Bok newbies Libbok, Mngomezulu start for Stormers against Lions

Stormers coach John Dobson has named his team for their URC trip to Johannesburg to tackle the Lions.

Dobson made eight changes to the starting line-up that lost 30-24 away to Cardiff last weekend. Three of the changes are in the backline and five in the pack.

In the backline, new Springbok call-ups Manie Libbok and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu start at flyhalf and inside centre respectively. 

There are also starting spots for winger Angelo Davids and scrumhalf Paul de Wet, with Dan du Plessis moving to outside centre.

Libbok and Mngomezulu are picked despite earlier being named in the Springbok squad for their year-end tour to Europe.

Up front, another Springbok call-up, Evan Roos, is at the back of the scrum, with Junior Pokomela and Hacjivah Dayimani on the flanks.

Another Bok, Marvin Orie, is joined in the second row by skipper Ernst van Rhyn, while front-rankers Neethling Fouche and Brok Harris come into the starting line-up.

Props Ali Vermaak and Sazi Sandi, and Springbok scrumhalf Herschel Jantjies, are among the replacements.

Five Springboks are not available for selection, namely props Frans Malherbe and Steven Kitshoff, utility forward Deon Fourie, lock Salmaan Moerat and utility back Damian Willemse. They are all expected to feature against Ireland in Dublin next weekend.

Dobson said he was pleased with the strength of the squad travelling to Ellis Park.

"We have managed to build some good depth already this season and we are really looking forward to seeing what these guys can do up there.

"We were obviously disappointed with the result last week and while training time has been limited this week, we can’t wait to see how some of these combinations go," the coach said.

Saturday's clash kicks off at 16:00.

Teams:

Lions

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