Stormers coach John Dobson is reportedly set to deploy a rookie in the Champions Cup showdown against Sale Sharks at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday.
According to Netwerk24, centre Jonathan Roche is set to start against Sale with Jean-Luc du Plessis offering insurance from the bench.
The Stormers are missing a trio of injured centre options in regular starter Dan du Plessis, and Springboks Damian Willemse and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
It’s a must-win match for the Stormers who will in all likelihood be ruled out of the Champions Cup playoffs with a third successive loss in the competition.
Roche shone brightly for Western Province in the Currie Cup last year before suffering an injury, though he’ll go into the match on the limited experience of a 15-minute debut for the Stormers in the loss at Harlequins in December.
This will potentially be mitigated by veteran Jean-Luc du Plessis, instrumental in sparking the comeback against the Sharks in Cape Town two weeks ago.
DHL Western Province centre Jonathan Roche was brilliant on his debut in the #CarlingCurrieCup this weekend 👏 pic.twitter.com/Eif8foKekS
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) July 25, 2024
Photo by Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images
