The closing clash of the weekend between the in-form DHL Stormers and Benetton on Saturday at 18:30 (SA Time) is also expected to entertain as the Capetonians look to stretch their winning run to five matches, while the Italians will have their sights set on defending their winning run at home this season and bounce back from their heavy 43-0 defeat against Edinburgh.
But Benetton will have their work cut out as the visitors boast the third-best attack in the competition with 126 points scored in the first four rounds and only 23 points conceded to 72 and 98 points by Benetton, respectively.
That said, the DHL Stormers will be mindful of the fact that Benetton have won both the previous matches between the teams at Stadio Monigo dating back to 2021.
Benetton Rugby head coach Calum MacRae and his staff have selected the starting XV, making several changes compared to the Edinburgh squad. Matt Gallagher is confirmed as the fullback in Monigo. The extended right-winger returns to the starting line-up. In the midfield pairing, Leonardo Marin starts from the start alongside Tommaso Menoncello. In midfield, Jacob Umaga is joined by Andy Uren in the halfback pairing,
In the scrum, a couple of changes were made. In the front row, Thomas Gallo is the left prop, the hooker is the reinstated Siua Maile, while the right prop is Simone Ferrari. In the second row, Niccolò Cannone returns alongside Riccardo Favretto. The back row has been completely overhauled: one flanker is the returning Sebastian Negri, supported by the return of captain Michele Lamaro. Lorenzo Cannone returns to the starting lineup at number 8 .
There are eight changes to the DHL Stormers starting line-up. There is an all-new tight five and a new halfback pairing for the match against the Italian outfit, which kicks off at 18:30 (SA Time) on Saturday at Stadio Monigo.
Salmaan Moerat makes his return from injury and is joined in the second row by JD Schickerling, with a fit-again Sazi Sandi alongside André-Hugo Venter and Vernon Matongo up front.
At halfback, the experienced Dewaldt Duvenage will link up with Jurie Matthee as Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu is rested this week, while Springbok scrumhalf Cobus Reinach is set to make his DHL Stormers debut off a replacements bench that also features Oli Kebble, who will make his first appearance for the team since 2017.
Teams:
Benetton: 15 Matt Gallagher, 14 Louis Lynagh, 13 Tommaso Menoncello, 12 Leonardo Marin, 11 Ignacio Mendy, 10 Jacob Umaga, 9 Andy Uren, 8 Lorenzo Cannone, 7 Michele Lamaro (c), 6 Sebastian Negri, 5 Riccardo Favretto (captain), 4 Niccolò Cannone, 3 Simone Ferrari, 2 Siua Maile, 1 Thomas Gallo. Replacements: 16 Bautista Bernasconi, 17 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 18 Giosué Zilocchi, 19 Federico Ruzza, 20 Manuel Zuliani, 21 So’otala Fa’aso’o, 22 Alessandro Garbisi, 23 Filippo Drago.
DHL Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Ruhan Nel (c), 12 Damian Willemse, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Jurie Matthee, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Salmaan Moerat, 3 Sazi Sandi, 2 André-Hugo Venter, 1 Vernon Matongo. Replacements: 16 JJ Kotze, 17 Oli Kebble, 18 Zachary Porthen, 19 Adré Smith, 20 Ruben van Heerden, 21 Ruan Ackermann, 22 Cobus Reinach, 23 Wandisile Simelane.
