GAME DAY: All eyes on Cape Town as Stormers chase URC semi-final spot against Cardiff

The pressure will be on the Stormers when they face Cardiff in their United Rugby Championship (URC) quarter-final on Saturday afternoon in Cape Town.

It’s a near full-strength side playing in front of a packed DHL Stadium (3.30pm kick-off), and they will have home advantage and a vociferous crowd behind them. Now, it’s all about putting in the hard work between the four lines to topple a fired-up Welsh outfit.

Cardiff arrive in Cape Town as the last team to beat their hosts in the league phase, having done so a couple of weeks ago at Arms Park in the Welsh capital. They, too, come into this clash with momentum on their side.

However, the Stormers were without some of their strongest players on that occasion and, despite the defeat, they will be eager to exact revenge.

Sunny and dry conditions are forecast in the Mother City, so supporters can expect some entertaining rugby from both sides.

The battle will begin up front between the forwards, with the Stormers relishing the prospect of the scrum and line-out contest, while the breakdown battle could provide the platform for Cardiff’s challenge.

Whichever side gains a foothold in these crucial areas first will be able to provide their backline with front-foot ball and launch attacking moves to entertain the crowd.

The Stormers are favourites, but they cannot afford to underestimate the challenge their visitors will bring in their first-ever URC quarter-final.

“The pressure was on us last time out at Cardiff Arms Park, but I think that has obviously shifted back onto them a little now. If we can start well and apply pressure through what we do best — scoring points — then we can put them under pressure.”

Stormers XV 

15 Damian Willemse, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Ruhan Nel (captain), 12 Dan du Plessis, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Imad Khan, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 Adré Smith, 3 Neethling Fouché, 2 André-Hugo Venter, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu.

Replacements: 16 JJ Kotzé, 17 Vernon Matongo, 18 Zachary Porthen, 19 Salmaan Moerat, 20 Ruan Ackermann, 21 Marcel Theunissen, 22 Stefan Ungerer, 23 Jurie Matthee.

Cardiff XV

15 Cam Winnett, 14 Jacob Beetham, 13 Ben Thomas, 12 Rory Jennings, 11 Josh Adams, 10 Ioan Lloyd, 9 Johan Mulder, 8 Taine Basham, 7 Dan Thomas, 6 James Botham, 5 Rory Thornton, 4 Josh McNally, 3 Keiron Assiratti, 2 Liam Belcher (captain), 1 Rhys Barratt.

Replacements: 16 Daf Hughes, 17 Danny Southworth, 18 Javan Sebastian, 19 George Nott, 20 Alun Lawrence, 21 Evan Lloyd, 22 Ellis Bevan, 23 Tom Bowen.

Referee: Eoghan Cross (Ireland). AR 1: Andrew Brace (Ireland). AR 2: Andrew Cole (Ireland). TMO: Leo Colgan (Ireland).