Stormers make wholesale changes for Ulster clash

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Stormers head coach John Dobson has revealed his team for their Round 13 United Rugby Championship clash against Ulster in Belfast on Friday.

There are 10 changes to the team that beat Clermont 30-16 in Round Four of the Champions Cup last weekend.

In the backline, Clayton Blommetjies takes over the No.15 jersey from Damian Willemse, who is being rested.

The other change in the back three sees Cornel Smit come in for Angelo Davids.

Jean-Luc du Plessis gets the all-important No.10 jersey this week with Kade Wolhuter providing cover on the bench.

Meanwhile, Ruhan Nel will have a new midfield partner in the form of Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.

In the pack, Springbok Evan Roos will start at No.8 after playing off the bench against Clermont. The other change in the back row sees Junior Pokomela take over the No.6 jersey from Deon Fourie.

Marvin Orie, who takes over the captaincy from Steven Kitshoff, has a new second-row partner in the form of Ben-Jason Dixon.

There is also a new-look front row in the form of Brok Harris, JJ Kotze and Ali Vermaak.

They take over from Neethling Fouche, Joseph Dweba and Kitshoff, who is also being rested.

Stormers: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 11 Cornel Smit, 10 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Willie Engelbrecht, 6 Junior Pokomela, 5 Marvin Orie (captain), 4 Ben-Jason Dixon, 3 Brok Harris, 2 JJ Kotze, 1 Ali Vermaak.

Replacements: 16 Scarra Ntubeni, 17 Kwenzo Blose, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Ruben van Heerden, 20 Marcel Theunissen, 21 Herschel Jantjies, 22 Kade Wolhuter, 23 Juan de Jongh.

Date: Friday, January 27

Venue: Ravenhill Stadium, Belfast

Kick-off: 19.35 (19.35 GMT; 21.35 SA time)

Referee: Mike Adamson (Scotland)

Assistant referees: Andrew Cole (Ireland), Paul Haycock (Ireland)

TMO: Andrew McMenemy (Scotland)