“We’ve been blessed to be able to showcase the cultural representation of rugby in the Western Cape through our selections every week, and it has never been a case for me as a coach to look at a team sheet and count how many players of colour have been selected.

“Since I have been coach of the Stormers and in my days of coaching Western Province, it was a simple equation: the best 23 plays in relation to the occasion, and there is a selection science, based on game strategy, individual skills and combinations, as to which 15 start from the 23 and which 15 finish.

“It will also be history-making for the Stormers in a way that I was not aware of until told, which is that 11 of the starting XV are players of colour.

“The strength of Western Province and the Stormers is our cultural diversity, but when I heard the number, it really made me appreciate how much progress we have made, and how we have transformed just by way of understanding how we wanted to play, and then identified the players we believe most effectively suit this game plan.”

Dobson pointed out how he has had to juggle the player resources this year due to Springbok call-ups and injuries, but that the Stormers had still lost just once, with five wins and a draw.

“For us to have dropped just the one match in seven is among our proudest achievements as a squad because it speaks volumes to the qualities of the players within our system, which brings me to the match-day squad for Saturday,” Dobson said.

“It is another of those old and young, experienced and inexperienced groupings, in which we have shown the Dragons the greatest respect, but also been true to our philosophy that if a player is in our extended squad, he is good enough to play in the competition.

“Some regulars return, and some hugely talented youngsters will get a taste of the league and experience the passion of the Welsh lads.

“We know we are in for a heck of a game, but our optimism is such that we believe in ourselves to play great rugby and get a positive result.”

The teams for Friday's Round 9 fixtures of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship have been named with all details of match officials and broadcast information below.

TEAM NEWSHEADLINES

#SHAvOSP

• Makazole Mapimpi has returned tothe club from Springbok duty and has been named on the wing

• Rhys Webb is set to captain theside, with backrower Will Hickey set to make his second start in succession forthe Ospreys

#EDIvMUN

• Scotlandinternationals return to Edinburgh Rugby - Mark Bennett, Blair Kinghorn,Pierre Schoemman, Darcy Graham, Duhan van der Merwe, Viliame Mata

• JohnRyan starts on his 200^th appearance for Munster province, becomingthe 13^th player to reach the landmark while Peter O’Mahony captainsthe side

FRIDAY,DECEMBER 2

Cell C Sharks v Ospreys

Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban – KO 17.10 IRE & UK /18.10 ITA / 19.10 SA

Referee: Eoghan Cross (IRFU, 6th league game)

AR 1: StephanGeldenhuys (SARU) AR 2: Griffin Colby (SARU)

TMO:Sam Grove-White (SRU)

Live on: SuperSport, BBC Wales, Viaplay, TG4, Discovery +,Premier Sports & URC.tv

Cell C Sharks:  BoetaChamberlain, Marnus Potgieter, Francois Venter, Ben Tapuai, Makazole Mapimpi, CurwinBosch, Jaden Hendrikse, Ox Nche, Bongi Mbonambi, Carlu Sadie, Vincent Tshituka,Gerbrandt Grobler, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Jeandre Labuschagne, Phepsi Buthelezi (CAPT)
Replacements : DanJooste, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Khutha Mchunu, Hyron Andrews, James Venter, GrantWilliams, Nevaldo Fleurs, Rohan Janse van Rensburg

Ospreys: Max Nagy, Luke Morgan, Michael Collins, TiaanThomas-Wheeler, Keelan Giles, Jack Walsh, Rhys Webb (CAPT), Rhys Henry, SamParry, Tom Botha, Bradley Davies, Huw Sutton, Ethan Roots, Will Hickey, MorganMorris

Replacements: Scott Baldwin, Garyn Phillips, BenWarren, Jack Regan, Harri Deaves, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Luke Scully, CaiEvans

Ospreys Attack Coach RichardFussell said: “We’re expecting a reaction from the Cell CSharks after the Cardiff game. Whether it’s a change on the field or anattitude change from them, they’re going to come out all guns blazing. Butwe’re going to focus on ourselves, as we showed against the Bulls, when we getourselves right we can be a formidable outfit.”

Edinburgh Rugby v Munster

The DAM Health Stadium, Edinburgh – KO 19.35 IRE & UK /20.35 ITA / 21.35 SA

Referee: Mathieu Raynal (FFR, 3rd league game)

AR 1: IanKenny (SRU) AR 2: Ross Mabon (SRU)

TMO:Philippe Bonhoure (FFR)

Live on: Viaplay, TG4, SuperSport, Premier Sports,Discovery + & URC.tv

Edinburgh Rugby:  Wes Goosen, Darcy Graham, Mark Bennett, ChrisDean, Duhan van der Merwe, Blair Kinghorn, Ben Vellacott, Pierre Schoeman, PaddyHarrison, Luan de Bruin, Jamie Hodgson, Grant Gilchrist (CO-CAPT), JamieRitchie (CO-CAPT), Luke Crosbie, Viliame Mata

Replacements:Tom Cruse, Boan Venter, WP Nel, Marshall Sykes, Nick Haining, Charlie Shiel, Jacovan der Walt, James Lang

Munster:Munster:Shane Daly; Calvin Nash, Antoine Frisch, Rory Scannell, Simon Zebo; JoeyCarbery, Craig Casey; Jeremy Loughman, Niall Scannell, John Ryan; Jean Kleyn,Tadhg Beirne; Peter O'Mahony (CAPT), John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes.

Replacements: DiarmuidBarron, Josh Wycherley, Roman Salanoa, Jack O'Donoghue, Alex Kendellen, PaddyPatterson, Jack Crowley, Patrick Campbell.

Edinburgh Rugby HeadCoach Mike Blair said: “First and foremost, this week hasbeen really tough for all connected to Scottish rugby.

“Doddie was such ahuge figure and the enormity of what he managed to achieve to raise bothawareness and money in the fight against MND is unmeasurable – the thoughts ofall of us at Edinburgh Rugby go out to his family, friends and formerteammates.  As a squad, we’vespoken a lot about Doddie this week and what he stood for. It’s brilliant thatwe’re able to pay tribute to a real icon of Scottish rugby tomorrow night andit will be an emotional moment as we celebrate his life pre-match.

Munster Forwards Coach Andi Kyriacousaid: “ Edinburgh have had a lot of success around their maul, and it’ssomething we have highlighted – we’ve had some good tests in that area fromUlster and South Africa – we feel that we are in a good position to face what’scoming at us on the weekend.”