‘Legend’ De Jongh to hit 100 games for Stormers

Centre Juan de Jongh will play his 100th game for the Stormers in the United Rugby Championship clash with Edinburgh at the DAM Health Stadium on Saturday.

The Stormers starting team named to face Edinburgh in a match that kicks off at 6.15pm on Saturday features six changes, with five in the backline and one in the forward pack.

De Jongh, who made his Stormers debut in 2010 and has recently returned to the Cape after three seasons with English side Wasps, will partner Rikus Pretorius in midfield.

He joins the likes of Schalk Burger, Siya Kolisi, Frans Malherbe, Steven Kitshoff, Jean de Villiers, Peter Grant and Andries Bekker as Stormers centurions.

The other changes to the backline see Edwill van der Merwe on the wing as well as a new halfback pairing of Tim Swiel and Paul de Wet.

The only change in the forwards sees Ernst van Rhyn come in at lock, while prop Kwenzo Blose, hooker JJ Kotze and lock Justin Basson are set to make their first appearances of the campaign from the replacements bench.

Coach John Dobson paid tribute to De Jongh.

“Juan will be remembered as a legend of Stormers and Western Province rugby. His contribution since coming back earlier this year has been invaluable and I know the team are determined to give him a performance to celebrate on Saturday,” said Dobson.

Dobson added that it will take an 80-minute performance to get the result in Edinburgh on Saturday.

“We have shown glimpses of what we are capable of already on this tour and the challenge now is to sustain that intensity throughout the match.

“It has been another week of hard work and we are excited to see what this team can do out there on Saturday,” he said.

Stormers: Warrick Gelant, Sergeal Petersen, Juan de Jongh, Rikus Pretorius, Edwill van der Merwe, Tim Swiel, Paul de Wet, Evan Roos, Willie Engelbrecht, Nama Xaba, Salmaan Moerat, Ernst van Rhyn, Neethling Fouche, Scarra Ntubeni, Brok Harris.
Bench: JJ Kotze, Kwenzo Blose, Sazi Sandi, Justin Basson, Marcel Theunissen, Godlen Masimla, Manie Libbok, Dan du Plessis