Overview
- The Stormers named their team Friday for Saturday’s one-versus-two meeting with Glasgow, handing Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu his 50th cap, restoring Damian Willemse to fullback, starting Wandisile Simelane on the wing, and lining up 18-year-old Markus Muller for a debut from the bench.
- Lying fourth, the Lions kept changes light for Connacht at Ellis Park, with hooker PJ Botha to earn his 100th cap, Ruan Venter shifting to lock, and Batho Hlekani starting on the flank as they try to cement a home quarter-final.
- Connacht chase a rare South Africa sweep after last week’s 33-24 upset of the Stormers in Cape Town, but they travel to altitude with Cathal Forde out with a wrist injury, Sean Jansen and Dave Heffernan under review, and extra cover called up at hooker and back row.
- The Bulls strengthened for Scarlets in Llanelli by recalling Springboks Wilco Louw at tighthead and Kurt‑Lee Arendse on the wing, moving David Kriel to fullback with Canan Moodie sidelined, in a push to stay inside the top eight with two home games to follow.
- Beyond the URC, the Crusaders’ surprise call to start Leicester Fainga’anuku at openside flanker against the Waratahs drew opponent interest and underscored late-season experimentation with player versatility across the southern competition.