The DHL Stormers will be determined to get their season back on track against the Leicester Tigers at the DHL Stadium on Saturday at 17:15 (SA Time), after their bitterly disappointing result against Harlequins last week, which marked their first defeat in 10 outings.
The Capetonians will enter the match as favourites, given their strong form before last week’s setback, and will give everything to hold onto their unbeaten run at home this season. They will be mindful of the fact that Leicester have delivered a few quality performances away from home, and come off a comprehensive 57-14 victory against Bayonne, which will bolster their confidence going into the match.
The Stormers are currently third in Pool 3 with 9 points, while the Tigers are fifth with 5 points. Leicester, in contrast, secured a significant 57-14 win over Bayonne in their last outing.
A win for the Stormers will secure their place in the Round of 16. A bonus-point victory could see them secure a home playoff match if Harlequins lose their match against Stade Rochelais. Anything short of a win will likely see Leicester relegated to the EPCR Challenge Cup.
The Stormers have been hit with several injuries and will be without key players for this decisive clash. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu will captain the team for the first time due to regular captain Salmaan Moerat's unavailability and injuries to Warrick Gelant and Damian Willemse. Other notable players out include Cobus Reinach and Ruhan Nel.
Wandisile Simelane will start at fullback and link up with wings Leolin Zas and Dylan Maart, with Suleiman Hartzenberg in midfield alongside Jonathan Roche, who also makes his return from a hand injury he picked up in the Vodacom URC win against the Lions late last year.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu partners Stefan Ungerer at halfback as Cobus Reinach continues his recovery from a knee injury sustained against the Vodacom Bulls. JC Mars, Imad Khan, and Luke Burger are the backs on the replacement bench.
The loose trio of Evan Roos, Ben-Jason Dixon, and Paul de Villiers is reunited, with Ruben van Heerden starting alongside JD Schickerling in the second row, and Connor Evans and Marcel Theunissen set to make an impact in the second half.
The starting front row sees hooker André-Hugo Venter start with fellow Springboks Neethling Fouché and Ntuthuko Mchunu on either side of him, while JJ Kotzé makes his return from injury on a replacements bench that also features props Vernon Matongo and Zachary Porthen.
Olly Cracknell captains Leicester Tigers and is joined in the back row by Argentinian international Joaquin Moro and Sam Williams.
In the backline, Ollie Hassell-Collins returns to the starting XV, while Gabriel Hamer-Webb retains his spot but switches to the right wing.
George Pearson gets another starting berth away in the Investec Champions Cup after impressing in the fixture against La Rochelle in December.
Teams
DHL Stormers: 15 Wandisile Simelane, 14 Dylan Maart, 13 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 12 Jonathan Roche, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (c), 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 JD Schickerling, 3 Neethling Fouché, 2 André-Hugo Venter, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu. Replacements: 16 JJ Kotzé, 17 Vernon Matongo, 18 Zachary Porthen, 19 Connor Evans, 20 Marcel Theunissen, 21 Imad Khan, 22 Luke Burger, 23 JC Mars.
Leicester Tigers: 15 George Pearson, 14 Gabe Hamer-Webb, 13 Will Wand, 12 Joe Woodward, 11 Ollie Hassell-Collins, 10 Billy Searle, 9 Tom Whiteley, 8 Olly Cracknell (c), 7 Sam Williams, 6 Joaquin Moro, 5 Harry Wells, 4 James Thompson, 3 Will Hurd, 2 Jamie Blamire, 1 Tareq Haffar. Replacements: 16 Finn Theobald-Thomas, 17 Archie van der Flier, 18 Ale Loman, 19 Tom Manz, 20 Emeka Ilione, 21 Ollie Allan, 22 Orlando Bailey, 23 Ryan Crowley.
