Bok skipper back to lead Stormers

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Lock Salmaan Moerat returns to lead the DHL Stormers in their Investec Champions Cup clash with Harlequins at Twickenham Stoop in London on Saturday.

Moerat, who last played a competitive match for the Springboks in September because of a knee injury, starts in a team that includes several other changes in the wake of last week’s defeat against Toulon in the Champions Cup opener.

There are only seven survivors in the matchday squad that turned out against the French giants – props Leon Lyons and Sazi Sanzi, hooker Andre-Hugo Venter, inside centre Jean-Luc du Plessis, winger Seabelo Senatla and loose forwards Willie Engelbrecht and Louw Nel.

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Sandi anchors a new-look front row with loosehead prop Vernon Matongo and hooker JJ Kotze. Moerat links up with Connor Evans in the second row, while Engelbrecht, Nel and Dave Ewers form the loose trio.

In the backline, Senatla is promoted from the bench to left wing, with Angelo Davids deployed on the other end of the line and veteran playmaker Clayton Blommetjies is recalled at fullback in his first appearance for the Stormers in almost 12 months.

Flyhalf Jurie Matthee and scrumhalf Stefan Ungerer comprise the halfback pairing while Du Plessis is partnered in midfield with Wandisile Simelane.

Venter and Lyons are in line to make an impact as replacements, along with Corne Weilbach, Gary Porter, Paul de Villiers, Dewaldt Duvenage, Jonathan Roche and JC Mars.

Photo: @Springboks/Twitter

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