STAT ATTACK: It is a repeat of the thrilling 2022-23 United Rugby Championship Final and a stark reminder that Munster has the wood over South African teams.
The Stormers host Munster in Cape Town on Saturday in a Round Five face-off.
Both teams are coming off disappointing losses.
Cemented at the bottom of the URC table, the Stormers have lost to Ospreys (24-37) and Edinburgh (7-38), with a 36-5 win over fellow basement dwellers Zebre sandwiched in between.
Munster’s start to the season has been equally disappointing, with two wins from four starts – home wins over Connacht (35-33) and Ospreys (23-0), to go with away losses to Zebre (33-42) and Leinster (12-26).
However, Saturday’s showdown in the shadow of Table Mountain is at a venue where the Irish province has never lost.
Munster has been unbeaten in its last nine URC fixtures against South African opponents.
Their last defeat against a team from the Republic was against the Lions in Johannesburg in March 2022.
Munster have won all four previous matches they have played against Stormers.
The South African franchise has won their last three matches against Irish provinces since Munster beat them in Limerick in November 2023.
Stormers have lost only one of their last nine home games in the Championship – a 21-27 loss to Ospreys in Cape Town in April.
(Stormers backline and attack coach Dawie Snyman about their poor record against Munster …)
Stormers backline and attack coach Dawie Snyman said they are ‘well aware’ of their poor record against the Irish province.
However, he believes they have it within them to bounce back and end their winless run.
“Well, we definitely won’t live in the past,” Snyman said.
“I think we had our opportunities when we played them before to win those games.”
He added that Munster will be confident, despite their poor start to the season.
“They’ll have confidence playing here in Cape Town because they have performed here really well.
“So it’s a nice challenge for us.”
The Munster team and management arrived in Cape Town on Tuesday and got down to some serious preparation in the early summer sun in Cape Town.
A 32-player squad has been selected for the two games in South Africa – with a match against Sharks in Durban on Saturday week completing the tour.
Five Munster Rugby Academy players are included – props Ronan Foxe and Kieran Ryan, lock Evan O’Connell, flanker Ruadhán Quinn and back three player Ben O’Connor.
Emerging Ireland captain Alex Kendellen, Ethan Coughlan, Evan O’Connell and Ben O’Connor stayed in South Africa on completion of the Emerging Ireland tour and met the squad in Cape Town on Wednesday.
Alex Nankivell (shoulder), Tom Ahern (ankle) and Ruadhán Quinn (head) all returned to action at the weekend and came through the game with no issues.
Billy Burns (shoulder), Shane Daly (elbow) and Rory Scannell (ankle) have all returned to full training and travelled with the squad to Cape Town.
Munster squad
Forwards: Diarmuid Barron, Scott Buckley, Eoghan Clarke, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer, Ronan Foxe, Jeremy Loughman, John Ryan, Kieran Ryan, Tom Ahern, Tadhg Beirne, Jean Kleyn, Evan O’Connell, Fineen Wycherley, Gavin Coombes, John Hodnett, Alex Kendellen, Jack O’Donoghue, Ruadhán Quinn.
Backs: Craig Casey, Ethan Coughlan, Conor Murray, Billy Burns, Jack Crowley, Tom Farrell, Alex Nankivell, Seán O’Brien, Rory Scannell, Shane Daly, Mike Haley, Calvin Nash, Ben O’Connor.
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