Stormers v Connacht: United Rugby Championship preview as defending champions set to reach back-to-back finals

Jared Wright
Add as a preferred source on Google
URC The Stormers and Connacht face off for just the third time in their history as they battle it out for a place United Rugby Championship final.

A place in the United Rugby Championship (URC) final is on the line in Cape Town as Connacht head to the Mother City looking to upset the status quo further after their shock win over Ulster.

Andy Friend’s side were the clear underdogs last weekend when they tackled Ulster at the Kingspan, but they rallied to claim a 15-10 victory over the far more fancied side. They face another stern test with the imposing task of taking on the defending champions in their own backyard.

The Stormers have just one blemish at home since December 2021, but that was just last month, losing 26-24 to Munster. John Dobson’s side charged to a 33-21 victory over their rivals, the Bulls, last week to book their place in the final four.

The two sides have met just twice in their history, with the home side coming out on top on both occasions, with Saturday’s clash set to break the deadlock.

This promises to be an enthralling encounter as both teams have attacking brilliance coursing through their respective line-ups but also have the mongrel and grit to claw out a victory in an arm-wrestle if the match goes that way.

The Stormers have won their last two matches since that loss to Munster and have won three of their last five fixtures in all competitions. Meanwhile, Connacht’s stunning win over Ulster came after a defeat to Glasgow, while they have also won three of their last five games. However, form is completely irrelevant in play-off rugby, as the two sides lock horns in a battle for a place in the final, where they will play either Leinster or Munster.

Team news

There are two injury-enforced changes to the Stormers starting line-up this weekend.

With Deon Fourie and Marvin Orie ruled out, Willie Engelbrecht will start on the flank and Ben-Jason Dixon comes in at lock for the knockout clash.

There are three new faces on the replacements bench, with lock Connor Evans, flank Marcel Theunissen and utility back Jean-Luc du Plessis included for the semi-final.

Meanwhile, Connacht have named an unchanged 23 for the game.

After last week’s historic win in Belfast, they have stuck with the same starters and replacements after the squad came through the game without any injuries.

Jack Carty captains the side, while it’ll be a 99th appearance for Tom Farrell, and Jack Aungier will earn his 50th cap for the province if called upon from the bench.

Where the game will be won

There are several avenues to success in this clash, and each battle victory will go a long way in deciding the outcome. The boots of Carty and Manie Libbok will undoubtedly play a role, with both pivots crucially knocking over all their attempts at goal last weekend. While the scrum battle is always important when taking on a full Springbok front-row, the state of the pitch in Cape Town negates the impact the likes of Steven Kitshoff and Frans Malherbe can have. But based on last week’s performances, the game will be won at the breakdown.

Both teams had to dig deep in their quarter-final clashes and produced sublime performances at the breakdown, successfully repelling multiple attacks into their final quarter. Their ability to come up with vital turnovers when it mattered most proved pivotal, and Saturday should be no different. 

While it was largely a team effort for Connacht against Ulster, Shane Hurley-Langton and Bundee Aki were standouts on defensive rucks, with the former brilliant at the offensive breakdowns too. As for the Stormers, Deon Fourie attracted more Bulls than a matadors’ cape, but it was his fellow back-rower Evan Roos who was reaping the benefits and winning the penalties for the side. While the Stormers will be without Fourie this week, his replacement Willie Engelbrecht is more than capable of fulfilling the same role. 

With both sides possessing lethal backlines and attacking patterns, the ability to win turnovers or so the attack just long enough to re-organise the attack cannot be understated.

Last time they met

What they said

Stormers coach Dobson is wary of Connacht’s threat, pointing to the Irish province’s recent run of form and attitude.

“We were chatting about Connacht a couple of weeks ago, and it’s similar to what we say about ourselves,” said Dobson. “As Seabelo Senatla (Stormers’ wing) says, they’ve got ‘dawg’ in them, and they have. They won seven in a row.

“There is something there that is worrying: the way they fight and their attack shape is really good Connacht have a great story, from a windy greyhound track in the far west with the smallest budget in Ireland. They don’t go away. They will be tougher than we think.”

Players to watch

The term ‘X-factor’ is loosely thrown around, but it fits Stormers full-back Damian Willemse to a tee. The 25-year-old thrives in big matches and has enjoyed a rich vein of form over the past 18 months. While he had a more subdued performance – than what we have come accustomed to – against the Bulls, he came freakishly close to producing an outrageous finish in the corner. Given half a chance and he will rip open any defence while his kicking game has improved immensely.

There were concerns over the late-season form of Manie Libbok after a string of off-colour performances against Exeter, Munster and Benetton. However, the Springboks’ pivot bounced back when it mattered most, producing a man-of-the-match performance against the Bulls. He constantly kept the Bulls’ defence guessing with his running, kicking and passing game featuring prominently throughout the game. He also rediscovered his form from the tee knocking over all seven of his shots at goal, three conversions and four penalties, which kept the Bulls out of the game despite their late rally.

