Damian Willemse (27) will become the youngest player in the history of the Stormers to reach 100 matches when they face the Dragons in the United Rugby Championship (URC) on Saturday in Cape Town (6.15pm start).
The back-to-back World Cup winner and inaugural URC champion will don the 12-jersey in a team showing a couple of changes from the last squad that played against Benetton a couple of weeks ago.
In an exciting midfield, Willemse will play next to Wandisile Simelane, while Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu retains the flyhalf jersey with no sign of Manie Libbok just yet although he has recovered from his knee injury.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu will be tasked with leading the attack again with Willemse and fullback Warrick Gelant also in the mix.
Englishmen Ben Loader links up with Seabelo Senatla on the wing in what could be another try-fest for the home side.
Up front, Bok hooker Joseph Dweba and loosehead Vernon Matongo start with tighthead Sazi Sandi fulfilling the senior role in that position in the injury absence of Brok Harris, Frans Malherbe, and the suspended Neethling Fouché.
Here is our team to take on Dragons RFC at DHL Stadium on Saturday. See you there!
📢 Team announcement https://t.co/mWybyO3DhC
🎟️ Tickets here https://t.co/zaZJN2PvTe#STOvDRA #iamastormer @Vodacom #URC pic.twitter.com/cVSz3t8OJz— DHL Stormers (@THESTORMERS) May 9, 2025
Director of rugby John Dobson said he wants his team to build on the momentum gained against Benetton. They scored seven excellent tries and only conceded one five-pointer.
“We were happy with the performance in our last match against Benetton, but we cannot take a backwards step now. We want to keep building and adding to our game so that we are ready for whatever gets thrown at us in the knock-out phase of the competition.”
Dobson also praised Willemse and Harris for their contribution to the Stormers.
He has been playing for this team since he was 18 and on Saturday Damian Willemse brings up his DHL Stormers century. What a player! #iamastormer pic.twitter.com/54n2VKtXF1
— DHL Stormers (@THESTORMERS) May 8, 2025
“Damian and Brok both embody what it means to be a Stormers player, although they could not be much more different. Both are special players and wonderful people who have given so much to this team, so it will be fantastic to recognise that on Saturday.”
Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Ben Loader, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Damian Willemse, 11 Seabelo Senatla, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Marcel Theunissen, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 Salmaan Moerat (captain), 3 Sazi Sandi, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Vernon Matongo. Replacements: 16 JJ Kotze, 17 Ali Vermaak, 18 Zachary Porthen, 19 Connor Evans, 20 Louw Nel, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 Dan du Plessis, 23 Suleiman Hartzenberg.
