Brok Harris set for historic first as Stormers name team to face Leinster

By SABC Sport
26th April 2024

Prop Brok Harris will become the first player to reach 150 appearances for the Stormers in the URC clash with Leinster at DHL Stadium on Saturday.

Loose forwards Evan Roos and Marcel Theunissen will both bring up the milestone of 50 matches for the DHL Stormers in the clash with the log-leaders, which kicks off at 19h05 on Saturday.

Harris is joined in the front row by Neethling Fouche and Joseph Dweba, while captain Salmaan Moerat will partner Ruben van Heerden in the second row.

Roos and Theunissen will link up with Ben-Jason Dixon in the loose trio, with hooker Andre-Hugo Venter and lock Connor Evans joining the matchday squad this week on the replacements bench.

There are just two changes to the backline, with Damian Willemse alongside Dan du Plessis in midfield and Herschel Jantjies in at scrumhalf.

DHL Stormers Director of Rugby John Dobson paid tribute to the three players reaching milestones in what is a critical match for his side.

"Nobody has played more times for the DHL Stormers than Brok Harris. This is a remarkable achievement and we couldn™t be happier for him. He is a top rugby man in every sense.

"Evan and Marcel have hit the 50 mark early in their careers and while they have a lot to be proud of, we know that there is much more to come from both of them," he said.

Dobson added that this match is set to be one for the ages given the context of the season.

"Hosting Leinster at DHL Stadium is a massive game no matter the circumstances, but with both teams looking to bounce back from defeat last week and the play-offs fast approaching we are expecting an epic duel," he said.

DHL Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 13 Dan du Plessis, 12 Damian Willemse, 11 Ben Loader, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Marcel Theunissen, 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 Salmaan Moerat (captain), 3 Neethling Fouche, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Brok Harris.

Replacements: Andre-Hugo Venter, 17 Kwenzo Blose, 18 Frans Malherbe, 19 Connor Evans, 20 Willie Engelbrecht, 21 Hacjivah Dayimani, 22 Stefan Ungerer, 23 Wandisile Simelane.