Fouché leads DHL Stormers in Belfast
Tighthead prop Neethling Fouché will take over the DHL Stormers captaincy for the Vodacom United Rugby Championship encounter with Ulster in Belfast on Friday night.
The DHL Stormers will be looking to make it two wins from two matches on tour when they run out at Kingspan Stadium at 21h35 (SAST) on Friday.
Fouché comes in for Frans Malherbe, who is being rested according to national team requirements, with regular skipper Salmaan Moerat ruled out through injury. Connor Evans will start in the second row, while the only other change to the forward pack sees Dave Ewers start on the flank in place of Deon Fourie, who has been ruled out due to HIA protocols.
In the backline Damian Willemse starts at fullback, with Warrick Gelant’s workload being managed due to a minor injury, with the other two changes seeing a fit Suleiman Hartzenberg start at outside centre and experienced scrumhalf Dewaldt Duvenage in the starting line-up.
Director of Rugby John Dobson said that his team is keen to build on the momentum gained from their two consecutive wins away from home.
“After winning at Loftus Versfeld and then in Llanelli last week, we know that it will be crucial to carry that momentum into our run of four home matches.
“It is always a fierce contest against Ulster and we know that we will have to be on our game for the full 80 minutes to get the result we want,” he said.
DHL Stormers: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Ben Loader, 13 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 12 Dan du Plessis, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Marcel Theunissen, 6 Dave Ewers, 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 Connor Evans, 3 Neethling Fouché (captain), 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Ali Vermaak.
Replacements: 16 André-Hugo Venter, 17 Brok Harris, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Gary Porter, 20 Willie Engelbrecht, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 Jurie Matthee, 23 Wandisile Simelane.
