SATURDAY PREVIEW: There are only two unbeaten teams left in the 2024/2025 United Rugby Championship season, and they will meet in Dublin on Saturday.
After winning four games in a row, the Lions will face their toughest challenge of the season so far when they come up against Leinster at Lansdowne Road.
With home-ground advantage and a flawless run of five bonus-point wins to their name in as many matches, Leinster will enter the clash as favourites, but the Lions will feel that they will have everything to gain as they look to create the biggest upset in the competition this season.
Given the close margins between the teams on attack and defence, it could prove to be a gripping encounter, as Leinster have only scored 38 points more than the Lions in their five matches to the visitors’ four, while the hosts have conceded only five points fewer.
The sides have met on three previous occasions in the tournament with Leinster having the slight edge with two wins to one.
However, the Lions have won three of their last four matches against Irish provinces.
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“I think it’s a massive week for Lions rugby in general,” said wing Edwill van der Merwe.
“It’s No.1 and No.2 this weekend so it’s going to be massive, but we are just going to enjoy it and coach Cash [Ivan van Rooyen] has been reminding us that we don’t need to make the occasion bigger than it needs to be.
“Leinster is one of the top sides in the world and we want to measure ourselves against the best.
“For all of us, I think it’s our first time playing at the Aviva Stadium [Landsdowne Road] and it’s an iconic stadium as well, so I don’t think there will be extra motivation needed for the match this weekend.”
The clash between the Sharks and Munster could also prove to be a humdinger given the fact that only one point separates the sides on the standings and with both teams having registered only two victories so far this season, although the Durbanites have a game in hand after the domestic teams’ Round-One fixtures were postponed.
The Sharks showed encouraging form from the beginning of the season with a six-point defeat against Connacht away in their opening game before defeating the Dragons in Newport.
After a glitch against Benetton in their final tour game, they bounced back strongly to defeat the Glasgow Warriors.
The Sharks will undoubtedly look to build on this against Munster, who currently find themselves in a dip after losing their last two matches against Leinster and the Stormers respectively.
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Kolisi gets new role
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“They are a very proud team,” said Sharks head coach John Plumtree.
“They’ve come on tour and they’ve lost their first game [against the Stormers], so they will be looking for a response.
“So, I expect the challenge to be really physical and really tough up front.
“They are a team that plays a lot of rugby and we are going to have to defend really well for long periods of time.
“We are playing two champion clubs, one last week and one this week, so it’s another big test for us.”
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The Stormers will look to inflict further damage on the Glasgow Warriors following the Scots’ 24-28 defeat against the Sharks in Durban, with an eye on possibly hopping into the top eight on the table.
However, they will be well aware of the visitors’ fighting spirit, which saw them score two tries in as many minutes in the dying stages last week to snatch two bonus points from the game.
With the Capetonians starting the competition with a tough three-week tour, statistics could have little significance for the teams, especially with the home side showing great attacking flair against Munster last week to secure a bonus-point 34-19 victory – a result they will be keen to build on in front of another passionate crowd in Stellenbosch.
“It’s nice to play them in South Africa. We haven’t played them in South Africa in the last three games,” said Stormers Director of Rugby John Dobson.
“They are a good team. I think last year we finished fifth on the log and they finished fourth and they did very well to beat the log leaders Munster and Bulls away, so credit to them.
“We’ve had some tough games there at Scotstoun and I am really looking forward to the chance of playing them in South Africa in front of our crowd.
“I think they’ve got 17 Scottish internationals in that squad and for us it’s a fantastic challenge.
“It’s the games you want to play.”
Dobson said that his team is focused on backing up their performance against Munster last week.
“We saw last week what a difference it makes playing in our conditions in front of our supporters, but we need to back that up on Saturday again.
“Glasgow are the defending champions, so we will have to raise our game further if we are to get the win we need.
“We are thrilled for Andre-Hugo [Venter] to reach this milestone at such a young age and we look forward to even bigger things from him in the years to come.
“It is fantastic to have the likes of Frans [Malherbe] and Manie [Libbok] back in the mix and we expect them to make a real impact on Saturday,” he said.
See below for Saturday’s teams and predictions!
Saturday, October 26:
Stormers v Glasgow Warriors
(Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch – Kick-off: 13.45; 12.45 UK time; 11.45 GMT)
Prediction
@rugby365com: Stormers by 11 points.
Teams:
Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Ruhan Nel, 13 Dan du Plessis (captain), 12 Damian Willemse, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Paul de Wet, 8 Keke Morabe, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Marcel Theunissen, 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 JD Schickerling, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Andre-Hugo Venter, 1 Brok Harris.
