Munster v Stormers will kick off at 19:35 on Saturday 2nd October in Thomond Park. The match will be shown live on Premier Sports and RTE 2.

This will be the first time the two sides have met in a competitive fixture. Munster’s only defeat in their last six URC matches was a 24-20 home loss to Connacht in the Rainbow Cup. The Irish province’s only loss to South African opposition in the Championship was to the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein in October 2019.

The Stags won their first game of the new season against the Cell C Sharks with a scoreline of 42-17. The comprehensive victory showcased Johann Van Graan’s provincial team’s strength and energy.

The Stormers have lost their last three URC games and not won outside South Africa since an April 2019 Super Rugby victory over the Rebels.

Last week, the Cape Town club lost 22-18 to Bennetton. The Stormers would have been disappointed to lose to the Italian team and will want to up their game on Saturday.

Vodacom #SuperRugby historic moments:
Jean de Villiers played 105 Vodacom #SuperRugby games for the DHL Stormers between 2004 and 2014, touching down 28 times over the years#TacklingCancer@vodacomrugga pic.twitter.com/sAjxCie1LQ

— Springboks (@Springboks) June 8, 2020

Munster v Stormers Starting Teams

Munster Rugby

Mike Haley; Calvin Nash, Keith Earls, Rory Scannell, Shane Daly; Joey Carbery, Craig Casey; Dave Kilcoyne, Niall Scannell, Keynan Knox; Jean Kleyn, Fineen Wycherley; Peter O’Mahony (C), Jack O’Donoghue, Gavin Coombes.

Replacements

Diarmuid  Barron, Jeremy Loughman, Stephen Archer, RG Snyman, Jack O’Sullivan, Rowan Osborne, Ben Healy, Simon Zebo.

DHL Stormers

Warrick Gelant; Sargeal Peterson, Ruhan Nel, Dan du Plessis, Leolin Zas; Mannie Libbok, Stefan Ungerer; Brok Harris, Scarra Ntubeni, Neethling Fouche; Andre Smith, Salmaan Moeret; Nama Xaba, Willie Engelbrecht, Evan Roos.

Replacements

Andre- Hugo Venter, Lyon Lyons, Sazi Sandi, Ernst Van Rhyn, Marcel Theunissen, Godlen Masimla, Tim Swiel, Rikus, Pretorius.

@SimonZebo’s return to #URC set the pulses racing against the #CellCSharks! 

Drop a Like if you want to see Zebo make his 100th appearance off the bench against the #DHLStormers this weekend.  @Munsterrugby pic.twitter.com/uhIVL1DIcP

— United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) October 1, 2021

Betting

Outright Betting

Munster 1/40

Draw 75/1

DHL Stormers 14/1

Handicap Betting

Munster (-25) 10/11

Draw (-25) 22/1

DHL Stormers (+25) 10/11

Score Prediction

Stormers fans may come to Thomond Park with the hope of causing an upset but is very unlikely. Van Graan has rested some of his players using this game as a chance to decide his strongest side.

Expect this game to end with Munster claiming a bonus point in a ten-plus victory.

“Coach, I got passed 7 minutes!”

RG Snyman to Johann Van Graan just now in the Munster dressing room.

pic.twitter.com/GZACi62pNm

— Cian Tracey (@CianTracey1) September 25, 2021

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Warren Gatland’s side is coming off their first loss on the tour – a 17-13 defeat to South Africa ‘A’ – and will want to bounce back from it.

The Stormers stand in their way and will want to record a historic upset in Cape Town.

Scotland full-back Stuart Hogg will captain the Lions for the match and returning tour captain Alun Wyn Jones will take his place on the bench.

Robbie Henshaw also makes his return from injury and heads straight into the starting XV with Tadhg Furlong, Tadhg Beirne and Jack Conan starting for the side as well.

The Lions’ explosive ability to score tries was nullified by Jacques Nienaber’s Springbok defence on Wednesday night but the Lions will not face a defence of that calibre anywhere else.

Ali Price and Marcus Smith will add some creativity to an attack that has only failed to score less than 25 points this summer – against South Africa ‘A’.

Lock Ernst Van Rhyn will captain the opposition on Saturday, with the home team wearing limited edition jerseys for this match only.

