URC: Leolin Zas reaches 100 as Stormers name team for Connacht opener

Lock Riley Norton, scrumhalves Andre Warner and Ezekiel Ngobeni, and hooker Vernon Paulo will make their Stormers debuts at the Dexcom Stadium.

Zas forms an experienced back three with fellow URC winners Seabelo Senatla and Warrick Gelant, while captain Ruhan Nel partners Jonathan Roche in midfield. Warner starts at scrumhalf alongside Jurie Matthee.

Hacjivah Dayimani starts at No 8, with Louw Nel and Evan Roos on the flanks, while Norton partners the returning JD Schickerling at lock.

Andre-Hugo Venter starts at hooker between Neethling Fouché and Vernon Matongo, with Paulo, Olly Reid and Sazi Sandi among the replacements.

The Stormers will be without a number of key Springboks, however, including Cobus Reinach, Damian Willemse, Zachary Porthen, Paul de Villiers, Deon Fourie and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.

Stormers fans will also have to wait longer for the debuts of returning Boks like Siya Kolisi, Wilco Louw and Cheslin Kolbe.

Director of rugby John Dobson said the four debutants and Zas reaching 100 appearances had created plenty of excitement ahead of the new season.

"Leolin has been a stalwart in this team for so many years and has delivered so many incredible moments. He did not have things his own way and came back from serious injury to cement his place as one of the deadliest finishers to have played for the DHL Stormers.

"We also have the likes of Riley Norton, Vernon Paulo and Ezekiel Ngobeni making their first appearances of what should be long careers with us, while Andre Warner provides the benefit of experience in a crucial position. We are excited for all of them to show what they can do.

"We decided against playing Ben-Jason Dixon and Ntuthuko Mchunu in this match to give them further opportunity to recover from what has been a demanding schedule and be fresh enough to make maximum impact for us," he said.

Dobson added that his side needs an 80-minute effort to get the result in Galway.

"We know just how tough it is to win here. It will take everything we have from all 23 players to start this campaign with a win on the road," he said.

DHL Stormers - 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Ruhan Nel (captain), 12 Jonathan Roche, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Jurie Matthee, 9 Andre Warner, 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Louw Nel, 6 Evan Roos, 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Riley Norton, 3 Neethling Fouche, 2 Andre-Hugo Venter, 1 Vernon Matongo.

Replacements: 16 Vernon Paulo, 17 Olly Reid, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Connor Evans, 20 Adré Smith, 21 Marcel Theunissen, 22 Ezekiel Ngobeni, 23 Yaqeen Ahmed.

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