The DHL Stormers will face Glasgow Warriors in a Vodacom United Rugby Championship quarter-final at the Scorstoun stadium at 20:35 (SA Time). The DHL Stormers will be aiming to secure a semifinal place when they face the Scottish outfit in the knock-out clash, which should they qualify, will be against Munster in Limerick who beat the Ospreys on Friday.
At the Scotstoun Stadium in Glasgow, the DHL Stormers will enter their clash against Franco Smith’s Warriors as the underdogs – a tag they will be determined to shake off – mainly due to the fact they will be travelling after a hard-fought victory against the Emirates Lions last week, and with the hosts boasting a better-attacking record this season.
Glasgow, however, will be careful to write off the Capetonians, who have been marginally better on defence. The DHL Stormers’ confidence will also be boosted since they bagged losing bonus points in three of their six overseas matches, and came away with victories against Connacht and the Dragons in their last two tour matches.
The Warriors, who topped the regular season stats for carries (2417), defenders beaten (458) and metres made (7846), will also be cognizant of the fact that in the last outing between the teams earlier this season in Glasgow, they won by 20-9 thanks to three tries – two of which were scored in the first half and one early in the second half – and there is no doubt the visitors would have placed a big emphasis on their defence during their preparations this week.
Making the match even more unpredictable, Glasgow only registered one more victory than the DHL Stormers this season, and given the high stakes in the match, it is expected to be a humdinger.
Fullback Warrick Gelant makes his return for the DHL Stormers. Gelant had been rested for the last league fixture of the season and makes his return at fullback, with Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu moving to inside centre to link up with Dan du Plessis in midfield. The only other change to the backline sees Ben Loader come into the starting line-up on the left wing.
In the forward pack, Evan Roos has been ruled out with a concussion picked up in training this week and is replaced at openside flank by Willie Engelbrecht, while there is an all-new front row of Brok Harris, Joseph Dweba and Frans Malherbe who all featured from the replacements bench in the win against the Emirates Lions last week.
Connor Evans and a fit-again Paul de Wet are included among the replacements, along with last week’s starting front row of Sti Sithole, Andre-Hugo Venter and Neethling Fouche.
Director of Rugby John Dobson said that his team is determined to rise to the challenge of playing their first away knock-out fixture in the competition.
“We know that it will take a top performance to stay alive in this competition and that is a challenge we have embraced.
“We will have to do it without a number of our frontline players due to injuries, but it is a testament to the depth we have built and the quality of our squad that there is plenty of belief.
“Despite having almost a full team ruled out, we have built up some good momentum heading into the play-offs.
“This is our first Vodacom URC play-off match away from home after playing six at DHL Stadium and we want to show that we can rise to the occasion,” he said.
Glasgow Warriors' club captain Kyle Steyn will return to the Glasgow Warriors starting XV this weekend after the winger was selected to lead his team in the quarter-final clash.
The skipper is one of five changes to the starting lineup that ran out against Zebre Parma last weekend, whilst George Turner is in line to become the club’s 57th centurion after being named amongst the replacements for tomorrow night’s showdown.
An unchanged front row sees Johnny Matthews pack down between Jamie Bhatti and Zander Fagerson, the former having touched down for his first try in over 900 days in last weekend’s bonus-point victory.
Scott Cummings comes in to start alongside Richie Gray in the engine room, having been introduced off the bench inside the opening quarter last weekend.
Rory Darge continues at openside after a Player of the Match-winning display last weekend, as Matt Fagerson and Jack Dempsey make it an all-international starting pack for Franco Smith’s side tomorrow night.
Behind the scrum, George Horne and Tom Jordan are both promoted from the replacements bench to start, with both men having made an impact when coming on last weekend.
The midfield combination is unchanged, meaning the tandem of Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones is once again given the nod by Smith and his coaching team.
Josh McKay returns to the starting XV after being rested last weekend, the McCrea Financial Services Player of the Season joining Steyn and Argentinian international Sebastian Cancelliere in a back-three packed with pace.
Turner returns to a Glasgow Warriors matchday 23 for the first time since January after recovering from a foot injury picked up while on Scotland duty during the Guinness Six Nations, the hooker set to make his 100th appearance for the club when called upon tomorrow night.
Nathan McBeth and Oli Kebble – himself a recent centurion – join Turner as the front-row cover, whilst Max Williamson rotates to the bench after starting the win over Zebre Parma last weekend.
Euan Ferrie retains the number 20 jersey after an impressive cameo off the bench last time out, whilst Henco Venter returns to the matchday 23 as part of a six-two split of forwards and backs.
Jamie Dobie and Ross Thompson cover the back-line, the latter set to make his 50th appearance for the club this weekend.
Speaking following selection, Head Coach Smith told glasgowwarriors.org: “The Stormers have a proud record in the URC playoffs, and we know they will be coming to Scotstoun intent on continuing that record tomorrow night.
“They have some brilliant individuals who have the ability to hurt you from anywhere on the field, in addition to being a physical unit with and without the ball.
“We’re looking forward to the challenge and we know the Warrior Nation will make themselves known as they get behind us tomorrow night.”
Teams
Glasgow Warriors: 15 Josh McKay, 14 Sebastian Cancelliere, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 11 Kyle Steyn (c), 10 Tom Jordan, 9 George Horne, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Rory Darge, 6 Matt Fagerson, 5 Richie Gray, 4 Scott Cummings, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 Johnny Matthews, 1 Jamie Bhatti. Replacements: 16 George Turner, 17 Nathan McBeth, 18 Oli Kebble, 19 Max Williamson, 20 Euan Ferrie, 21 Henco Venter, 22 Jamie Dobie, 23 Ross Thompson.
DHL Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 13 Dan du Plessis, 12 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 11 Ben Loader, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Willie Engelbrecht, 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 Salmaan Moerat (c), 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Brok Harris. Replacements: 16 Andre-Hugo Venter, 17 Sti Sithole, 18 Neethling Fouche, 19 Adre Smith, 20 Marcel Theunissen, 21 Connor Evans, 22 Paul de Wet, 23 Jean-Luc du Plessis.