BOK PROP MCHUNU TO DEBUT FOR STORMERS V BAYONNE

SPRINGBOK loosehead prop Ntuthuko Mchunu will make his much-anticipated Stormers debut in their Champions Cup opener against Bayonne at 10pm on Friday.

He is one of two Boks who will feature in a much-changed span for the Kapenaars as they look for the perfect start to their campaign. Unbeaten in the United Rugby Championship, the visitors to the Stade Jean Dauger will look to build on that momentum against a formidable French team.

Mchunu is joined in the front row by Neethling Fouche and hooker JJ Kotze, with promising No 2 Lukhanyo Vokozela also in line to make his debut for the Stormers off the bench.

Ben-Jason Dixon is the other returning Bok, and he will form a loose trio with fetcher Paul de Villiers and No 8 Ruan Ackermann, who makes his first start for the side.

Dixon and Ackermann will lead the physical charge of the Cape team, alongside captain Salmaan Moerat, who will make his 50th start for the team.

Regular No 8 Evan Roos is expected to make an impact off the bench, along with locks JD Schickerling and Adre Smith.

Coach John Dobson opted again for a “Bomb Squad” of six-two replacements.

At the back, a new halfback pairing must steer the ship with Clinton Swart and young scrumhalf Imad Khan starting. 

Dan du Plessis steps in for Ruhan Nel in the midfield, but Dobson opted to keep the exciting back three of fullback Warrick Gelant and speedsters Dylan Maart and Leolin Zas.

Dobson wysed: “We are up against a team with an impressive home record, and it will require a big performance to start this competition with a win away from home.

“We are excited about some of the new combinations and feel we are well set up to maintain intensity for 80 minutes.”

Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Dylan Maart, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Dan du Plessis, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Clinton Swart, 9 Imad Khan, 8 Ruan Ackermann, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 Connor Evans, 4 Salmaan Moerat (captain), 3 Neethling Fouche, 2 JJ Kotze, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu Replacements: 16 Lukhanyo Vokozela, 17 Ali Vermaak, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Adre Smith, 20 JD Schickerling, 21 Evan Roos, 22 Dewaldt Duvenage, 23 Jonathan Roche

Selected Champions Cup fixtures:

Saturday: Bulls v Bordeaux (5.15pm)

Sunday: Toulouse v Sharks (5.15pm)

Selected Challenge Cup fixtures:

Saturday: Lions v Benetton (3pm)

Sunday: Exeter v Cheetahs (7.30pm)