Springbok Manie Libbok returns for Stormers after horror injury
12/20/2024 04:00 AM
Manie Libbok is one of nine Springbok players in the Stormers team for Saturday’s URC derby against the Lions in Cape Town.
Libbok has recovered sufficiently from the horrific head injury he sustained in the Stormers’ match against Toulon in Port Elizabeth a fortnight ago and will mark his return to action with a spot in the starting lineup for the showdown against the Lions.
Lock Salmaan Moerat will earn his 50th cap for the Stormers in the United Rugby Championship derby encounter against the team from Johannesburg.
Additionally, Deon Fourie makes his return from injury and will captain the team in the South African derby, which kicks off at 15h45 on Saturday; while Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Ben-Jason Dixon have also recovered from recent concussions to take their place in a starting line-up which will also feature tighthead prop Frans Malherbe.
STORMERS HAPPY TO CALL ON BOK CAVALRY
Director of Rugby John Dobson said that having five Springbok players return from injury is a timely boost ahead of such a big game.
"We welcome back some real quality into our team this week and there has been a sense of focused determination within the group.
"These festive derbies are big occasions and we will need to step up against a very competitive Lions team.
"This will be just our second match at DHL Stadium this season and we know that it will require a big performance to get the result that we need," he said.
DHL Stormers — 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Marcel Theunissen, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Deon Fourie (captain), 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Salmaan Moerat, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Ali Vermaak.
Subs: 16 JJ Kotze, 17 Brok Harris, 18 Neethling Fouché, 19 Adré Smith, 20 Willie Engelbrecht, 21 Paul de Villiers, 22 Paul de Wet, 23 Jean-Luc du Plessis.
WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE SPRINGBOK PLAYER IN THE URC?
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