormers make 3 changes as maybe 'most experienced' side ever rolled out for Cardiff

The DHL Stormers have welcomed back three experienced campaigners for Saturday’s Vodacom URC quarter-final against Cardiff, with director of rugby John Dobson describing it as potentially the most experienced side the franchise has ever selected.

Centre Ruhan Nel returns from injury to captain the side at DHL Stadium, while Seabelo Senatla and Dan du Plessis also come back into the starting XV for the knock-out clash in Cape Town.

The trio are the only changes to the team that finished the regular season in third place, with Dobson opting to retain the same forward pack that featured in the final league fixture, a 22-16 loss against the same opponents, Cardiff, at the Arms Park two weekends ago.

Nel’s return adds further experience to a backline already packed with international pedigree.

The centre will also reach a significant milestone alongside Du Plessis, with the pair making their 30th start together in midfield. That will see them draw level with De Wet Barry and Marius Joubert as the most-capped centre combination in Stormers history.

There is further good news for the hosts on the bench, where props Vernon Matongo and Zachary Porthen are included along with utility forward Ruan Ackermann, who has also recovered from injury in time for the play-off encounter.

Dobson said the returning players have helped create one of the strongest and most experienced matchday squads assembled during his tenure.

“We enjoy incredible support at DHL Stadium, and we know that this will be another memorable occasion as knock-out rugby returns to Cape Town.

“We have some key players returning, which makes this one of the most experienced DHL Stormers teams that we have ever selected.

“We have earned this opportunity to play a Quarter-Final in front of our fans and we want to make it count.”

The Stormers head into the match as favourites on home soil, although Cardiff coach Corniel van Zyl believes the pressure now sits firmly with the South African side.

“The approach and what we expect from the Stormers is the same. For us, it’s all about how we apply what we want to do against them.

“The pressure was on us last time out at Cardiff Arms Park, but I think that has obviously shifted back onto them a little now. If we can start well and apply pressure through what we do best – scoring points – then we can put them under pressure.

“That is ultimately the only way we can impose ourselves on them. That’s what we’re aiming to do, and, at the end of the day, we’ll do our best to come away with the victory.”

The quarter-final kicks off at 15:30 local time on Saturday, with a place in the last four at stake.

DHL Stormers: Damian Willemse; Seabelo Senatla, Ruhan Nel (capt), Dan du Plessis, Leolin Zas; Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Imad Khan; Ntuthuko Mchunu, André-Hugo Venter, Neethling Fouché, Adré Smith, Ruben van Heerden, Paul de Villiers, Ben-Jason Dixon, Evan Roos.

Replacements: JJ Kotzé, Vernon Matongo, Zachary Porthen, Salmaan Moerat, Ruan Ackermann, Marcel Theunissen, Stefan Ungerer, Jurie Matthee.

Cardiff Rugby: Cam Winnett; Jacob Beetham, Ben Thomas, Rory Jennings, Josh Adams; Ioan Lloyd, Johan Mulder; Rhys Barratt, Liam Belcher (capt), Keiron Assiratti, Josh McNally, Rory Thornton, James Botham, Dan Thomas, Taine Basham.

Replacements: Daf Hughes, Danny Southworth, Javan Sebastian, George Nott, Alun Lawrence, Evan Lloyd, Ellis Bevan, Tom Bowen.