Stormers v Ulster Saturday March 26 1pm (UK Time) Super Sport (SA) / Premier Sports 1 / URC TV (Not in UK/SA)

[big mervyn]

Centre looks good - sounds like Jude won’t be obscure for too much longer….

... is this a lost cause?

[StandUp]

That’s Mattie’s saint.

[Neill_M]

Springbok prop Frans Malherbe will make his return from injury for the DHL Stormers in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship encounter with Ulster at DHL Stadium on Saturday.

There are four changes to the DHL Stormers starting line-up for their clash with the Irish outfit, which kicks off at 15h00 (SAST) on Saturday.

Malherbe is joined in the front row by captain Steven Kitshoff and hooker Chad Solomon, who makes his first start of the campaign in the absence of the injured Scarra Ntubeni.

The only other change to the forward pack sees Ernst van Rhyn start at blindside flank, with lock Adre Smith also available to take his place in the starting XV after having to withdraw last week due to post-concussion symptoms.

In the backline Paul de Wet starts at scrumhalf in a rotational chane, with Herschel Jantjies set to make an impact in the second half as one of two backs on the replacements bench. Lock Connor Evans will make his DHL Stormers debut when he comes on as a replacement.

DHL Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Damian Willemse, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Paul de Wet, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Ernst van Rhyn, 6 Deon Fourie, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Adre Smith, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Chad Solomon, 1 Steven Kitshoff (captain).
Replacements: 16 JJ Kotze, 17 Brok Harris, 18 Neethling Fouche, 19 Connor Evans, 20 Hacjivah Dayimani, 21 Junior Pokomela, 22 Herschel Jantjies, 23 Rikus Pretorius.

[justinr73]

Good test for our scrum then!

Gelant can play a bit - he’s supposed to be off to Racing for next season.

[Neill_M]

Alan O’Connor will make his 150th appearance for the Ulster men, and he will skipper the side from the second row.

Ulster team to play DHL Stormers, United Rugby Championship Round 14, Saturday 26 March at DHL Stadium, 1pm kick-off (UK / Ire time), live on SuperSport, Premier Sports & URC TV:

(15-9) Mike Lowry, Craig Gilroy, Stewart Moore, Stuart McCloskey, Rob Lyttle, Billy Burns, John Cooney;

(1-8) Eric O’Sullivan, Rob Herring, Marty Moore, Alan O’Connor (Capt.), Kieran Treadwell, Greg Jones, Marcus Rea, Duane Vermeulen.

Replacements: Tom Stewart, Callum Reid, Gareth Milasinovich, Mick Kearney, Jordi Murphy, David Shanahan, Luke Marshall, Ethan McIlroy.

Hume, Henderson and Doak among others being kept back for the Bulls game then.

[allezlesverres]

Lowry covering 10 if BB goes off presumably? It will be good to see Marshall back on the pitch - looking forward to it. I think it will be a tough game. Stormers are 5pt favourites with the bookies. It is likely to be a high scoring game with the weather conditions. If we could get a TBP and LBP that would probably be a decent return.

[StandUp]

Timoney rested? I’m always watching through my fingers when Jones plays.

[Neill_M]

Timoney rested? I’m always watching through my fingers when Jones plays.

Holding a few lads back for the Bulls game, the starting team in that one will probably be very close to the one v Toulouse.

[Neill_M]

Andy Warwick, Bradley Roberts, Iain Henderson, Matty Rea, Nick Timoney, Tom O’Toole, Ben Moxham, Ian Madigan, James Hume, Nathan Doak - the players not involved in the 23 this week.

[HwoodMike2umate]

And, Lest We Forget, even in South Africa it will officially be DAY 5544.

[flatpass]

Andy Warwick, Bradley Roberts, Iain Henderson, Marty Moore, Matty Rea, Nick Timoney, Tom O’Toole, Ben Moxham, Ian Madigan, James Hume, Nathan Doak - the players not involved in the 23 this week.

Marty Moore starts this week according to the 23 you posted

[Bart S]

Andy Warwick, Bradley Roberts, Iain Henderson, Marty Moore, Matty Rea, Nick Timoney, Tom O’Toole, Ben Moxham, Ian Madigan, James Hume, Nathan Doak - the players not involved in the 23 this week.

Marty Moore starts this week according to the 23 you posted

There are times when certain players named in the team don't seem to have got involved in the game at all, but that doesn't apply to Marty who has played very well for Ulster and IMHO is the 2nd best tighthead in Ireland (Post Porter's switch)..

[Neill_M]

Andy Warwick, Bradley Roberts, Iain Henderson, Marty Moore, Matty Rea, Nick Timoney, Tom O’Toole, Ben Moxham, Ian Madigan, James Hume, Nathan Doak - the players not involved in the 23 this week.

Marty Moore starts this week according to the 23 you posted

Thank you, got that one wrong. Now fixed. Marty is indeed starting, should not have been on the list.

[Dave]

Looks like we are targeting both fixtures then. A smash n grab in saffer land. Gutsy from big Dan. Les Kiss could never.

SUFTUM

[jean valjean]

This week is probably our best chance of a win so Dan has gone with a side he thinks can do a job, in light of who is available. The ireland guys get another week to integrate back in with 5 tough games in a row to come which will make or break the season.