Replacements: 16 Joseph Dweba, 17 Leon Lyons, 18 Neethling Fouche, 19 Adre Smith, 20 Willie Engelbrecht, 21 Louw Nel, 22 Herschel Jantjies, 23 Suleiman Hartzenberg.
Glasgow Warriors: 15 Josh McKay, 14 Sebastian Cancelliere, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Sione Tuipulotu (captain), 11 Kyle Rowe, 10 Adam Hastings, 9 George Horne, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Rory Darge, 6 Matt Fagerson, 5 Richie Gray, 4 Gregor Brown, 3 Sam Talakai, 2 Johnny Matthews, 1 Jamie Bhatti
Replacements: 16 Gregor Hiddleston, 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 Zander Fagerson, 19 Scott Cummings, 20 Max Williamson, 21 Henco Venter, 22 Jamie Dobie, 23 Tom Jordan.
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa), Christopher Allison (South Africa)
TMO: Chris Busby (Ireland)
Ospreys v Edinburgh
(Brewery Field, Bridgend – Kick-off: 15.00; 14.00 GMT)
Prediction
@rugby365com: Ospreys by two points.
Teams:
Ospreys: 15 Jack Walsh, 14 Dan Kasende, 13 Owen Watkin, 12 Keiran Williams, 11 Keelan Giles, 10 Owen Williams, 9 Reuben Morgan-Williams, 8 Morgan Morris, 7 Justin Tipuric, 6 Jac Morgan (captain), 5 Adam Beard, 4 Will Greatbanks, 3 Ben Warren, 2 Dewi Lake, 1 Gareth Thomas.
Replacements: 16 Sam Parry, 17 Garyn Phillips, 18 Tom Botha, 19 Lewis Jones, 20 Lewis Lloyd, 21 Kieran Hardy, 22 Tom Florence, 23 Iestyn Hopkins.
Edinburgh: 15 Harry Paterson, 14 Wes Goosen, 13 Matt Currie, 12 Matt Scott, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Ross Thompson, 9 Ben Vellacott (captain), 8 Ben Muncaster, 7 Hamish Watson, 6 Jamie Ritchie, 5 Jamie Hodgson, 4 Marshall Sykes, 3 D’arcy Rae, 2 Ewan Ashman, 1 Boan Venter.
Replacements: 16 Dave Cherry, 17 Angus Williams, 18 Paul Hill, 19 Glen Young, 20 Luke Crosbie, 21 Charlie Shiel, 22 Ben Healy, 23 Mosese Tuipulotu.
Referee: Griffin Colby (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Adam Jones (Wales), Ben Breakspear (Wales)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
Sharks v Munster
(Kings Park, Durban – Kick-off: 16.00; 15.00 UK & Ireland time; 14.00 GMT)
Prediction
@rugby365com: Sharks by 19 points.
Teams:
Sharks: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Eduan Keyter, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Siya Kolisi, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 James Venter, 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 Eben Etzebeth (captain), 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche.
Replacements: 16 Fez Mbatha, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Ruan Dreyer, 19 Jason Jenkins, 20 Phepsi Buthelezi, 21 Jaden Hendrikse, 22 Siya Masuku, 23 Francois Venter.
Munster: 15 Mike Haley, 14 Calvin Nash, 13 Tom Farrell, 12 Rory Scannell, 11 Seán O’Brien, 10 Jack Crowley, 9 Craig Casey, 8 Jack O’Donoghue, 7 John Hodnett, 6 Tom Ahern, 5 Tadhg Beirne (captain), 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Stephen Archer, 2 Niall Scannell, 1 John Ryan.
Replacements: 16 Diarmuid Barron, 17 Kieran Ryan, 18 Ronan Foxe, 19 Fineen Wycherley, 20 Ruadhán Quinn, 21 Ethan Coughlan, 22 Billy Burns, 23 Alex Kendellen.
Referee: Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
Assistant referees: AJ Jacobs (South Africa), Stephan Geldenhuys (South Africa)
TMO: Mike Adamson (Scotland)
Leinster v Lions
(Lansdowne Road, Dublin – Kick-off: 17.15; 18.15 SAST 16.15 GMT)
Prediction
@rugby365com: Leinster by 15 points.
Teams:
Leinster: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Andrew Osborne, 13 Hugh Cooney, 12 Robbie Henshaw, 11 James Lowe, 10 Sam Prendergast, 9 Luke McGrath, 8 Caelan Doris (captain), 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Max Deegan, 5 Ryan Baird, 4 RG Snyman, 3 Rabah Slimani, 2 Gus McCarthy, 1 Michael Milne.
