Stormers get Bok boost, 50 up for Schickerling
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JD Schickerling will earn his 50th cap for the Stormers as Evan Roos gears up to make his first appearance of the season against the Sale Sharks in Cape Town on Saturday.
Lock Schickerling starts in the second row with skipper Salmaan Moerat, while Springbok No 8 Roos is set to make his long-awaited return from a shoulder injury off the bench in the round 3 Investec Champions Cup clash at Cape Town Stadium.
Englishman Ben Loader is also in line for his first outing of the 2024-25 campaign and forms an exciting back three with Springbok fullback Warrick Gelant and fellow winger Suleiman Hartzenberg.
Loosehead prop Sti Sithole, too, makes a welcome return from a lengthy layoff, packing down in the front row with two-time World Cup winner Frans Malherbe and hooker JJ Kotze.
Marcel Theunissen starts at the back of the scrum, with veteran flankers Deon Fourie and Dave Ewers completing the loose trio.
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Inside centre Jonathan Roche will make his run-on debut this week after debuting in the loss at Harlequins in December. He forms an exciting midfield combination with Wandisile Simelane, who makes just his second appearance of the season.
Stefan Ungerer will partner Manie Libbok at halfback to complete the backline.
Joining Roos among the replacements are Andre-Hugo Venter, Ali Vermaak, Neethling Fouche, Ruben van Heerden, Paul de Villiers, Paul de Wet, and Jean-Luc du Plessis, as the Stormers aim to keep their EPCR campaign alive with a first win of the group stages.
Stormers – 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Jonathan Roche, 11 Ben Loader, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Marcel Theunissen, 7 Dave Ewers, 6 Deon Fourie, 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Salmaan Moerat (c), 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 JJ Kotze, 1 Sti Sithole.
Replacements: 16 Andre-Hugo Venter, 17 Ali Vermaak, 18 Neethling Fouche, 19 Ruben van Heerden, 20 Evan Roos, 21 Paul de Villiers, 22 Paul de Wet, 23 Jean-Luc du Plessis.
Photo: Shaun Roy/Gallo Images
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