Watch VideoJD Schickerling leads Stormers as Feinberg-Mngomezulu zeros in at 10 for Lions URC clash

Stormers lock JD Schickerling will captain the side against the Lions on Saturday, with flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu freed up from the leadership duties to focus on his attacking play at Ellis Park. Lock JD Schickerling will leadthe Stormersagainst the Lions at Ellis Park on Saturday (2.30pm kick-off), with director of rugby John Dobson opting to hand the lock the captaincy as the Cape side returns to United Rugby Championship (URC) action. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu starts at flyhalf but is relieved of the leadership duties,allowing him to focus on steering the Stormers’ game from No 10in Johannesburg.

Hooker JJ Kotzé will play his 50th matchin the URC Origin Round, but there is still no sign of midfielder Ruhan Nel, while Springbok star Damian Willemse also does not feature in the match-day squad. The choice of Schickerling as captain is an interesting one by Dobson and his coaches, but removing the extra responsibility from Feinberg-Mngomezulu could allow him to concentrate fully on his primary task – driving the Stormers’ gameplan. “That was one of the reasons,” assistant coach Rito Hlungwani said about the change in captaincy.

“However, as I previously said, we have a very strong leadership group. Now and then, we will have a different captain. But it does take away a bit of pressure from Sacha.

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We really believe the weight of leading the team is not solely on the captain. There are good leaders in the side.” Schickerling’s experience likely counted in his favour when the decision on the armband was made. In the absence of the resting Willemse, Feinberg-Mngomezulu and returning fullback Warrick Gelant will look to spark the visitors’ attack.

The midfield pairing of Jonathan Roche and Wandisile Simelane will also have an important role to play. Everything, though, will start upfront for the Capetonians. Kotzé and his props, Ntuthuko Mchunu and tighthead Sazi Sandi, must anchor the scrums.

The hooker and his captain will also need to command the lineouts to avoid a repeat of the struggles endured against the Sharks in the back-to-back coastal derbies. The loose trio of No 8 Evan Roos and flankers Paul de Villiers and Ben-Jason Dixon will start their sixth match together as the Stormers build consistency in the back row. Their work at the breakdown, along with their ball-carrying ability, will be critical in the push for victory. Scrumhalf Stefan Ungerer partners with Feinberg-Mngomezulu, with Imad Khan and Jurie Matthee providing backline cover off the bench.

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