The DHL Stormers will face a tough test against Ulster at the Kingspan Stadium, Belfast tonight at 21:35 (SA Time) where a victory would be important to allow them some breathing space in the top two on the log as the tournament nears the knock-out stages. The Cape side trail log-leaders Leinster by 11 points, while they hold a narrow six-point lead over the Vodacom Bulls.
With Ulster currently sitting fourth in the URC table, the province will be hoping to build momentum from last weekend’s crucial win against Sale Sharks in the Heineken Champions Cup. A win could see Ulster leapfrog the Vodacom Bulls into third place.
The visitors have been marginally better on the attack, scoring nine more points, but they will look to take advantage of their strong defence, which has placed them in the top three defensive sides.
Interestingly, Ulster has lost three of their last four league matches and suffered defeats in their last two matches against the DHL Stormers, however, the Capetonians have only won one of their last four away games.
Prediction: DHL Stormers by 5
Ulster Head Coach, Dan McFarland has named his Ulster squad that will take on current URC Champions, DHL Stormers.
Ulster made one change to the front row, with loosehead prop Eric O’Sullivan coming in alongside Tom Stewart and Jeff Toomaga-Allen.
Alan O’Connor will lead the side once again, with club captain Iain Henderson in camp with the Ireland squad ahead of the upcoming Guinness Six Nations.
Sam Carter retains his place at lock alongside O’Connor, with Academy product Harry Sheridan keeping his place at blindside flanker after an impressive home debut last weekend against Sale Sharks. Last weekend’s Heineken Star of the Match, Nick Timoney, continues at openside alongside Duane Vermeulen at Number 8.
Nathan Doak and Billy Burns are also rewarded for their performances last week as they pair up again at 9 and 10 respectively.
James Hume retains his place at outside centre, and he is joined by Stewart Moore at inside centre, who comes in for Ireland-bound Stuart McCloskey.
The back three has just one change, with Academy graduate Ben Moxham coming in for Jacob Stockdale. Winger Rob Lyttle will hope to continue his try-scoring form and Mike Lowry completes the starting XV.
On the bench, John Andrew, Rory Sutherland, Andrew Warwick, Kieran Treadwell and Jordi Murphy provide the forward cover, with John Cooney, Ian Madigan and Ethan McIlroy named as the backline options.
Ulster Assistant Coach, Jonny Bell, says the province know just how big a threat the Stormers pose:
"They are going to be a very difficult animal to what we faced last week. They are powerful, but move really fast around the pitch, so we need to control the ball well when we have it and make sure that we are smart defensively."
Prop Ali Vermaak will play his 50th match for the DHL Stormers. There are a number of changes throughout the team, which also sees some experienced players make their return to action.
Vermaak is joined in the front row by hooker JJ Kotze and Brok Harris, with Scarra Ntubeni back in the mix from the replacements bench, having recovered from a long-term injury.
Marvin Orie will captain the side and resumes his lock partnership with Ben-Jason Dixon. New recruit Ruben van Heerden is in line to make his DHL Stormers debut from the bench.
Evan Roos is back in the starting line-up, having featured as a replacement in the Heineken Champions Cup last week. He forms a fearsome loose trio with Willie Engelbrecht and Junior Pokomela on the sides of the scrum.
Jean-Luc du Plessis starts at flyhalf for the first time this season and will have Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu next to him in midfield.
Clayton Blommetjies is at fullback and is joined at the back by wings Suleiman Hartzenberg and Cornel Smit.
Veteran centre Juan de Jongh makes his return on a replacements bench that also features Herschel Jantjies and Kade Wolhuter.
DHL Stormers Head Coach John Dobson said that while there are a number of changes, there is no shortage of quality in the matchday squad.
“It is another short turnaround this week, but we are excited to see what these combinations can do.
“We have been bolstered by the return of some experienced players and we will need all of it against a good Ulster side,” he said.
Teams:
Ulster: 15. Mike Lowry, 14. Rob Lyttle, 13. James Hume, 12. Stewart Moore, 11. Ben Moxham, 10. Billy Burns, 9. Nathan Doak, 8. Duane Vermeulen, 7. Nick Timoney, 6. Harry Sheridan, 5. Sam Carter, 4. Alan O’Connor (c), 3. Jeff Toomaga-Allen, 2. Tom Stewart, 1. Eric O’Sullivan. Replacements: 16. John Andrew, 17. Rory Sutherland, 18. Andrew Warwick, 19. Kieran Treadwell, 20. Jordi Murphy, 21. John Cooney, 22. Ian Madigan, 23. Ethan McIlroy.
DHL Stormers: 15. Clayton Blommetjies, 14. Suleiman Hartzenberg, 13. Ruhan Nel, 12. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 11. Cornel Smit, 10. Jean-Luc du Plessis, 9. Stefan Ungerer, 8. Evan Roos, 7. Willie Engelbrecht, 6. Junior Pokomela, 5. Marvin Orie (c), 4. Ben-Jason Dixon, 3. Brok Harris, 2. JJ Kotze, 1. Ali Vermaak. Replacements: 16. Scarra Ntubeni, 17. Kwenzo Blose, 18. Sazi Sandi, 19. Ruben van Heerden, 20. Marcel Theunissen, 21. Herschel Jantjies, 22. Kade Wolhuter, 23. Juan de Jongh.
