The DHL Stormers will face a stern test as they face Leinster at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday at 18:30 (SA Time), a daunting assignment against a team that is desperate to defend their Vodacom URC title following their defeat to Bordeaux in the Investec Champions Cup final just two weeks ago.
The Capetonians secured their semi-final berth with a gritty 44-21 victory over Cardiff at the DHL Stadium last weekend, but John Dobson and his team will be under no illusions about the step up in class they face in Dublin. Their form in recent weeks has been inconsistent, winning only two of their last five matches, and the pressure will be on the squad to deliver a complete performance to come out on top.
Adding to the challenge, the DHL Stormers will be without Springbok flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who suffered an injury in the quarter-final, which is expected to sideline him for an extended period.
There are, however, reasons for optimism in the Cape Town camp, as the DHL Stormers have fared decently on the road this season, and crucially, they can point to a dominant 35-0 victory over Leinster in their opening pool match of the season in Cape Town.
Leinster, however, are expected to be a different proposition on their home turf, but the psychological edge of that earlier result will not be lost on either team.
Statistically, the matchup also offers some encouragement for the Stormers faithful. While Leinster finished the pool stages with sharper attacking numbers, the DHL Stormers were the more effective on defence.
Should the Capetonians prevail and repeat the Vodacom Bulls’ semi-final victory in Dublin in the inaugural season, it would mark their first Grand Final appearance since the 2022/23 season, a prospect that will serve as powerful motivation throughout the week.
There are three injury-enforced changes to the DHL Stormers starting line-up. Injuries to wing Seabelo Senatla, flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and lock Ruben van Heerden in the Quarter-Final win against Cardiff in Cape Town last week have resulted in Wandisile Simelane, Jurie Matthee and Connor Evans stepping in for the knock-out match at the Aviva Stadium, which kicks off at 18h30 SAST on Saturday.
There is just one change on the replacements bench, with Warrick Gelant coming into the matchday squad to provide backline cover, with Matthee starting at flyhalf.
There are three changes to the starting XV from last Saturday’s 59-10 quarter-final win over the Fidelity SecureDrive Lions. Rónan Kelleher comes in at hooker with Andrew Porter and Thomas Clarkson on either side, while Joe McCarthy and James Ryan continue in the second row.
Josh van der Flier moves into the starting XV, with Caelan Doris captaining the side from number eight once more and Max Deegan on the other flank.
Jamison Gibson-Park returns to the starting line-up with Sam Prendergast his half-back partner, while Jamie Osborne is paired with Rieko Ioane in the centre once more.
Hugo Keenan is named at full-back with James Lowe and Jimmy O’Brien on the wings once again in an unchanged back three.
Gus McCarthy, Alex Usanov, Rabah Slimani and Diarmuid Mangan are named on the bench once more, with Jack Conan the only change to the forward reinforcements, while Garry Ringrose comes into the matchday 23 alongside Luke McGrath and Harry Byrne.
Teams:
Leinster Rugby: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Jimmy O’Brien, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Jamie Osborne, 11 James Lowe, 10 Sam Prendergast, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Caelan Doris (c), 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Max Deegan, 5 James Ryan, 4 Joe McCarthy, 3 Thomas Clarkson, 2 Ronan Kelleher, 1 Andrew Porter. Replacements: 16 Gus McCarthy, 17 Alex Usanov, 18 Rabah Slimani, 19 Diarmuid Mangan, 20 Jack Conan, 21 Luke McGrath, 22 Harry Byrne, 23 Garry Ringrose.
DHL Stormers: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Wandisile Simelane, 13 Ruhan Nel (c), 12 Dan du Plessis, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Jurie Matthee, 9 Imad Khan, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 Connor Evans, 4 Adré Smith, 3 Neethling Fouché, 2 André-Hugo Venter, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu. Replacements: 16 JJ Kotzé, 17 Vernon Matongo, 18 Zachary Porthen, 19 Salmaan Moerat, 20 Ruan Ackermann, 21 Marcel Theunissen, 22 Stefan Ungerer, 23 Warrick Gelant.