Injury-hit Stormers aim to tame URC champions Leinster in Cape Town opener

The Stormers will take on Leinster with a few untested combinations in their United Rugby Championship opener in Cape Town — a pressure-cooker season opener for the hosts.

For the first time in a couple of seasons, they begin their campaign at home. However, a number of injuries to key players mean Friday’s 7pm clash becomes an even tougher challenge.

Director of Rugby John Dobson confirmed that the six-two split on the bench was due to the unavailability of backline cover. Injuries have forced the selection of youth in the front row and led to Wandisile Simelane starting at fullback for the first time.

Simelane was originally meant to start in the No 13 jersey alongside new captain Ruhan Nel but agreed to shift to fullback. Nel will now rekindle his midfield partnership with Dan du Plessis. While the centres and wingers are all URC title winners, the halfback pairing of Stefan Ungerer and flyhalf Jurie Matthee remains untested.

Despite the early-season setbacks, the Cape side remains confident of a strong start against the defending champions. Although it may not be Leinster’s strongest XV, the Stormers can still expect a team packed with international pedigree.

“We need to go on tour this season with as many points as we can from our home games, so we must absolutely start with a win,” Dobson said.

“Targeting a game against the defending champions is easier said than done. We’ve got two home games to start, and we’ve worked out that if you want to host playoffs, you can’t afford to lose at home. If you do, you have to make up for it on the road — and our record outside South Africa isn’t where it needs to be.

“Last season, that poor start on tour left us with a knife to our throat. We need these home wins.”

The Stormers will be without several key players, including Springbok captain Salmaan Moerat, Deon Fourie, Warrick Gelant, Ali Vermaak, Oli Kebble, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Imad Khan, Suleiman Hartzenberg, and Jean-Luc du Plessis — the latter two are only expected back later in the season.

Two young looseheads — Vernon Matongo (starting) and Oliver Reid (bench) — will need to step up against Leinster’s experienced pack.

“It’s the first of 18 games, but it feels like more than that. You have to set the tone,” Dobson added.

“It’s a new era for the Stormers. A lot of good work has gone in off the field. Now we must deliver on the field. The expectation is there because things are falling into place around the squad — even if we’re not quite where we want to be in terms of caps and cohesion. Still, it’s a more settled squad than before.

“We must win these two home games — otherwise, we’ll be under pressure early.”

Stormers: 15 Wandisile Simelane, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Ruhan Nel (captain), 12 Dan du Plessis, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Jurie Matthee, 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Adré Smith, 3 Neethling Fouché, 2 André-Hugo Venter, 1 Vernon Matongo. Replacements: 16 JJ Kotze, 17 Oliver Reid, 18 Zachary Porthen, 19 Ruben van Heerden, 20 Ruan Ackermann, 21 Marcel Theunissen, 22 Dewaldt Duvenage, 23 Clinton Swart.