Stormers v Leinster Sat 30 Apr KO 5:15pm RTE 2

[jezzer]

If they don't tear Leinster a new one I'd be very surprised (and impressed with our young team)!

They looked extremely good last week whereas we avoided getting what we probably deserved by dint of multiple Sharks errors and our doggedness.

I agree they're another level up and we'll probably be a level down on what we fielded on Sat, which is disappointing if totally understandable.

[riocard911]

Having watched the Stormers tear Glasgow a new one last weekend in a bonus point 32-7 win, I have no doubt that Leinster face a bigger challenge this weekend than against the Sharks.

Coach John Dobson's outfit are fit and well coached. Their scrum is strong and effective. They use their highly competent maul tactically, rather than as a demonstration of power. Their line-out is international quality. Their half-backs, Janjites and Libbock, are quick, precise and clever whilst their mid-field of Nel & Pretorius paid little respect to the Warriors international opposition and provided a stream of possession to their electric back three, of whom Senatla was the most dangerous on view.

Anybody in the Leinster twenty-three who makes a good enough impression to force his way into our Leicester Squad will have earned his reward the hard way. It seems inevitable that Rhys, Big Mike, Josh Murphy, Peter Dooley and Max Deegan will all be required to double up to give us a credible chance in this one.

The Stormers front-row of Kitshoff, Ntubeni and Malherbe are Springboks of experience and reputation and whilst their back-five forwards don't carry the same credentials, they play exactly like you'd traditionally expect of SA forwards.

Another huge learning experience for our Squad and it will be fascinating to see whether we kick, as much, or as deep, as we did last weekend or whether we try to use broken-up lineours and the short-side in attack, in order to spread out their forwards and play a more fluid game. Lots to look forward to and another great challenge for our team.

Deegan looked in quite a bit of pain coming off on Saturday and was holding his one arm across his chest with the other hand. I can't see him making an appearance vs the Stormers. I'd be surprised - pleasantly - if he plays any role between now and the end of the season.

[mildlyinterested]

Deegan is confirmed out for this game afaik.

[the spoofer]

Deegan is confirmed out for this game afaik.

Does that mean Rhys will have to double up? That would be a pity as I'd like him fresh off the bench against Tigers. We could go 6 Moloney, 7 Penny and 8 Soroka or a combination of that.

[neill_m]

There are three changes to the DHL Stormers starting line-up to face Leinster in a table-topping Vodacom United Rugby Championship clash at DHL Stadium on Saturday.

The home side will be looking to make it eight consecutive home wins when they take on the eight-time champions at 18h15 on Saturday.

Warrick Gelant starts at fullback, with Damian Willemse shifting to inside centre in place of Rikus Pretorius who is ruled out due to concussion.

Deon Fourie returns from injury to take his place on the side of the scrum, while the only other change to the starting line-up sees JJ Kotze at hooker in place of the injured Scarra Ntubeni, with Wilmar Arnoldi set to make his DHL Stormers debut from the replacements bench.

Also among the replacements is experienced centre Juan de Jongh, who is one of four players in the matchday squad with over 100 DHL Stormers caps.

DHL Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Damian Willemse, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Hacjivah Dayimani, 6 Deon Fourie, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Adre Smith, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 JJ Kotze, 1 Steven Kitshoff (captain).

Replacements: 16 Wilmar Arnoldi, 17 Brok Harris, 18 Neethling Fouche, 19 Salmaan Moerat, 20 Junior Pokomela, 21 Ben-Jason Dixon, 22 Paul de Wet, 23 Juan de Jongh.

[mildlyinterested]

There are three changes to the DHL Stormers starting line-up to face Leinster in a table-topping Vodacom United Rugby Championship clash at DHL Stadium on Saturday.

The home side will be looking to make it eight consecutive home wins when they take on the eight-time champions at 18h15 on Saturday.

Warrick Gelant starts at fullback, with Damian Willemse shifting to inside centre in place of Rikus Pretorius who is ruled out due to concussion.

Deon Fourie returns from injury to take his place on the side of the scrum, while the only other change to the starting line-up sees JJ Kotze at hooker in place of the injured Scarra Ntubeni, with Wilmar Arnoldi set to make his DHL Stormers debut from the replacements bench.

Also among the replacements is experienced centre Juan de Jongh, who is one of four players in the matchday squad with over 100 DHL Stormers caps.

DHL Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Damian Willemse, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Hacjivah Dayimani, 6 Deon Fourie, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Adre Smith, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 JJ Kotze, 1 Steven Kitshoff (captain).

Replacements: 16 Wilmar Arnoldi, 17 Brok Harris, 18 Neethling Fouche, 19 Salmaan Moerat, 20 Junior Pokomela, 21 Ben-Jason Dixon, 22 Paul de Wet, 23 Juan de Jongh.

they named that team early.

[wixfjord]

Really looking forward to seeing Roos. Some player.

Kitshoff & Malherbe will be a serious test for whoever we select in front row.

Likely that McKee will have faced Kitshoff, Malherbe, Ox, Mbonambi and Du Toit on their home turf his first two games as a senior player. That's some baptism of fire!

[brotheroffrank]

Really looking forward to seeing Roos. Some player.

Kitshoff & Malherbe will be a serious test for whoever we select in front row.

