The DHL Stormers and Munster will go head-to-head not only for bragging rights, but also for top spot on the log, at Thomond Park in Limerick at 19:30 (SA Time). Both sides are on 23 points from their five games to date, with the Capetonians at number one due to their superior points difference.
Munster have won their last five home games in the Vodacom URC since losing to the Vodacom Bulls at Thomond Park in April, but they come up against a DHL Stormers side that boasts the best defensive record so far this season, having conceded only four tries in their five games.
Three of their five victories this season have come on the road, with the DHL Stormers beating Scarlets, Zebre, and Benetton on tour before the November Test break – it was the first time they have achieved a trio of successive away victories in the Vodacom URC.
But the DHL Stormers will also know that their only previous victory on the road against an Irish province was when they beat Connacht 16-12 in Galway in May 2024, while Munster have won four out of five clashes with the Capetonians.
Munster captain Tadhg Beirne is among five returning Ireland internationals after being named in World Rugby’s Dream Team of the Year earlier this week.
Tom Ahern, Craig Casey, Jack Crowley and Tom Farrell also return from international duty to start with Farrell earning his first two Ireland caps earlier this month.
Shane Daly, Diarmuid Kilgallen and Thaakir Abrahams are named in the back three with a centre partnership of Alex Nankivell and Farrell.
Returning internationals Casey and Crowley are paired in the half-backs.
Jeremy Loughman, Diarmuid Barron and John Ryan pack down in the front row with Ahern and Fineen Wycherley in the engine room. Wycherley has started Munster’s five URC games so far this season and played in all but 19 minutes of those five games.
Beirne, Jack O’Donoghue and Gavin Coombes start in the back row.
Niall Scannell, Michael Milne and Academy tighthead prop Ronan Foxe provide the front row back-up with Edwin Edogbo and John Hodnett completing the forward cover.
Ethan Coughlan, Tony Butler and Dan Kelly are the backline replacements.
Wing Dylan Maart will make his DHL Stormers debut. Maart has joined the squad on loan and will have the experienced duo of Warrick Gelant and Leolin Zas at the back with him, while Wandisile Simelane and Ruhan Nel will link up in midfield.
Jurie Matthee and Stefan Ungerer are the halfback combination, with Dewaldt Duvenage and Clinton Swart the two backline replacements.
Salmaan Moerat will captain the team from the second row, with Connor Evans alongside him, and the pairing of Adré Smith and JD Schickerling set to make an impact when they join the fray in the second half.
Neethling Fouché makes his return from injury and is joined in the front row by André-Hugo Venter and Vernon Matongo, with Oli Kebble set to make his first DHL Stormers appearance since 2017 from a replacements bench which also features JJ Kotzé and Sazi Sandi.
Evan Roos, Marcel Theunissen and Paul de Villiers form the loose trio, while Ruan Ackermann is set to make an impact when he takes the field.
Teams:
Munster: 15 Shane Daly, 14 Diarmuid Kilgallen, 13 Tom Farrell, 12 Alex Nankivell, 11 Thaakir Abrahams, 10 Jack Crowley, 9 Craig Casey, 8 Gavin Coombes, 7 Jack O’Donoghue, 6 Tadhg Beirne (c), 5 Fineen Wycherley, 4 Tom Ahern, 3 John Ryan, 2 Diarmuid Barron, 1 Jeremy Loughman. Replacements: 16 Niall Scannell, 17 Michael Milne, 18 Ronan Foxe, 19 Edwin Edogbo, 20 John Hodnett, 21 Ethan Coughlan, 22 Tony Butler, 23 Dan Kelly.
DHL Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Dylan Maart, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Ruhan Nel, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Jurie Matthee, 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Marcel Theunissen, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 Connor Evans, 4 Salmaan Moerat (c), 3 Neethling Fouché, 2 André-Hugo Venter, 1 Vernon Matongo. Replacements: 16 JJ Kotzé, 17 Oli Kebble, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Adré Smith, 20 JD Schickerling, 21 Ruan Ackermann, 22 Dewaldt Duvenage, 23 Clinton Swart.