Roos included in Stormers squad for Connacht clash

Evan Roos has travelled with the 26-man Stormers squad for the Vodacom United Rugby Championship match against Connacht in Galway on Saturday.

The Stormers were set to arrive in Ireland on Wednesday for their URC encounter with Connacht.

The first-ever match between the two teams will kick off at 1pm local time (3pm SAST) on Saturday at the Sportsground in what are expected to be wet and windy conditions.

The Stormers have been boosted for this trip by the return of props Ali Vermaak and Neethling Fouche and loose forwards Evan Roos and Junior Pokomela from injury.

Vermaak, Fouche and Pokomela have all recently made their return to full fitness by playing for Western Province in the Currie Cup.

Roos, meanwhile, has been struggling with a minor rib injury over the past few weeks, but has been involved in full training this week and is expected to be fit to play on Saturday.

Currently at the top of the South African Shield and in eighth place on the combined URC log, a win for the Stormers against seventh-placed Connacht will have them climbing further up the standings.

Following wins over all three the other South African teams in recent weeks, the Stormers will be looking to add another valuable away win, although head coach John Dobson knows that they will have to be at their best to do so.

“Connacht are notoriously difficult to beat at the Sportsground and we will have to adjust quickly to the different conditions, coming from a Cape summer and going into winter in Galway.

“The players have embraced the challenge and we are all looking forward to the experience,” he said.

Stormers squad (Connacht): Angelo Davids, Hacjivah Dayimani, Paul de Wet, Ben-Jason Dixon, Dan du Plessis, Neethling Fouche, Deon Fourie, Warrick Gelant, Brok Harris, Herschel Jantjies, Steven Kitshoff (c), Manie Libbok, David Meihuizen, Ruhan Nel, Scarra Ntubeni, Marvin Orie, Sergeal Petersen, Junior Pokomela, Evan Roos, Sazi Sandi, Seabelo Senatla, Adre Smith, Ernst van Rhyn, Andre-Hugo Venter, Ali Vermaak, Damian Willemse.

Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images

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