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The Cape-based side will hope to pick up a full house of points to stay in the hunt for a fourth-place finish.
Damian Willemse will make his 100th Stormers appearance this Saturday. Picture: Roger Sedres/Gallo Images
Two-time World Cup winner Damian Willemse will play his 100th game for the Stormers when the Cape-based team take on the Dragons from Wales in a penultimate round United Rugby Championship match in Cape Town on Saturday.
Willemse, who will wear the number 12 jersey, will become the 11th player to reach the milestone and at just 27 years old the youngest to do so. The match kicks off at 6.15pm.
Willemse will be part of an exciting Stormers back division that includes Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu at flyhalf, Wandisile Simelane at 13, Seabelo Senatla and Ben Loader on the wings and Warrick Gelant at fullback.
Up front loosehead prop Vernon Matongo makes his first start and is joined in the front row by Springbok hooker Joseph Dweba, while young tighthead Zachary Porthen is set to make his Stormers debut from the replacements bench.
The match will also allow Stormers fans to say farewell to the injury Brok Harris, who has decided to call it a day at the age of 40.
Stormers coach John Dobson paid tribute to Willemse and Harris, who have both made an immense contribution to the team.
“Damian and Brok both embody what it means to be a Stormer, although they could not be much more different. Both are special players and wonderful people who have given so much to this team, so it will be fantastic to recognise that on Saturday,” he said.
Dobson added that Willemse has shown that he is a one-of-a-kind talent.
“I don’t think Damian always gets the recognition that he deserves for what he brings to our team. This is someone who has proven himself at the highest level and would walk into any team in the world.
“You will not find a more professional player, but what really stands out is his commitment and loyalty. It means so much for him to represent this team and our supporters, so this is a big moment in the career of one of our greatest players,” he said.
The Stormers will be keen to pick up a win against the bottom-placed team, who have just one win in 16 matches, to move higher up the URC points table from their current sixth position and 45 points.
Stormers: Warrick Gelant, Ben Loader, Wandisile Simelane, Damian Willemse, Seabelo Senatla, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Stefan Ungerer, Evan Roos, Marcel Theunissen, Paul de Villiers, Ruben van Heerden, Salmaan Moerat (capt), Sazi Sandi, Joseph Dweba, Vernon Matongo. Bench: JJ Kotze, Ali Vermaak, Zachary Porthen, Connor Evans, Louw Nel, Paul de Wet, Dan du Plessis, Suleiman Hartzenberg.
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