Evan Roos lit up the competition last season and collected several individual awards for his efforts, but 2022/23 has been unkind to the superstar number eight, with his season blighted with injuries. However, he has made a timely recovery for the Stormers’ bid to defend their title and proved to be a match-winner last time out against the Bulls. His ball-carrying and overall work rate has always been a cornerstone of his game, but last week he showed just how much of a threat he is over the ball, adding another string to his bow.

During his time at Connacht, Friend has made some shrewd signings, and one of his last was picking up Shamus Hurley-Langton from the Hurricanes. The 23-year-old flanker has enjoyed a stellar debut season in Galway and produced another stunning man-of-the-match display against Ulster in the quarter-final. The abrasive back-rower flourishes at the breakdown, and while he doesn’t tend to carry too much, when he does, he is explosive and tough to drag to the ground. 

Speaking of shrewd signings, Mack Hansen is arguably Friend’s best success story and will undoubtedly show it again on Saturday. An intelligent winger defensively, Hansen is key to Connacht’s attack as he roams around the pitch looking for opportunities. His well-rounded skillset makes him a hazardous prospect for any opposition, and the Stormers will need to keep a close eye on him throughout the match.

Connacht will be heavily reliant on their captain and playmaker Jack Carty if they are to knock over the defending champions. The 30-year-old has been under the spotlight recently, with his kicking accuracy dropping to an uncharacteristic 70% this season. Still, he put those woes behind him last week in a flawless kicking display to down Ulster. 

Main head-to-head

With so many similarities between the two sides, there are multiple head-to-heads that could decide the outcome, but the one we are most excited for is the clash in the number 12 jerseys between Dan du Plessis and Bundee Aki.

Du Plessis has cemented his place in the Stormers’ starting line-up this season and has made the most of his largely injury-free run. He has formed an incredibly effective centre pairing with Ruhan Nel, and his performances have not gone unnoticed, earning a place in the URC’s Elite XV.

The 28-year-old does face off against one of the most formidable opponents this weekend in the form of Ireland international Aki. The burly centre was at his destructive best last weekend, landing hefty hits on defence and managed a couple of turnovers at the breakdown. Aki is another player who thrives in big matches and will be looking to make up for his sending-off against the Stormers the last time these sides faced off.

This game provides Du Plessis with the perfect opportunity to lay down a marker for Test selection while Aki will be out to claim another piece of silverware for his province. The battle for the gainline is essential to both sides, and the two centres are excellent sources for front foot ball, and the man that is more successful in getting the upper hand could well be off to the final.

Prediction

Anything can happen in play-off rugby, and Connacht proved that last weekend, but it’s difficult to look past the defending champions, who have an incredible record at home in the tournament. The added luxury of not having to travel this week is another positive in the Stormers’ column, and with several players hitting their form after a late-season dip, it all adds up to a hard-fought victory and back-to-back finals for the Capetonians. Stormers by 7.

Previous results

2022: Stormers won 38-15 at Danie Craven Stadium
2022: Connacht 19-17 at Sportsground 

The teams

Stormers: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Angelo Davids, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Dan du Plessis, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Hacjivah Dayimani, 6 Willie Engelbrecht, 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 Ben-Jason Dixon, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Steven Kitshoff (c)
Replacements: 16 JJ Kotze, 17 Ali Vermaak, 18 Neethling Fouche, 19 Connor Evans, 20 Marcel Theunissen, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 23 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu

Connacht: 15 Tiernan O’Halloran, 14 John Porch, 13 Tom Farrell, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Mack Hansen, 10 Jack Carty, 9 Caolin Blade, 8 Cian Prendergast, 7 Conor Oliver, 6 Shamus Hurley-Langton, 5 Niall Murray, 4 Josh Murphy, 3 Finlay Bealham, 2 Dave Heffernan, 1 Denis Buckley
Replacements: 16 Dylan Tierney-Martin, 17 Jordan Duggan, 18 Jack Aungier, 19 Oisín Dowling, 20 Jarrad Butler, 21 Kieran Marmion, 22 Tom Daly 23 Byron Ralston

Date: Saturday, May 13
Venue: DHL Stadium, Cape Town
Kick-off: 16:00 SAST (15:00 GMT)
Referee: Mike Adamson (Scotland)
Assistant Referees: Sam Grove-White, Hollie Davidson (both Scotland)
TMO: Ben Blain (Scotland)

READ MORE: United Rugby Championship: Six Irish and four South African players selected in Elite XV

Connacht Bundee Aki John Dobson

Related Articles