The DHL Stormers will host ASM Clermont Auvergne in Cape Town on Saturday at 19h30 (SA Time), where they will target a third consecutive win in the tournament.
Depending on the other results, a bonus point should be enough for the DHL Stormers to qualify for the playoffs, but given the Cape side’s high standards, they will see this as a last resort.
They will, however, expect a big onslaught from Clermont, who may require a victory and possibly a bonus point to remain in the competition depending on how the other teams perform. Adding spice to the clash, the French club defeated the DHL Stormers 24-14 in the opening round of the competition in France, and this is expected to give them a mental boost going into the match.
However, the hosts have the benefit of a terrific 28-14 win at London Irish in Round 3, when Clermont crashed 29-44 at home to Leicester Tigers to slip to eighth, the last qualification place in the pool.
Prediction: DHL Stormers by 15
Stefan Ungerer and Kade Wolhuter will pull the strings at halfback for the DHL Stormers on Saturday.
There are three changes in total to the starting line-up for the DHL Stormers’ final pool match of the tournament, which kicks off at 19h30 on Saturday.
The other change is in the forward pack, with Willie Engelbrecht starting at blindside flank. All three changes come as the result of concussions picked up in the win against London Irish last week, with Junior Pokomela, Paul de Wet and Manie Libbok all unavailable for selection.
Springboks Herschel Jantjies and Evan Roos will both make their return from injury via a replacements bench which also features flyhalf Jean-Luc du Plessis and hooker JJ Kotze.
DHL Stormers Head Coach John Dobson said that the team are looking forward to what should be a great occasion at DHL Stadium.
“This has all the makings of a Heineken Champions Cup classic, with a place in the play-offs at stake and we want to do it justice.
“Three concussions in one week poses a bit of a challenge for us, but we are keen to see what impact the players coming in can make.
“We are also obviously delighted to have players of the calibre of Herschel, Evan, JJ and Jean-Luc back in the mix off the bench, so there is a lot to look forward to on Saturday night,” he said.
DHL Stormers: 15. Damian Willemse, 14. Suleiman Hartzenberg, 13. Ruhan Nel, 12. Dan du Plessis, 11. Angelo Davids, 10. Kade Wolhuter, 9. Stefan Ungerer, 8. Hacjivah Dayimani, 7. Willie Engelbrecht, 6. Deon Fourie, 5. Marvin Orie, 4. Connor Evans, 3. Neethling Fouche, 2. Joseph Dweba, 1. Steven Kitshoff (c). Replacements: 16. JJ Kotze, 17. Ali Vermaak, 18. Brok Harris, 19. Ben-Jason Dixon, 20. Evan Roos, 21. Herschel Jantjies, 22. Jean-Luc du Plessis, 23. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
Clermont: 15. Alex Newsome, 14. Marvin O’Connor, 13. Cheik Tiberghien, 12. George Moala, 11. Bautista Delguy, 10. Anthony Belleau, 9. Baptiste Jauneau, 8. Judicaël Cancoriet (c), 7. Killian Tixeront, 6. Alexandre Fischer, 5. Thibaud Lanen, 4. Paul Jedrasiak, 3. Rabah Slimani, 2. Etienne Fourcade, 1. Giorgi Beria. Replacements: 16. Benjamin Boudou, 17. Daniel Bibi Biziwu, 18. Davit Kubriashvili, 19. Miles Amatosero, 20. Lucas Dessaigne, 21. Sébastien Bézy, 22. Gabin Michet, 23. Francois Mey.