JD Schickerling will partner him in the second row.

A pacey back three of Edwill Van Der Merwe, Seabelo Senatla and Sergeal Petersen can cause problems for the Lions.

Stormers will look to improve on Western Province’s 26-23 loss to the Lions in a close match on the 2009 tour.

However, the Lions firepower may prove to be too much this time around.

Lineups

The British & Irish Lions: 15. Stuart Hogg (Exeter Chiefs, Scotland) C, 14. Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby, Wales), 13. Elliot Daly (Saracens, England), 12. Robbie Henshaw (Leinster Rugby, Ireland), 11. Duhan van der Merwe (Worcester Warriors, Scotland), 10. Marcus Smith (Harlequins, England), 9. Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors, Scotland); 1. Rory Sutherland (Worcester Warriors, Scotland), 2. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, England), 3. Tadhg Furlong (Leinster Rugby, Ireland), 4. Adam Beard (Ospreys, Wales), 5. Jonny Hill (Exeter Chiefs, England), 6. Tadhg Beirne (Munster Rugby, Ireland), 7. Hamish Watson (Edinburgh Rugby, Scotland), 8. Jack Conan (Leinster Rugby, Ireland)

Replacements: 16. Jamie George (Saracens, England), 17. Mako Vunipola (Saracens, England), 18. Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors, Scotland), 19. Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys, Wales), 20. Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs, England), 21. Gareth Davies (Scarlets, Wales), 22. Chris Harris (Gloucester Rugby, Scotland), 23. Louis Rees-Zammit (Gloucester Rugby, Wales)

DHL Stormers: 15. Sergeal Petersen, 14. Seabelo Senatla, 13. Rikus Pretorius, 12. Dan du Plessis, 11. Edwill van der Merwe, 10. Tim Swiel, 9. Godlen Masimla; 1. Leon Lyons, 2. JJ Kotze, 3. Neethling Fouche, 4. Ernst van Rhyn (captain), 5. JD Schickerling, 6. Nama Xaba, 7. Johan du Toit, 8. Evan Roos

Replacements: 16. Andre-Hugo Venter, 17. Kwenzo Blose, 18. Sazi Sandi, 19. Justin Basson, 20. Marcel Theunissen, 21. Thomas Bursey, 22. Abner van Reenen, 23. Juan de Jongh, 24. Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 25. Niel Otto, 26. Leolin Zas, 27. Cornel Smit

Odds

Stormers 33/1

Draw 100/1

British and Irish Lions 1/100

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Inside centre Robbie Henshaw will return to the starting lineup after recovering from a hamstring injury.

Returning tour captain Alun Wyn Jones will have a place on the bench just three weeks after dislocating his shoulder against Japan.

Furthermore, Stuart Hogg will wear the captain’s armband on the day when he lines up in the back three alongside Josh Adams and Duhan Van Der Merwe.

Harlequins fly-half Marcus Smith, who was called up at the weekend, will start for the side, wearing the number 10 shirt.

Rory Sutherland and Tadhg Furlong will start for the Lions once more with Adam Beard and Jonny Hill at lock forward behind them.

Tadhg Beirne and Jack Conan will give a strong Irish feel to the back row with Hamish Watson complimenting them at openside.

Many members of the bench were part of the side that narrowly lost out to South Africa ‘A’ 17-13 on Wednesday night, including Chris Harris and Louis Rees-Zammit.

Kick-off is at 5 pm on Wednesday and Sky Sports will cover the game.

Lions 23 v Stormers

Backs

15. Stuart Hogg

14. Josh Adams

13. Elliot Daly

12. Robbie Henshaw

11. Duhan van der Merwe

10. Marcus Smith

9. Ali Price

Forwards

1. Rory Sutherland

2. Luke Cowan-Dickie

3. Tadhg Furlong

4. Adam Beard

5. Jonny Hill

6. Tadhg Beirne

7. Hamish Watson

8. Jack Conan

Replacements

16. Jamie George

17. Mako Vunipola

18. Zander Fagerson

19. Alun Wyn Jones

20. Sam Simmonds

21. Gareth Davies

22. Chris Harris

23. Louis Rees-Zammit

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