The Stormers are positive they can change their fortunes on Saturday when they tackle Munster in Cape Town in the United Rugby Championship.

The Stormers go into their first home match with the record of never having beaten the Irish giants in the URC, and this includes the 2022/23 final in the Mother City.

The former champions are under pressure as well following their 38-7 drubbing at the hands of Edinburgh in Scotland last week.

The Stormers made a few changes such as the Springbok and former Cheetahs hooker, Joseph Dweba, earning his first start of the season.

The Stormers coach, John Dobson, said they are positive and not too concerned about their history against the team from Limerick. “It hasn’t been a pleasant week for us.”  

“With that score, with the travel, but there is a real determination. I think none of the performances have lacked any form of effort or anything. It was a really tough evening, but there is a determination to put it right tomorrow.

“If we get through tomorrow with next week, it’s two home games, and if they go like most URC games, then we’ll be in a different world with three-from-five, but tomorrow it’s super important.

Joseph Dweba. Photo: Carl Fourie/Gallo Images

“I think there’s an element of understanding the pressure, but also, we haven’t played a game here since the Lions on 1 June, so to be back here is fantastic for us and we’re excited.

“It’s a nice opposition, the fields in great shape and we’re looking forward to that.” Tomorrow’s match at the Cape Town Stadium kicks off at 18:00.

Stormers – 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Dan du Plessis (captain), 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Paul de Wet, 8 Keke Morabe, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Marcel Theunissen, 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Adre Smith, 3 Neethling Fouche, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Sti Sithole

Replacements –16 André-Hugo Venter, 17 Brok Harris, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Ruben van Heerden, 20 Dave Ewers, 21 Louw Nel, 22 Herschel Jantjies, 23 Jurie Matthee

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek dg