Finishing their inaugural Vodacom United Rugby Championship tour on a winning note will be the sole aim of the Stormers this weekend when they face the Dragons today at the Rodney Parade, Newport @ 20h35.
The Two improving teams will be looking to continue their growth kick-off the round. The Stormers stepped up their game considerably last weekend. They could and probably should’ve left Edinburgh with a win, however, they’ll take plenty of positives from the 20-all draw and will fancy their chances of earning that elusive first win in Newport.
After two narrow losses, the Dragons broke their duck in style away from home, stunning Connacht 35-22. What’s especially concerning for the Capetonians is that it was a complete performance by the Welsh outfit, who scored four tries and 15 points off the boot of Sam Davies. That it was their first win at the Sportsground in over 17 years will add further fire to a team that nearly shocked Leinster (losing 7-6) in Round Two.
For the Stormers to secure their first win on tour, they will have to stop the lateral running in midfield and eliminate the soft individual errors on defence that cost them so dearly against Edinburgh. A few steps ahead, having cut out the mistakes they made in the first two rounds.
There will be several familiar faces for South Africans, including former British and Irish Lions, Wales and Stormers midfielder Jamie Roberts and Los Pumas halfback Gonzalo Bertranou, while the team also boasts New Zealand born prop Aki Seuili and former British and Irish Lion Ross Moriarty.
For the 36-year-old Brok Harris of the Stormers, it would be a homecoming of sorts, as the experienced prop represented the Dragons in close to 150 matches before returning to Cape Town on a short-term deal from Wales recently.
Dragons director of rugby, Dean Ryan has made just three changes to his starting XV.
The Director of Dragons Rugby is looking for his to make it back-to-back victories following last week’s impressive 22-35 win over Connacht in Galway.
The Men of Gwent will be looking to claim their first URC victory in front of the Dragons faithful under the lights.
Ben Carter and Ross Moriarty return to the line-up and Gonzalo Bertranou makes his first start of the season at scrumhalf.
Dragons have also decided with a 6-2 split on the bench for the clash against the powerful South Africans.
The front row remains the same as those who started in Galway with Greg Bateman and Mesake Doge lining up either side of hooker Elliot Dee.
Will Rowlands is re-joined by his Welsh international teammate Carter in the second row after the young lock missed last week’s contest.
Moriarty comes into captain the side at six and Basham will look to back up his man of the match display last week, with number eight Aaron Wainwright completing the pack.
Scrumhalf Bertranou is another to get his first start of the season and is partnered by the ever-present Sam Davies at flyhalf.
Centre pairing Aneurin Owen and Jack Dixon continue their partnership in the middle of the park for the fourth straight league game.
While Welsh international Jonah Holmes joins Jordan Olowofela on the wings and fullback Jordan Williams keeps his place after an impressive display on his return in Ireland.
Dean Ryan said "Rodney Parade was great against Leinster. Everybody thinks their fans are special but the last 15 to 20 minutes were special and we are looking forward to going back there."
"It will be really exciting to play South African opposition back at Rodney Parade. The win (at Connacht) will have helped us."
Loose forward Junior Pokomela will make his DHL Stormers debut in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship. The inclusion of Pokomela on the flank is the only change to the forward pack that started the 20-20 draw with Edinburgh last week.
There are five changes to the backline though, as the DHL Stormers aim to end their European tour on a high.
The fit-again halfback pairing of Stefan Ungerer and Manie Libbok take their places in the starting line-up, along with centres Dan du Plessis and Ruhan Nel and wing Leolin Zas, who all started the week before against Munster.
DHL Stormers Head Coach John Dobson said that his team will be leaving it all out there at Rodney Parade.
“We want to empty our tank. We are taking some pride in how we are trying to play an attacking, dynamic game here and hopefully, it will be our rapier against their cutlass."
“We will hopefully be as close to full strength as we can and playing the game we are capable of, like in the first half against Munster."
“If we get five points against the Dragons, then we take eight points from the tour, which is the equivalent of two wins, which has been our goal."
“It is easy to judge on the emotion of results but we were reasonably good against Benetton in a game we threw away and for a lot of the game against Munster we were almost sublime.”
“We have been competitive in every game on this tour and we want to end it with our best performance yet.
“We know it will take 80 minutes of accurate execution against a tough Dragons side, but the team is excited to give it a full crack."
“We have some talented players coming in this week and we are looking forward to seeing what they can do out there,” he said."
Dragons: 15. Jordan Williams, 14. Jonah Holmes, 13. Jack Dixon, 12. Aneurin Owen, 11. Jordan Olowofela, 10. Sam Davies, 9. Gonzalo Bertranou, 8. Aaron Wainwright, 7. Taine Basham, 6. Ross Moriarty (c), 5. Ben Carter, 4. Will Rowlands, 3. Mesake Doge, 2. Elliot Dee, 1. Greg Bateman. Replacements: 16. Taylor Davies, 17. Aki Seiuli, 18. Chris Coleman, 19. Joe Davies, 20. Joe Maksymiw, 21. Ollie Griffiths, 22. Rhodri Williams, 23. Josh Lewis.
DHL Stormers: 15. Warrick Gelant, 14. Leolin Zas, 13. Ruhan Nel, 12. Dan du Plessis, 11. Edwill van der Merwe, 10. Manie Libbok, 9. Stefan Ungerer, 8. Evan Roos, 7. Willie Engelbrecht, 6. Junior Pokomela, 5. Salmaan Moerat (c), 4. Ernst van Rhyn, 3. Neethling Fouche, 2. Scarra Ntubeni, 1. Brok Harris. Replacements: 16. JJ Kotze, 17. Kwenzo Blose, 18. Sazi Sandi, 19. Justin Basson, 20. Marcel Theunissen, 21. Paul de Wet, 22. Tim Swiel, 23. Juan de Jongh.