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Stormers, Munster name their URC grand final teams

(Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

John Dobson has made two changes to his DHL Stormers team for Saturday’s URC final versus Munster in Cape Town, recalling two Springboks forwards to his pack.

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The defending champions qualified for the decider with a 43-25 win over another Irish side, Connacht, on May 13 and they have now bolstered their firepower by naming lock Marvin Orie and blindside Deon Fourie to start in place of the benched Ben-Jason Dixon and Willie Engelbrecht.

They have also recalibrated their bench from the semi-finals. For that match, they opted for a five-forwards/three-backs split.

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WATCH as Munster defence coach Denis Leamy talks about his team’s famous URC win over the Stormers last month

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WATCH as Munster defence coach Denis Leamy talks about his team’s famous URC win over the Stormers last month

However, their replacements for the final will see a six/two divide as they have decided to go with an extra back-rower option and exclude Jean-Luc du Plessis. Utility back Clayton Blommetjies is included on the bench in place of the injured Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.

Munster, who come into the final that will take place in front of a sold-out 55,000 crowd, have made three changes from their last-gasp 16-15 semi-final win away to Leinster. With skipper Peter O’Mahony fit despite his early Aviva Stadium departure, Graham Rowntree has named an unchanged pack.

There is a reshuffle at half-back, though, with the fit-again Conor Murray named at scrum-half with Craig Casey dropping to the bench. Ben Healy, the starting No10 versus Leinster, is also named as a sub with Jack Crowley, who landed the winning drop goal, switching in from inside centre, a position that will now be filled by Malakai Fekitoa.

The other starting XV change sees Keith Earls slip to the bench with Calvin Nash chosen on the right wing. Earls will be joined in reserve by the fit-again Springboks lock, RG Snyman.

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Stormers boss Dobson said. “Both Deon and Marvin have been outstanding for us this season and they will add a lot both in terms of their ability and leadership on Saturday. We have a lot of respect for Munster. The truth is that we have never beaten them, so while we are thrilled to be playing at home we know it will be a big challenge against a good team.

“This will be the biggest crowd for any DHL Stormers match and it should be an amazing occasion for the team, our passionate supporters and the city of Cape Town. We are so grateful for the support that we enjoy and what this team means to so many people. We will do our best to soak up the atmosphere, enjoy every moment and play the kind of rugby that got us here.”

DHL STORMERS: 15. Damian Willemse; 14. Angelo Davids, 13. Ruhan Nel, 12. Dan du Plessis, 11. Leolin Zas; 10. Manie Libbok, 9. Herschel Jantjies; 1. Steven Kitshoff (capt), 2. Joseph Dweba, 3. Frans Malherbe, 4. Ruben van Heerden, 5. Marvin Orie, 6. Deon Fourie, 7. Hacjivah Dayimani, 8. Evan Roos. Reps: 16. JJ Kotze, 17. Ali Vermaak, 18. Neethling Fouche, 19. Ben-Jason Dixon, 20. Willie Engelbrecht, 21. Marcel Theunissen, 22. Paul de Wet, 23. Clayton Blommetjies.

MUNSTER: 15. Mike Haley; 14. Calvin Nash, 13. Antoine Frisch, 12. Malakai Fekitoa, 11. Shane Daly; 10. Jack Crowley, 9. Conor Murray; 1. Jeremy Loughman, 2. Diarmuid Barron, 3. Stephen Archer, 4. Jean Kleyn, 5. Tadhg Beirne, 6. Peter O’Mahony (capt), 7. John Hodnett, 8. Gavin Coombes. Reps: 16. Niall Scannell, 17. Josh Wycherley, 18. Roman Salanoa, 19. RG Snyman, 20. Alex Kendellen, 21. Craig Casey, 22. Ben Healy, 23. Keith Earls.

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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