Stormers aim to maintain unbeaten record against Scarlets in Key URC clash

The Stormers will look to maintain their unbeaten record against the Scarlets when they restart their United Rugby Championship (URC) campaign on Saturday in Wales.

After bolstering their side with a couple of Springboks, eight of them will be in the starting lineup for the duel at Parc y Scarlets (5pm start), the expectancy is that the inaugural URC champions will be able to keep their chokehold over their opponents.

Springbok flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu returns to the side and is tipped to lead the visitors’ attack in the flyhalf jersey upon his return from injury. But they've kept fellow Bok Damian Willemse in cotton wool and will only unleash him in the second half of the Llanelli clash.

“We are looking to give him the last 30 minutes of the game, that is his pathway back from injury,” assistant coach Dawie Snyman said about the return of their double World Cup winner Willemse.

“That is the biggest reason we selected him on the bench, just to bring him back successfully from his injury. But we also looked at some continuity in the centres with Dan du Plessis and Wandisile Simelane pairing up.”

The Stormers also want Feinberg-Mngomezulu to play his natural game on Saturday even if he is returning from injury at the same time as Willemse.

According to Snyman, there is no telling the young Bok pivot to “take things easy” on the field.

“Sacha goes at 100 miles per hour and there must not be any doubt in his mind on how he needs to play. He can’t go into a game trying to look after himself. He must play his natural game. He’s trained well and taken some leadership in the team. It is great to have him back.”

The Stormers veered from their conventional 6-2 replacement bench to accommodate Willemse and an extra back. Flyhalf Jurie Matthee, who performed well against the Bulls, will look to make a second-half impact, along with veteran scrumhalf Dewaldt Duvenage.

Captain Salmaan Moerat said on Friday that they won’t chase the bigger picture but only focus on what the Scarlets clash requires.

“This weekend is the first challenge on our plate,” he said.

“We do realise the importance of the rest of the games leading up to the playoffs and where we find ourselves. We must win. But this is not a feeling of pressure. We’ve found ourselves in this position before, maybe not as challenging, but we’ve clawed our way back in previous seasons.

“Our first focus is the game against the Scarlets. If we can get the win, that would be great. Getting the bonus point would be the first prize. The focus is on bagging the win and we will take things from there.”

The Stormers currently find themselves 12th on the URC log and if they can claim another victory in Llanelli, they will take one step closer to being in the top eight that secures them Champions Cup rugby and a spot in the playoffs.

“The log is very congested and anything can happen. Five points here or four points there could change a lot.

“What we saw from the Scarlets is that they are a quality side who can move the ball. They’ve given plenty of teams a run for their money. They pride themselves on their work rate.

“If we want to be in that game and potentially win it, we must outwork them. If our set piece works at our standard, we could be set up really nicely.”

Stormers XV: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Ben Loader, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Dan du Plessis, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Marcel Theunissen, 6 Deon Fourie, 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 Salmaan Moerat (captain), 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Ali Vermaak. Bench: 16 André-Hugo Venter, 17 Brok Harris, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Gary Porter, 20 Willie Engelbrecht, 21 Dewaldt Duvenage, 22 Jurie Matthee, 23 Damian Willemse.