Connacht are facing a make-or-break moment in their season as they prepare to take on DHL Stormers at Dexcom Stadium on Saturday at 5.05pm. They must claim victory over the South African team to sustain their faint hopes of advancing to the URC quarter-finals, before facing Leinster at the RDS in their next match. After an optimistic start, including a home victory over current frontrunners Glasgow, Connacht are feeling the effects of successive defeats to Emirates Lions and Benetton, along with a robust loss to Munster at Thomond Park.
Expectations of strong home support are high for this last home match at the sportsground before renovation works begin on the Clan Stand. Deep emotions are anticipated on the field as long-serving Connacht players bid farewell, especially Tiernan O’Halloran who hails from Clifden. He retires as the team’s most prolific URC try scorer following 15 years and roughly 230 games, apart from former captain Jarrad Butler, who added 100 URC matches to his name during his seven-year stint at the Sportsground.
Another noteworthy inclusion is Santiago Cordero, the Argentinian international expected to mark his inaugural appearance off the bench after recovering from a major knee injury sustained during pre-season training.
According to Wilkins, this match will be momentous due to a blend of departing players, potential debuts, and the changes to the Clan Stand. However, he emphasises: “The most crucial aspect is that we must win this massive game.”
“To progress to the play-offs and qualify for the Champions Cup is our objective. Connacht now have to deliver a performance that proves we are worthy of advancing to the next round.”
Nonetheless, the betting odds seem to favour the South Africans, who currently rank fifth and are aiming for a home quarter-final. Stormers’ head coach John Dobson is leaving nothing to chance, incorporating several Springboks in his team led by lock Salmaan Moerat.
Connacht is set to face a challenging match against a team that, while only controlling 40 percent of the attack, generated 12 sharp advances and five tries while maintaining a perfect kicking score during their previous 44-21 victory over the Dragons. Although the 21 conceded points offer a hint of optimism, wagering against the guests would be difficult unless Connacht can physically rival them, reduce mistakes, and take advantage of scoring chances, buoyed by the anticipation of a sell-out crowd.
For Connacht, the starting line-up includes T. O’Halloran, J. Porch, B. Aki, B. Ralston, and others. The substitutes include D. Tierney-Martin, J. Duggan, C. Reilly, and others.
On the other hand, the DHL Stormers lineup includes W. Gelant, S. Hartzenberg, D. du Plessis, D. Willemse, and others. Among the Stormers’ replacements are A. Venter, K. Blose, M. Theunissen, among others.
The referee for this match will be Federico Vedovelli from Italy.