Likely that McKee will have faced Kitshoff, Malherbe, Ox, Mbonambi and Du Toit on their home turf his first two games as a senior player. That's some baptism of fire!

Brok Harris will be feeling his age coming off the bench this Saturday - only 15 years between him and John McKee - Brok Harris started Potchefstroom University about the time John McKee started junior infants (or equivalent in Primary/National School in N.I.)!

[riocard911]

Really looking forward to seeing Roos. Some player.

Kitshoff & Malherbe will be a serious test for whoever we select in front row.

Likely that McKee will have faced Kitshoff, Malherbe, Ox, Mbonambi and Du Toit on their home turf his first two games as a senior player. That's some baptism of fire!

Brok Harris will be feeling his age coming off the bench this Saturday - only 15 years between him and John McKee - Brok Harris started Potchefstroom University about the time John McKee started junior infants (or equivalent in Primary/National School in N.I.)!

"junior infants"? That's "low babies" in old money....

[brotheroffrank]

Really looking forward to seeing Roos. Some player.

Kitshoff & Malherbe will be a serious test for whoever we select in front row.

Likely that McKee will have faced Kitshoff, Malherbe, Ox, Mbonambi and Du Toit on their home turf his first two games as a senior player. That's some baptism of fire!

Brok Harris will be feeling his age coming off the bench this Saturday - only 15 years between him and John McKee - Brok Harris started Potchefstroom University about the time John McKee started junior infants (or equivalent in Primary/National School in N.I.)!

"junior infants"? That's "low babies" in old money....

Sure John McKee is way too young for "old money"...when he was born even the Euro was legal tender.....!

[cormac]

From watching them against Ulster and Glasgow they're capable of playing some devastating rugby in short bursts (10-15 minutes) but drifted a bit aimlessly through large periods of both games. Against Ulster they scored two tries in the opening ten minutes and looked sensational but couldn't maintain that level and probably should have lost the game at the end. Against Glasgow they cut them apart from minutes 50-60 in the second half but then went to sleep again. And that was against a Glasgow side who barely showed up for the second half.

Against both Ulster and Glasgow they were very good in broken play (turnovers, loose kicks) during those spells. Ulster and Glasgow fielded stronger sides than we will this weekend, but if we can hang on in there (much like we did against the Sharks) while they're on top, then we can get something from this game.

[RoboProp]

Really looking forward to seeing Roos. Some player.

Kitshoff & Malherbe will be a serious test for whoever we select in front row.

Likely that McKee will have faced Kitshoff, Malherbe, Ox, Mbonambi and Du Toit on their home turf his first two games as a senior player. That's some baptism of fire!

Brok Harris will be feeling his age coming off the bench this Saturday - only 15 years between him and John McKee - Brok Harris started Potchefstroom University about the time John McKee started junior infants (or equivalent in Primary/National School in N.I.)!

"junior infants"? That's "low babies" in old money....

My better half says low babies and she's a fair bit younger than me. I have always said Junior infants. I presumed this was something folks from the wrong side of the Liffey said

[ronk]

Sure John McKee is way too young for "old money"...when he was born even the Euro was legal tender.....!

He was almost 2 for the switch to the Euro, and it wasn't legal tender where he was born.

[Experimental]

The Stormers seem like a decent team, but I'm not convinced by their attacking patterns. It seems more like brute force with some quick hands (which works a lot of the time against weaker teams). They have a very good defense which will be hard to break down, Ive a feeling that it will be very similar to last weekend, as in , we'll have to weather a storm for 70 odd minutes and then try to nick it at the end if we're to win. Need to be really careful of intercepts, no 50/50 balls against these guys, make them work for everything.

[Flash Gordon]

If they don't tear Leinster a new one I'd be very surprised (and impressed with our young team)!

They looked extremely good last week whereas we avoided getting what we probably deserved by dint of multiple Sharks errors and our doggedness.

I agree they're another level up and we'll probably be a level down on what we fielded on Sat, which is disappointing if totally understandable.

Unfortunately that's probably right, we were dominated at scrum time and in the maul. We really need to keep our discipline, it will be tough enough without having to do it with 14 or 13 players.

[wixfjord]

One place we weren't dominated was our attacking maul, which got a bit of joy. With Dunne/Murphy and Rhys probably starting that should be a good weapon.

[TrapperChamonix]

If they don't tear Leinster a new one I'd be very surprised (and impressed with our young team)!

They looked extremely good last week whereas we avoided getting what we probably deserved by dint of multiple Sharks errors and our doggedness.

I agree they're another level up and we'll probably be a level down on what we fielded on Sat, which is disappointing if totally understandable.

Unfortunately that's probably right, we were dominated at scrum time and in the maul. We really need to keep our discipline, it will be tough enough without having to do it with 14 or 13 players.

Have the SA teams dominated everyone at scrum? I've only watched highlights so its possible its a bit misleading?

[mildlyinterested]

Leinsters scrum is far from strong when missing Furlong, it's a worry IMO

[Blue Man]

Best thing about the Saffas joining so far is meaningful scrums, incredible learning environment for McKeen, Clarkson, Barron, Deeny etc.

[ronk]

Best thing about the Saffas joining so far is meaningful scrums, incredible learning environment for McKeen, Clarkson, Barron, Deeny etc.

It's good for Porter and would have been good for Kelleher.

22% of the calendar against SA sides will raise scrummaging standards across the URC.