Two Springboks will get game time for the Stormers in Friday’s pre-season match against the Sharks at Outeniqua Park.
Director of rugby John Dobson has named a 28-man squad for the fixture in George. An extended squad will then spend most of next week in the Southern Cape, before focus shifts to their opening Vodacom URC clash with defending champions Leinster at Cape Town Stadium on Friday, September 26.
This friendly will see the likes of Springboks Ben-Jason Dixon and Andre-Hugo Venter get some minutes under their belt, along with flyhalf Clinton Swart, who has joined the squad on a short-term loan from the Pumas.
Neethling Fouche, Ali Vermaak, Ntuthuko Mchunu and Sazi Sandi are unavailable due to injury, while Ruben van Heerden, Jonathan Roche and Evan Roos are being rested due to slight niggles. Dan du Plessis, Imad Khan and Warrick Gelant are training but were not considered for this match as a precaution.
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“We are looking forward to this friendly and the camp in the Southern Cape, where we always get such a warm welcome,” said Dobson.
“We saw some players get some game time in the Currie Cup last week and this will be the next step forward against some quality opposition.
“We are expecting an electric atmosphere at Outeniqua Park and a tough outing against a team that will have similar objectives from this match.
“While it is frustrating that some players miss out due to injury, the medical staff are working hard to make sure they are ready to play and feature for us as soon as possible this season.”
STORMERS – 15 Luke Burger, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Ruhan Nel (c), 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Jurie Matthee, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Marcel Theunissen, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Adre Smith, 3 Zachary Porthen, 2 Andre-Hugo Venter, 1 Vernon Matongo.
Bench: 16 Lukhanyo Vokozela, 17 Oliver Reid, 18 Cabous Eloff, 19 JJ Kotze, 20 Alex Groves, 21 Connor Evans, 22 Louw Nel, 23 Stefan Ungerer, 24 Clinton Swart, 25 Damian Markus, 26 Jared Africa, 27 Justin Geduld, 28 Sako Makata.
Photo: Steve Haag/Gallo Images
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