Utility back Damian Willemse will shift from fullback to inside centre when the Stormers take on Ulster in Ireland on Friday evening.
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The Stormers will look to build on their previous victory when they take on Ulster in the United Rugby Championship (URC) on Friday evening in Belfast.
Heading into the clash, the Cape side knows a victory will keep them atop the URC table heading into the final league matches next weekend. However, a loss could prove detrimental, given the congested log among the top-four sides.
But they won’t focus too much on their position. It’s all about keeping the momentum going following a strong win over the Glasgow Warriors, knowing that Ulster are also on a high as they fight for a URC knockout spot.
Stand-in captain Deon Fourie said on Thursday that they want to follow up the Glasgow victory with a similar performance at the Affidea Stadium (8.45pm kick-off).
“We had a meeting this morning, and I told the guys to be a championship team, you can’t have a good game the one weekend and the following one you go off-plan,” Fourie said.
“So, for us to progress and be in the running to win this trophy again, we need to build on what we did against Glasgow. And yeah, keeping things controlled was part of the blueprint. Hopefully, the guys can do the same this weekend with the plan going into tomorrow (Friday) night.
“Last year, when we played here, we had a great start. I think we were 17-0 up, and then yeah, we lost by four points (38-34). So, we looked at that first half when we played here… They have some confidence, but so do we after the Glasgow game. I think it’ll be a good battle. They have to win, looking at the knockouts, and we have to win to stay on top. So, it’s almost a must-win for both.”
Director of rugby John Dobson made a couple of tweaks to the matchday squad from the last game.
The most significant is Damian Willemse shifting to inside centre, with Dan du Plessis moving to the No 13 jersey in place of injured captain Ruhan Nel. Nel is out with a calf strain, but should be back for next week’s Cardiff clash. With Willemse moving forward, playmaker Warrick Gelant returns at fullback for the duel.
Flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and young scrumhalf Imad Khan are expected to pull the strings in attack.
Up front, tighthead Sazi Sandi and Fourie come into the starting line-up, while the bench features a six-two split with a plethora of loose forwards ready to make an impact in the second half. Replacement flyhalf Jurie Matthee and scrumhalf Stefan Ungerer are the only backs on the bench.
According to Dobson, his message this week was to keep sticking to what they did well against the Warriors.
“I don’t think I’ve seen the team this aligned as to how we want to play this week,” he said.
“The 4G pitch is different. You know, personally, and it’s not based on science, I reckon the sooner they disappear from rugby, the better. Not from a rugby perspective, but just from a player-welfare point of view. I know it produces a different game, a different bounce, and I’m sure as time goes on, they will be revealed as more scientific.
“But it’s also very much a momentum game, which is very much the template that we used against Glasgow. So, I am pretty much sure that it (the 4G) suits how we want to play in the Northern Hemisphere as well.”
Stormers XV
15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Wandisile Simelane, 13 Dan du Plessis, 12 Damian Willemse, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Imad Khan, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Deon Fourie (captain), 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 Adré Smith, 3 Sazi Sandi, 2 André-Hugo Venter, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu.
Replacements: 16 Paul de Villiers, 17 Oli Kebble, 18 Zachary Porthen, 19 Connor Evans, 20 Hacjivah Dayimani, 21 Keke Morabe, 22 Stefan Ungerer, 23 Jurie Matthee.
Ulster XV
15 Mike Lowry, 14 Werner Kok, 13 Ethan McIlroy, 12 Jude Postlethwaite, 11 Zac Ward, 10 Jack Murphy, 9 Nathan Doak, 8 Juarno Augustus, 7 Nick Timoney, 6 Cormac Izuchukwu, 5 Charlie Irvine, 4 Iain Henderson (captain), 3 Tom O’Toole, 2 James McCormick, 1 Angus Bell.
Replacements: 16 Tom Stewart, 17 Eric O’Sullivan, 18 Scott Wilson, 19 Harry Sheridan, 20 Bryn Ward, 21 Conor McKee, 22 Jake Flannery, 23 Wilhelm de Klerk.