Injury-hit Stormers forced into reshuffle

Stormers director of rugby John Dobson has reshuffled his lineup for Friday's United Rugby Championship opener against Connacht in Galway. Loose forwards Evan Roos and Marcel Theunissen were ruled out after sustaining hamstring and calf injuries, respectively. Dobson linked both soft-tissue issues to training on an artificial 4G surface ahead of the round-one fixture.

The lineup adjustments see Riley Norton shift to blindside flank, Louw Nel move to openside flank, and Gary Porter enter the starting XV at lock. Utility back Wandisile Simelane takes a spot on the bench as the Stormers revert to a 5-3 split among replacements.