There is no doubt that one of the real headline fixtures in this weekend’s round of URC action is the coastal battle between the log-leading Stormers and resurgent Sharks.
Although the Stormers will be confident of picking up yet another win at home, there is also good reason to be wary of a Springbok-laden Sharks side that would love nothing more than to successfully execute an ambush in Cape Town.
LIVE SCORING: STORMERS V SHARKS
Stormers v Sharks
Date: Saturday, 24 January
Venue: DHL Stadium, Cape Town
SA Time: 19h30
Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron
TV: SuperSport
The Stormers remain the only unbeaten team in the competition, and boast 231 points to the Sharks’ 156, while also holding the bragging rights as the best defensive team in the competition with only 95 points conceded to their coastal counterparts’ 215.
With this in mind, as well as their good home win over the Leicester Tigers last weekend, the hosts will enter the match as firm favourites, but history has proven that anything can happen in derby matches, which will set the scene for the nail-biting encounter.
Interestingly, the teams will meet again in Durban next weekend, meaning this match will set the tone for the double-header between the coastal franchises.
Teams:
Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Damian Willemse, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (captain), 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Marcel Theunissen, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Connor Evans, 3 Neethling Fouché, 2 André-Hugo Venter, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu.
Replacements: 16 JJ Kotzé, 17 Vernon Matongo, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Salmaan Moerat, 20 Ruben van Heerden, 21 Louw Nel, 22 Imad Khan, 23 Jurie Matthee.
Sharks: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Yaw Penxe, 13 Ethan Hooker, 12 Andre Esterhuizen (captain), 11 Jaco Williams, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Nick Hatton, 7 Manu Tshituka, 6 Phepsi Buthelezi, 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Phatu Ganyane.
Replacements: 16 Eduan Swart, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Hanro Jacobs, 19 Vincent Tshituka, 20 Siya Kolisi, 21 Grant Williams, 22 Siya Masuku, 23 Jurenzo Julius.
