The teams for the first-ever United Rugby Championship Grand Final have been named as the DHL Stormers take on the Vodacom Bulls in Cape Town on Saturday, June 18 at 19:30 SAST (18:30 UK/IRE).
#STOvBUL
- URC top try scorer Leolin Zas drops out of the DHL Stormers team due to injury and is replaced by Sergeal Petersen
- Flanker Deon Fourie makes his 100th appearance for DHL Stormers
- Vodacom Bulls name the same starting XV that defeated Leinster in last weekend’s Final Four fixture in Dublin
SATURDAY, JUNE 18 – DHL Stadium, Cape Town
DHL Stormers: Warrick Gelant, Sergeal Petersen, Ruhan Nel, Damian Willemse, Seabelo Senatla, Manie Libbok, Herschel Jantjies; Evan Roos, Hacjivah Dayimani, Deon Fourie, Marvin Orie, Salmaan Moerat, Frans Malherbe, JJ Kotze, Steven Kitshoff (captain).
Replacements: Andre-Hugo Venter, Brok Harris, Neethling Fouche, Ernst van Rhyn, Junior Pokomela, Nama Xaba, Godlen Masimla, Sacha Mngomezulu.
Vodacom Bulls: Canan Moodie, David Kriel, Cornal Hendricks, Harold Vorster, Madosh Tambwe, Chris Smith, Zak Burger; Gerhard Steenekamp, Johan Grobbelaar, Mornay Smith, Walt Steenkamp, Ruan Nortje, Marcell Coetzee (captain), Arno Botha, Elrigh Louw.
Replacements: Bismarck du Plessis, Simphiwe Matanzima, Robert Hunt, Janko Swanepoel, WJ Steenkamp; Embrose Papier, Morne Steyn, Kurt-Lee Arendse.
DHL Stormers Head Coach John Dobson said: “Deon (Fourie) embodies a lot of what we pride ourselves in as a team. Playing for the DHL Stormers means a lot to Deon and it means a lot to the rest of us that he reaches this milestone on such a big occasion. He deserves all the accolades coming his way.”
Dobson added that he is glad to be able to bring the likes of Petersen and Pokomela in, with both players contributing to the DHL Stormers in getting to this point. “Sergeal and Junior have shown their worth for us this season and both add something different to our squad, so we are looking forward to seeing what they can do on Saturday.”
Vodacom Bulls, director of rugby, Jake White: “It’s been an incredible season in our first one participating in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship. We have measured ourselves against some of the best sides and players in the world. So, to be able to play in the final is an incredible feat. I am very proud of the Vodacom Bulls players, coaches and staff for the hard work and role they played in getting this far.”
“We are up against a deserving and strong DHL Stormers side that has shown throughout the season how competitive and hungry for success they are. We expect another tough challenge against a team we have not managed to beat this season.”
