Stormers ready to tackle Munster in Ireland without Springbok reinforcements

The Stormers will wait on a directive from the Springboks to see which of their players will be available for a crucial top-of-the-table clash with Munster in the United Rugby Championship (URC) this weekend.

Currently, flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, scrumhalf Cobus Reinach, utility-back Damian Willemse, loose-forward Ben-Jason Dixon, tighthead prop Zachary Porthen and loosehead prop Ntuthuko Mchunu are with the national side as they prepare for their final Test of 2025 against Wales on Saturday in Cardiff.

They are part of a group of URC players available to the world champions, with foreign-based Boks returning to their clubs. Because the match falls outside World Rugby’s official Test window, the overseas players — including most of those in Japan — are ineligible for selection.

Stormers assistant coach Dawie Snyman says they will wait on the Boks to confirm who, if anyone, will be released before deciding whether to use their international contingent.

However, the Cape side has been preparing without them for the last three weeks, and it wouldn’t make much sense to slot players in at the last minute, even if they do become available. The Stormers have the luxury of continuing with the squad currently at their disposal without losing momentum.

Thomond Park is a stadium where the Stormers haven’t won yet, but they are keen to change that statistic. The winner of the duel will remain unbeaten in the competition and will go clear at the top of the log.

“At this stage, we haven’t received confirmation of which players will be available to join us,” Snyman said, on Monday.

“We have taken what we have here and prepared for Munster with those players. If anyone becomes available, we will deal with that. But at this stage, we haven’t received confirmation.

“We had three quality weeks with the players here, and it’s still a good squad. The players understand what we want to do and what we want to get right over the weekend. It has been a good two to three weeks of preparation.”

The side trained in Cape Town, but they haven’t played at their DHL Stadium fortress since the second round when they beat the Ospreys 26-10. However, they believe that they still have that momentum from their unbeaten overseas tour before the international break.

According to Snyman, they will rely on what has worked for them in their three games overseas, but the break came at the right time for the players after a challenging opening month.

“The break was good to freshen up mentally, but it feels like we still have that momentum, energy and confidence. It probably will be a little different once we get there.

“We are facing a good side and will go all guns blazing at each other. But there is still confidence in the squad in knowing what we must do.

"We don’t know if Munster will rest their Irish players, but we are preparing as if all of them will be playing. They are quality players and will strengthen their team.”