The Stormers and All Blacks have confirmed their teams for the opening match of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series in Cape Town on Friday, with kick-off scheduled for 19:00.
The fixture will be the first time in the club’s history that the Stormers have faced New Zealand. Stormers coach John Dobson has selected a strong matchday 23, with outside centre Ruhan Nel appointed captain.
The Stormers line-up includes Springboks Evan Roos, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Warrick Gelant and Deon Fourie. Promising youngster Yaqeen Ahmed will start at fly-half.
“For a club side to take on an international team ranked second in the world is a massive opportunity and one that every player and management member is looking forward to,” coach John Dobson said.
New Zealand have chosen a side containing relatively few of their first-choice players for the first match of their tour. However, the All Blacks have still named an experienced backline, with Beauden Barrett returning at fly-half alongside veterans Rieko Ioane and Anton Lienert-Brown.
Patrick Tuipulotu will captain the visitors from the second row, while Wallace Sititi starts at number eight in a dynamic loose-forward combination.
New Zealand coach Dave Rennie expects the Stormers to use the kicking game and their pace to put pressure on the All Blacks.
“We know the Stormers will kick a lot and apply pressure through that. They’ve got absolute lightning wheels all over the park, so we’re going to have to deal with that,” stated New Zealand coach Dave Rennie.
“But it does create opportunities for us; the ball will be kicked to us and if we can deal with that, then we’ll get some opportunities. Hopefully the weather plays its part.
“We’re going to play against a side that is very competitive in the URC, and who will be excited about the potential of an international scalp, so that makes them dangerous.
“We’ve got a Test match only around the corner and we know we’ll need to be better against the Springboks than we were in the previous three Tests.”
The Stormers will field Warrick Gelant at full-back, with Seabelo Senatla and Leolin Zas on the wings. Jonathan Roche partners captain Ruhan Nel in the midfield, while Imad Khan starts at scrum-half.
Evan Roos, Hacjivah Dayimani and Deon Fourie form the back row, with Connor Evans and Adre Smith in the second row. Neethling Fouche, Andre-Hugo Venter and Vernon Matongo make up the front row.
The All Blacks back three consists of Josh Moorby, Leroy Carter and Rieko Ioane, with Billy Proctor and Anton Lienert-Brown in midfield. Cortez Ratima is the scrum-half, while Peter Lakai and Simon Parker join Wallace Sititi in the loose forwards.
Fabian Holland partners Patrick Tuipulotu in the second row, and the front five is completed by Pasilio Tosi, Samisoni Taukei’aho and George Bower.
Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Ruhan Nel (captain), 12 Jonathan Roche, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Yaqeen Ahmed, 9 Imad Khan, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Hacjivah Dayimani, 6 Deon Fourie, 5 Connor Evans, 4 Adre Smith, 3 Neethling Fouche, 2 Andre-Hugo Venter, 1 Vernon Matongo.
Replacements: 16 JJ Kotze, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Ruan Ackermann, 20 Keke Morabe, 21 Wandile Mlaba, 22 Dewaldt Duvenage, 23 Wandisile Simelane.
All Blacks: 15 Josh Moorby, 14 Leroy Carter, 13 Billy Proctor, 12 Anton Lienert-Brown, 11 Rieko Ioane, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Cortez Ratima, 8 Wallace Sititi, 7 Peter Lakai, 6 Simon Parker, 5 Patrick Tuipulotu (captain), 4 Fabian Holland, 3 Pasilio Tosi, 2 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 1 George Bower.
Bench: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 Ollie Norris, 18 Siale Lauaki, 19 Sam Darry, 20 Ethan Blackadder, 21 Kyle Preston, 22 Josh Jacomb, 23 Caleb Clarke.
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