Replacements: 16 Stephen Smyth, 17 Andrew Porter, 18 Thomas Clarkson, 19 Brian Deeny, 20 James Culhane, 21 Cormac Foley, 22 Ross Byrne, 23 Charlie Tector.
Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Richard Kriel, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Rynhardt Jonker, 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Kade Wolhuter, 9 Morné van den Berg, 8 Francke Horn (captain), 7 Jarod Cairns, 6 JC Pretorius, 5 Reinhard Nothnagel, 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 PJ Botha, 1 Juan Schoeman.
Replacements: 16 Franco Marais, 17 Heiko Pohlmann, 18 RF Schoeman, 19 Ruan Delport, 20 Renzo du Plessis, 21 Sanele Nohamba, 22 Marius Louw, 23 Erich Cronje.
Referee: Craig Evans (Wales)
Assistant referees: Peter Martin (Ireland), Stuart Gaffikin (Ireland)
TMO: Aled Griffiths (Wales)
Connacht v Dragons
(Sportsground, Galway – Kick-off: 19.35; 18.35 GMT)
Prediction
@rugby365com: Connacht by 10 points.
Teams:
Connacht: 15 Piers O’Conor, 14 Shayne Bolton, 13 Cathal Forde, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Santiago Cordero, 10 Jack Carty, 9 Caolin Blade, 8 Paul Boyle, 7 Sean O’Brien, 6 Cian Prendergast (captain), 5 Niall Murray, 4 Joe Joyce, 3 Finlay Bealham, 2 Dylan Tierney-Martin, 1 Peter Dooley.
Replacements: 16 Eoin de Buitléar, 17 Denis Buckley, 18 Jack Aungier, 19 Darragh Murray, 20 Sean Jansen, 21 Matthew Devine, 22 Josh Ioane, 23 Hugh Gavin.
Dragons: 15 Cai Evans, 14 Rio Dyer, 13 Joe Westwood, 12 Aneurin Owen, 11 Ewan Rosser, 10 Angus O’Brien, 9 Dane Blacker, 8 Aaron Wainwright, 7 Harri Keddie, 6 Shane Lewis-Hughes, 5 Matthew Screech, 4 Ben Carter (captain), 3 Chris Coleman, 2 Oli Burrows, 1 Cameron Jones.
Replacements: 16 Brodie Coghlan, 17 Aki Seiuli, 18 Luke Yendle, 19 Steve Cummins, 20 Taine Basham, 21 Rhodri Williams, 22 Lloyd Evans, 23 Harry Wilson.
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy)
Assistant referees: Dan Carson (Ireland), Sam Holt (Ireland)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (Italy)
Cardiff v Ulster
(Arms Park, Cardiff – Kick-off: 19.35; 18.35 GMT)
Prediction
@rugby365com: Ulster by five points.
Teams:
Cardiff: 15 Cam Winnett, 14 Mason Grady, 13 Rey Lee-Lo, 12 Ben Thomas, 11 Iwan Stephens, 10 Callum Sheedy, 9 Aled Davies, 8 Alun Lawrence, 7 Dan Thomas, 6 Ben Donnell, 5 Teddy Williams, 4 Josh McNally, 3 Keiron Assiratti, 2 Evan Lloyd, 1 Ed Byrne.
Replacements: 16 Daf Hughes, 17 Corey Domachowski, 18 Rhys Litterick, 19 Rory Thornon, 20 James Botham, 21 Thomas Young, 22 Johan Mulder, 23 Rory Jennings.
Ulster: 15 Ethan McIlroy, 14 Werner Kok, 13 Jude Postlethwaite, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Mike Lowry, 10 Aidan Morgan, 9 Nathan Doak, 8 David McCann, 7 Nick Timoney, 6 Cormac Izuchukwu, 5 Kieran Treadwell, 4 Iain Henderson (captain), 3 Tom O’Toole, 2 James McCormick, 1 Eric O’Sullivan.
Replacements: 16 John Andrew, 17 Andrew Warwick, 18 Scott Wilson, 19 Harry Sheridan, 20 Marcus Rea, 21 John Cooney, 22 Ben Carson, 23 Ben Moxham.
Referee: Sam Grove-White (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Ben Whitehouse (Wales), Ben Connor (Wales)
TMO: Colin Brett (Scotland)
Additional source: South African Rugby Union
