Stormers unleash Evan Roos for blockbuster URC opener against champions Leinster

The Stormers get their season underway with a blockbuster clash against the defending champions, which kicks off at 19:00 at Cape Town Stadium.

Roos will be at the back of the scrum, with Ben-Jason Dixon and Paul de Villiers either side of him, while Ackermann will make his Stormers debut from the bench.

Centre Ruhan Nel will captain the team and is joined in midfield by the experienced Dan du Plessis, with Leolin Zas and Seabelo Senatla on the wings. Wandisile Simelane is at fullback as Warrick Gelant has been ruled out with a calf strain picked up in pre-season.

Jurie Matthee and Stefan Ungerer form the halfback pairing, with Dewaldt Duvenage alongside potential Stormers debutant Swart on the replacements bench.

Springboks Neethling Fouche and Andre-Hugo Venter are joined by Vernon Matongo in the front row, with Reid in line to make his debut from a replacements bench that also features hooker JJ Kotze and tighthead prop Zachary Porthen.

JD Schickerling and Adre Smith will link up in the second row, with Ruben van Heerden set to make an impact in the second half.

There are three players on the replacements bench in line to make their Stormers debut. The 19-year-old prop Olly Reid, who was playing for Paul Roos last year, loose forward Ruan Ackermann and flyhalf Clinton Swart are all set to take the field in a Stormers jersey for the first time.

Director of Rugby John Dobson said that after a full pre-season, his team is determined to hit the ground running at home.

"There has been a lot of hard work put in from players and management to get to this point and we are all very excited to get going," he said.

"Playing the defending champions at home means that we will have to be on our game to get the result we want and we know we will have our fans right behind us as always.

"With Salmaan Moerat and Deon Fourie sidelined with injuries, Ruhan was the natural choice to take over as captain and we know the team will be in good hands on the field. He has been part of the leadership group for some time and is completely aligned with the coaching team in terms of the way we want to play."

Stormers - 15 Wandisile Simelane, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Ruhan Nel (c), 12 Dan du Plessis, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Jurie Matthee, 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Adre Smith, 3 Neethling Fouché, 2 Andre-Hugo Venter, 1 Vernon Matongo.

Replacements: 16 JJ Kotze, 17 Olly Reid, 18 Zachary Porthen, 19 Ruben van Heerden, 20 Ruan Ackermann, 21 Marcel Theunissen, 22 Dewaldt Duvenage, 23 Clinton Swart.

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