Gelant’s return boosts Stormers’ attack for Zebre URC clash

Springbok fullback Warrick Gelant returns to the Stormers starting line-up this week, bringing extra spark to their attack and another reliable kicking option at the back for Saturday’s United Rugby Championship (URC) clash with Zebre Parma.

The match kicks off at 8.45pm at the Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi in Parma.

Gelant’s inclusion sees Damian Willemse shift to inside centre, where he will partner captain Ruhan Nel in midfield, with flyers Seabelo Senatla and Leolin Zas completing a dangerous back-three. Bok flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu will be the general again, and looking at that backline, the Stormers’ attacking intention is clear.

There are four changes in total to the Stormers’ starting XV.

In the forwards, Adré Smith joins Ruben van Heerden in the second row, while young tighthead Zachary Porthen earns his first start for the Cape side. There will be plenty of responsibility on Porthen’s shoulders to anchor the scrum.

On the bench, tighthead Hencus van Wyk is in line to make his Stormers debut, with Ruan Ackermann and Wandisile Simelane also named among the six-two Bomb Squad replacements.

Stormers Director of Rugby John Dobson said the team is eager to build on the solid start to the season.

“Having a full training week (in Italy) was big for us,” Dobson said.

“Last week was quite tough in that respect. It feels like we should be playing today (Friday) just because we have had three Friday games in a row. It feels unusual in a nice way that we had so many training days.

“It was fantastic to get a win in our first game on tour last week, but there is no doubt that there are several areas that we can improve on as we take on a very competitive Zebre side this weekend.”

Stormers XV

15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Ruhan Nel (captain), 12 Damian Willemse, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 Adré Smith, 3 Zachary Porthen, 2 JJ Kotze, 1 Ali Vermaak.

Replacements: 16 André-Hugo Venter, 17 Vernon Matongo, 18 Hencus van Wyk, 19 JD Schickerling, 20 Ruan Ackermann, 21 Marcel Theunissen, 22 Imad Khan, 23 Wandisile Simelane.