Emotion and pressure collide as Stormers host Connacht in crucial URC clash

The Stormers know exactly how tricky Connacht can be, and with Leinster breathing down their necks on the United Rugby Championship (URC) table, Saturday’s clash at the DHL Stadium is shaping up to be a high-stakes affair.

It will be an emotional afternoon in the Cape (1.45pm kick-off) as the inaugural URC champions bid farewell to legendary team manager Chippie Solomon, who passed away last Saturday, while veteran Scarra Ntubeni is set to make his final appearance for the franchise.

Both have played a huge role in the success of the Stormers and Western Province, on and off the field, and the team will be eager to deliver a fitting tribute.

That said, they are well aware of the dangers of letting emotion take over, or of underestimating Connacht. The Irish side is fighting to stay alive in the URC and must win their remaining matches to keep their playoff hopes intact.

The Stormers, meanwhile, are under pressure from Leinster and will need a bonus-point win to hold on to second place.

Last year’s meeting between the sides was a spectacle. The Stormers scored three tries inside the opening 25 minutes, only for Connacht to claw their way back. The game hung in the balance until the final minute, with the hosts just managing to see it out.

It’s a scenario they will be keen to avoid this time around — they may not be as fortunate if it goes down to the wire again.

A wet surface could also play into the visitors’ hands. Connacht are well accustomed to muddy conditions, and it will require a big shift from the Stormers’ pack to assert themselves in the scrums and line-outs and take control of the set piece.

If they can do that, it should create opportunities to win penalties and gain territory. That, in turn, can bring their backline into the game in promising attacking areas — and perhaps spark the kind of tries that will lift the crowd as the Stormers look to honour two of their stalwarts in style.

Stormers XV

15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Damian Willemse, 13 Ruhan Nel (captain), 12 Dan du Plessis, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Deon Fourie, 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Adré Smith, 3 Zachary Porthen, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu.

Replacements: 16 André-Hugo Venter, 17 Oli Kebble, 18 Neethling Fouché, 19 Ruben van Heerden, 20 Marcel Theunissen, 21 Paul de Villiers, 22 Stefan Ungerer, 23 Wandisile Simelane.

Connacht XV 

15 Sam Gilbert, 14 Harry West, 13 John Devine, 12 Cathal Forde, 11 Shayne Bolton, 10 Sean Naughton, 9 Ben Murphy, 8 Sean Jansen, 7 Shamus Hurley-Langton, 6 Cian Prendergast (captain), 5 Darragh Murray, 4 David O’Connor, 3 Sam Illo, 2 Dave Heffernan, 1 Billy Bohan.

Replacements: 16 Matthew Victory, 17 Peter Dooley, 18 Jack Aungier, 19 Josh Murphy, 20 Paul Boyle, 21 Colm Reilly, 22 Jack Carty, 23 Hugh Gavin.

Referee: Federico Vedovelli (Italy, 21st league game). AR 1: Hanru van Rooyen (SARU), AR 2: Sean Muller (SARU). TMO: Fillipo Russo (Italy)