Leuia to make Stormers debut as Moerat named captain

Springbok lock Salmaan Moerat will captain the DHL Stormers in their first-ever match in Parmathey take on Zebre Parma in their Vodacom United Rugby Championship outing on Saturday.

The Stormers, who are on a 13-match unbeaten run from last season and the first two games of this season, have made a number of changes for their first away game on tour with Samoan international Alapati Leuia making his debut in the midfield for the team.

Leuia will link up with Junior Bok flyhalf Sacha Mngomezulu in the midfield, with Damian Willemse moving to fullback while Springbok scrumhalf Herschel Jantjies makes his first start of the season for the side.

Up front Adre Smith joins Moerat in the second row, while Marvin Orie, who captained the side against Edinburgh, drops to the replacement bench in a rotational switch. Ball hunter Nama Xaba comes onto the bench for the first time this season, while Paul de Wet and Dan Du Plessis both will make second half appearances after starting the first two games.

EXCITING POTENTIAL

Coach John Dobson said he was excited to see some of the new combinations in action, which will give him a good idea of the depth he has to play with ahead of some tough games in the European Cup this season.

“This is a team full of potential, just looking at some of the combinations we have out there,” Dobson said.

“It is fantastic to have someone of Salmaan’s stature to step in as captain and we are excited to see what the likes of Alapati, Sacha, Willie and Herschel can do as they all make their first starts of the campaign.

“We know it will be tough against a competitive Zebre side away from home, but preparations have gone well and we are looking forward to the challenge,” he said.

Zebre may have lost their opening three games but with a number of South African signings in the off-season, as well as the acquisition of former Sharks attacking coach Dave Williams, they possess enough knowledge and flair to give the Stormers some problems.

They ran both Leinster and the Cell C Sharks close in home games before succumbing in the end, but are certainly a side that can cause some problems for the Stormers.

DHL Stormers: Damian Willemse; Suleiman Hartzenberg, Alapati Leuia, Sacha Mngomezulu, Angelo Davids; Manie Libbok, Herschel Jantjies; Evan Roos, Willie Engelbrecht, Junior Pokomela, Adre Smith, Salmaan Moerat (captain), Neethling Fouche, Andre-Hugo Venter, Ali Vermaak.

Replacements: Chad Solomon, Kwenzo Blose, Brok Harris, Marvin Orie, Nama Xaba, Marcel Theunissen, Paul de Wet, Dan du Plessis.