The Stormers have thrown in Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu from the start to face a Springbok-laden Sharks in their United Rugby Championship derby at Kings Park in Durban on Saturday (5pm kickoff).
Feinberg-Mngomezulu has been out of action since September after injuring his knee during the Springboks' Rugby Championship match against the All Blacks at Ellis Park. He played the next match in Cape Town, but afterwards coach Rassie Erasmus revealed that he had kept the injury from the team.
But after an intensive rehab program, the exciting flyhalf is ready to take charge of the Stormers' backline against a Sharks team who have loaded their matchday squad with Springboks for the South African derby
Feinberg-Mngomezulu will be partnered at halfback by the experienced Springbok Herschel Jantjies, who will be leaving the Cape for France at the end of the season. Stefan Ungerer and returning Bok No 10 Manie Libbok are the backline cover on the replacements bench after the Stormers opted for 6-2 benck split.
Libbok was in action for the Springboks against England a few weeks ago, and Feinberg-Mngomezulu could move to inside centre if he takes the field on Saturday.
Ready to let it rip. #iamastormer #dhldelivers pic.twitter.com/uIie4FQ4HC
— DHL Stormers (@THESTORMERS) November 28, 2024
Loosehead prop Ali Vermaak also makes his return from injury for the Stormers and will line up alongside Joseph Dweba and Neethling Fouche in the front row.
Marcel Theunissen will start at the back of the scrum, with Dave Ewers and Ben-Jason Dixon on either side of him while JD Schickerling and Ruben van Heerden continue their second-row combination.
Stormers director of rugby John Dobson said that having made good use of the break, his team is keen to step up in Durban.
“After working together as a group for the last few weeks, we are aiming to rise to the challenge we will face in Durban on Saturday," Dobson said.
“These South African derbies are always big occasions and this is a great opportunity for us to show what we are all about,” he said.
Stormers team for Kings Park:
15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Dan du Plessis (captain), 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Marcel Theunissen, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Dave Ewers, 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 JD Schickerling, 3 Neethling Fouche, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Ali Vermaak.
Replacements: 16 Andre-Hugo Venter, 17 Brok Harris, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Adre Smith, 20 Keke Morabe, 21 Louw Nel, 22 Stefan Ungerer, 23 Manie Libbok.
@JohnGoliath82