Stormers v All Blacks: Team line-ups, kick off time
· The South African
On Friday night, the Stormers will face New Zealand for the first time in the history of the club, with coach John Dobson naming a strong matchday 23.
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Outside centre Ruhan Nel will captain the Stormers team that will face the All Blacks for the first match of their tour, with kick off at 19:00.
Springboks such as Evan Roos, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Warrick Gelant and Deon Fourie have been named in the Stormers squad, while exciting youngster Yaqeen Ahmed will start at flyhalf.
“For a club side to take on an international team ranked second in the world is a massive opportunity and one that every player and management member is looking forward to,” coach John Dobson said.
All Blacks reveal team as they get set to kick off Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour against the Stormers
Meanwhile, the All Blacks have understandably opted to select very few of their first-choice players for this opening tour clash, although Beauden Barrett returns to the No 10 jersey in an exciting backline that also features veterans Rieko Ioane and Anton Lienert-Brown.
Patrick Tuipulotu will lead the team, starting in a pack that includes dynamic loose forward Wallace Sititi at No 8.
“We know the Stormers will kick a lot and apply pressure through that. They’ve got absolute lightning wheels all over the park, so we’re going to have to deal with that,” stated New Zealand coach Dave Rennie.
“But it does create opportunities for us; the ball will be kicked to us and if we can deal with that, then we’ll get some opportunities. Hopefully the weather plays its part.
“We’re going to play against a side that is very competitive in the URC, and who will be excited about the potential of an international scalp, so that makes them dangerous.
“We’ve got a Test match only around the corner and we know we’ll need to be better against the Springboks than we were in the previous three Tests.”
TEAM LINE-UPS
Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Ruhan Nel (captain), 12 Jonathan Roche, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Yaqeen Ahmed, 9 Imad Khan, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Hacjivah Dayimani, 6 Deon Fourie, 5 Connor Evans, 4 Adré Smith, 3 Neethling Fouché, 2 André-Hugo Venter, 1 Vernon Matongo.
Replacements: 16 JJ Kotzé, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Ruan Ackermann, 20 Keke Morabe, 21 Wandile Mlaba, 22 Dewaldt Duvenage, 23 Wandisile Simelane.
ALL BLACKS – 15 Josh Moorby, 14 Leroy Carter, 13 Billy Proctor, 12 Anton Lienert-Brown, 11 Rieko Ioane, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Cortez Ratima, 8 Wallace Sititi, 7 Peter Lakai, 6 Simon Parker, 5 Patrick Tuipulotu (c), 4 Fabian Holland, 3 Pasilio Tosi, 2 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 1 George Bower.
Bench: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 Ollie Norris, 18 Siale Lauaki, 19 Sam Darry, 20 Ethan Blackadder, 21 Kyle Preston, 22 Josh Jacomb, 23 Caleb Clarke.