Fourie out, Nel reaches 50 as Stormers take on Exeter in Champions Cup

Influential Springbok loose forward Deon Fourie has been ruled out, while centre Ruhan Nel will play his 50th match when the Stormers take on Exeter Chiefs in their Champions Cup quarterfinal at Sandy Park on Saturday (kick-off 6:30pm).

The Stormers backline is unchanged from the combination that started the Round of 16 match against Harlequins last week, while there are just two changes to the forward pack.

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Champions Cup Star of the Match in the 32-28 victory in Cape Town Fourie has been ruled out with a Medial orbital wall (eye socket) fracture, so his place at openside flank is taken by Junior Pokomela.

The only other change sees Marcel Theunissen start at the back of the scrum, with Hacjivah Dayimani set to make an impact from the replacements bench.

Stormers Head Coach John Dobson said that his team will leave it all out on the field at Sandy Park in a bid to qualify for the Champions Cup semifinals.

“This is a huge knock-out match, so we have to give it a full tilt. Exeter have a great record at home, so we know it will take a full effort from all 23 to get the result we need on Saturday,” said Dobson.

Dobson paid tribute to Nel, who is a pivotal player on both defence and attack for his team and has become an integral member of the successful Stormers team over the past few seasons.

“Ruhan always puts the team first and sets a great example for those around him in the way he approaches the game. We are lucky to have him and hopefully the team can make his 50th a memorable one,” said Dobson.

Stormers: Damian Willemse, Suleiman Hartzenberg, Ruhan Nel, Dan du Plessis, Seabelo Seabelo, Manie Libbok, Herschel Jantjies, Marcel Theunissen, Ben-Jason Dixon, Junior Pokomela, Marvin Orie, Ernst van Rhyn, Frans Malherbe, Joseph Dweba, Steven Kitshoff (c)

Bench: JJ Kotze, Ali Vermaak, Neethling Fouche, Gary Porter, Willie Engelbrecht, Hacjivah Dayimani, Paul de Wet, Clayton Blommetjies