There are nine Springboks in the DHL Stormers starting line-up for the Investec Champions Cup encounter with Stade Rochelais at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday.
Warrick Gelant, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Cobus Reinach, Evan Roos and André-Hugo Venter all come into the starting XV for the clash with the two-time champions, which kicks off at 15h00 on Saturday in Gqeberha.
Gelant has recovered from the illness which saw him ruled out on matchday ahead of the 26-17 win against Bayonne last week and will have wings Dylan Maart and Leolin Zas with him at the back.
Damian Willemse is recovering from a slight hamstring niggle and should be available for selection next week.
Ruhan Nel is also back in the starting team and forms a midfield partnership with Jonathan Roche, with Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Reinach the halfback pairing.
Evan Roos starts this week after providing impact from the bench in Bayonne and resumes his combination with flanks Ban-Jason Dixon and Paul de Villiers.
JD Schickerling starts alongside captain Salmaan Moerat in the second row, while up front Venter starts with Springbok props Ntuthuko Mchunu and Neethling Fouché either side of him.
The replacements bench includes the likes of hooker JJ Kotzé, lock Connor Evans, loose forward Ruan Ackermann, scrumhalf Imad Khan and utility back Wandisile Simelane, who all started in Bayonne last week. They are joined by props Oli Kebble and Sazi Sandi and loose forward Marcel Theunissen.
Director of Rugby John Dobson said that his team is looking to build on their encouraging performance in France last week.
“It was great to win away from home, but we have to back that up now and we know that it will take a big effort against a highly physical Stade Rochelais team.
“We always get such fantastic support in Gqeberha, so we are all looking forward to what should be a big match with Test match intensity at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium,” he said.
Tickets are available from stormers.co.za and the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium ticket office.
Please note that the DHL Stormers matchday squad will be officially announced by EPCR at 14h00 on Friday. As per competition rules, changes may be made up until that time.
DHL Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Dylan Maart, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Jonathan Roche, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Salmaan Moerat, 3 Neethling Fouché, 2 André-Hugo Venter, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu.
Replacements: 16 JJ Kotzé, 17 Oli Kebble, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Connor Evans, 20 Ruan Ackermann, 21 Marcel Theunissen, 22 Imad Khan, 23 Wandisile Simelane.
