The DHL Stormers host the Lions today at 15:30 (SA Time)at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town, as heavy favourites, aiming for their ninth consecutive win across all competitions this season, and are predicted to win by a significant margin.
The Stormers are in exceptional form with eight straight wins, while the Lions are looking to bounce back from recent European competition losses. The Stormers have a strong historical record against the Lions, particularly at home.
A main attraction ahead of this mouth-watering derby will certainly be at the breakdown, where both teams possess the services of accurate poachers in the form of Jarod Cairns and Paul de Villiers for the hosts, as well as dynamic ball carriers in loose play.
The home side faces several key injuries in the backline, with Springboks Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (groin), Ruhan Nel (calf), and Damian Willemse (hamstring) all ruled out.
Neethling Fouché will earn his 100th cap for the Stormers in the match. Fouché is joined in the front row by fellow Springbok André-Hugo Venter and Vernon Matongo, while in the second row, Ruben van Heerden returns from injury to start alongside captain Salmaan Moerat.
The only change to the loose trio sees Marcel Theunissen come into the starting line-up, with Springboks Ben-Jason Dixon and Ntuthuko Mchunu among the six forwards on the replacements bench.
At the back, Jurie Matthee is back in at flyhalf and Jonathan Roche linking up with Wandisile Simelane in midfield.
Suleiman Hartzenberg is set to make his return from injury in the second half, with scrumhalf Stefan Ungerer the other back on the replacements bench.
The Lions welcome back a host of first-choice players who were rested last week, including Springboks Quan Horn, Morne van den Berg, Ruan Venter, and Asenathi Ntlabakanye. Francke Horn returns to captain the team.
The Joburg franchise will also be boosted by the return of PJ Botha in the hooking position. Botha made his return to rugby in last week’s trip to Newcastle in the EPCR Challenge Cup.
Last Five URC Games
Stormers vs Lions ( 29-10) on the 2 1st Dec, 2024
Lions vs Stormers (33-35) on the 21st Oct, 2023
Stormers vs Lions (40-08) on the 31st Dec, 2022
Lions vs Stormers (22-31) on the 29th Oct, 2022
Lions vs Stormers (10-32) on the 12th Feb, 2022
Teams:
DHL Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Dylan Maart, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Jonathan Roche, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Jurie Matthee, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Marcel Theunissen, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 Salmaan Moerat (c), 3 Neethling Fouché, 2 André-Hugo Venter, 1 Vernon Matongo. Replacements: 16 Lukhanyo Vokozela, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Adré Smith, 20 JD Schickerling, 21 Ben-Jason Dixon, 22 Stefan Ungerer, 23 Suleiman Hartzenberg.
Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Kelly Mpeku, 13 Erich Cronje, 12 Bronson Mills, 11 Eduan Keyter, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Francke Horn (c), 7 Ruan Venter, 6 Jarod Cairns, 5 Reinhard Nothnagel, 4 Etienne Oosthuizen, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 PJ Botha, 1 SJ Kotze. Replacements: 16 Franco Marais, 17 Eddie Davids, 18 RF Schoeman, 19 Dylan Sjoblom, 20 Darrien Landsberg, 21 Siba Qoma, 22 Nico Steyn, 23 Richard Kriel.