Roos back in Stormers No 8 jersey as Dobson mixes it up for Ulster clash

Coach John Dobson has completely overhauled his Stormers team for Friday night’s United Rugby Championship match against Ulster in Belfast, with kick-off at 9.35pm.

Prop Ali Vermaak will play his 50th match for the Stormers while fit-again Evan Roos, who played off the bench last weekend, is back in the starting team.

Changes

Also, Jean-Luc du Plessis will wear the No 10 jersey for the first time this season with Manie Libbok still out, and he’ll have exciting Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu next to him in the No 12 jersey.

In the front row Vermaak is joined by JJ Kotze and Brok Harris, with Scarra Ntubeni on the bench.

Marvin Orie will captain the Stormers side and resumes his lock partnership with Ben-Jason Dixon. New recruit Ruben van Heerden is in line to make his Stormers debut from the bench.

Also, Clayton Blommetjies is at fullback and is joined at the back by wings Suleiman Hartzenberg and Cornel Smit.

Veteran centre Juan de Jongh makes his return on a replacements bench that also features Herschel Jantjies and Kade Wolhuter.

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Coach John Dobson said that while there are a number of changes, there is no shortage of quality in the matchday squad.

“It is another short turnaround this week, but we are excited to see what these combinations can do.

“We have been bolstered by the return of some experienced players and we will need all of it against a good Ulster side,” he said.

It is the first time that the teams will meet in Belfast after both clashes last season happened in Cape Town.

Stormers: Clayton Blommetjies, Suleiman Hartzenberg, Ruhan Nel, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Cornel Smit, Jean-Luc du Plessis, Stefan Ungerer, Evan Roos, Willie Engelbrecht, Junior Pokomela, Marvin Orie (capt), Ben-Jason Dixon, Brok Harris, JJ Kotze, Ali Vermaak. Bench: Scarra Ntubeni, Kwenzo Blose, Sazi Sandi, Ruben van Heerden, Marcel Theunissen, Herschel Jantjies, Kade Wolhuter, Juan de Jongh