Kolisi will pull on the Stormers jersey again in Friday’s URC clash with Edinburgh, as the Cape side look to finish their tour on a high before four straight home games.
Siya Kolisi is heading back to where it all began. The Springbok captain is named in the Stormers’ starting XV for their United Rugby Championship match against Edinburgh at the Hive Stadium on Friday, 2 October, kicking off at 20:45 SA time.
It will be his first appearance for the franchise in over five years and his 119th cap for the Stormers.
The team changes
Kolisi starts in the back row, with Louw Nel shifting across and Riley Norton packing down in the second row. Ntuthuko Mchunu comes into the front row, the only other change to the pack. At halfback, Stefan Ungerer and Yaqeen Ahmed take over the controls. Wandile Mlaba is the one new name on the bench, covering loose forward. Ruhan Nel captains the side.
Dobson wants a ruthless edge
Director of Rugby John Dobson said last week’s win over Connacht was encouraging but lacked a ruthless streak, which the team has worked on in training. He called Edinburgh a tough place to play and pointed to the experience of Kolisi, Mchunu and Ungerer, along with the promise of young players Ahmed and Mlaba. The aim is to end the tour with a win before a crucial run of four home matches in Cape Town.
Stormers starting XV: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Ruhan Nel (c), 12 Jonathan Roche, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Yaqeen Ahmed, 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Louw Nel, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Riley Norton, 3 Neethling Fouché, 2 André-Hugo Venter, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu
Replacements: 16 Vernon Paulo, 17 Vernon Matongo, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Connor Evans, 20 Adré Smith, 21 Wandile Mlaba, 22 Andre Warner, 23 Wandisile Simelane
