URC, Round Seven - Teams and Predictions
SATURDAY PREVIEW: It’s derby time in South Africa with big spotlights on Cape Town and Durban this weekend.
The Stormers will be out to maintain their unbeaten run in the tournament when they host the Lions. Meanwhile, the Sharks are targeting a higher position in the standings when they take on Johan Ackermann’s Bulls at Kings Park.
Ivan van Rooyen’s Lions will be underdogs against John Dobson’s team, but they do have the personnel in their matchday squad to spring a surprise.
The Stormers will also be without star players Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Ruhan Nel, which could work out in the visitors’ favour.
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#UPDATE: Stormers boss provides bleak update on key player 👇#URC #Stormers #Lions #STOvLIO https://t.co/yXaOJD0AIG
— Rugby365 (@rugby365com) December 19, 2025
“I do think they [Lions] are more dangerous up on the Highveld, but I see they think we are ripe for the picking now,” said Dobson.
“I don’t know what has given them that signal about us. Maybe we got a bit loose against La Rochelle.
“They do want a high-paced game with ball security not being a premium, so that they can capitalise on turnovers.
“It’s often suited to the Highveld than down here, where it feels like there is less space.
“However, we can’t be seduced into that. We have talked about that a lot this week. We do have two excellent packs out there, and we need to be direct and make sure that it takes its toll.”
Speaking ahead of their trip to the Mother City, Lions assistant coach Jaque Fourie, a man who himself represented both franchises as a player, expects a fast game but warned against losing structure against Dobson’s men.
“They thrive off that unstructured type of game,” he explained.
“If you don’t keep the ball and you’re not accurate, they can punish you from anywhere.
“It’s about keeping the ball, being sharp with handling, and building pressure through phases.
“You don’t start a game against the Stormers by throwing the ball around.
The former Springbok centre, while acknowledging the talent across both teams, was clear on his side’s approach for Saturday.
“We’re going there with a mission. We want to go and beat the Stormers in Cape Town,” he concluded.
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Meanwhile, Sharks head coach JP Pietersen said the week leading up to this mouthwatering encounter against the Bulls was all about building on the momentum created in the 28-23 win over Saracens.
“It’s an opportunity every week to get better, and obviously we took the positives out of that game and looked at how we can build on it going forward,” said Pietersen.
“It’s been a good week. Prep has been going well, and there is some good energy in the group.”
He added: “We know it’s not going to be easy against the Bulls.
“They’re also desperate, but what a challenge it’s going to be.”
Pietersen’s sentiments were echoed by his captain Andre Esterhuizen.
“Hopefully, we have turned the corner and can start building momentum,” said the midfielder.
“During the week before the [Saracens] game, we had a lot of honest conversations. The players understood that they had to take accountability for everything that had happened.
“I was proud of the boys for the way we got stuck in. It was tough, it was tight, my voice was almost gone from screaming on defence.”
The Bulls have selected an all-Springbok front row in the form of Wilco Louw, Johan Grobbelaar and Gerhard Steenekamp.
The match will also see the return of Handre Pollard in the No.10 jersey.
The visitors will also be in a tough spot when it comes to confidence after their 5-50 Champions Cup defeat to Northampton last weekend.
“We’re under no illusions – this will be a great challenge, and one we’re looking forward to,” said Bulls head coach Johann Ackermann.
“The Sharks are a quality side with quality players. Our focus is on ourselves.
“There are a lot of things we need to correct, and we need to be at our best.
“We have a lot of respect for the Sharks. Hopefully, we put in a good performance.”
See below for Saturday’s teams and predictions!
Saturday, December 20:
Stormers v Lions
(DHL Stadium, Cape Town – Kick-off: 15.30; 13.30 GMT)
Prediction
Rugby365: Stormers by 10 points.
Teams:
Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Dylan Maart, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Jonathan Roche, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Jurie Matthee, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Marcel Theunissen, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 Salmaan Moerat (captain), 3 Neethling Fouché, 2 André-Hugo Venter, 1 Vernon Matongo.
Replacements: 16 Lukhanyo Vokozela, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Adré Smith, 20 JD Schickerling, 21 Ben-Jason Dixon, 22 Stefan Ungerer, 23 Suleiman Hartzenberg.
Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Kelly Mpeku, 13 Erich Cronje, 12 Bronson Mills, 11 Eduan Keyter, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Francke Horn (captain), 7 Ruan Venter, 6 Jarod Cairns, 5 Reinhard Nothnagel, 4 Etienne Oosthuizen, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 PJ Botha, 1 SJ Kotze.
Replacements: 16 Franco Marais, 17 Eddie Davids, 18 RF Schoeman, 19 Dylan Sjoblom, 20 Darrien Landsberg, 21 Siba Qoma, 22 Nico Steyn, 23 Richard Kriel.
Referee: Hanru van Rooyen (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa), Stephan Geldenhuys (South Africa)
TMO: Quinton Immelman (South Africa)
Benetton v Zebre Parma
(Stadio Monigo, Treviso – Kick-off: 15.00; 14.00 GMT)
Prediction
Rugby365: Benetton by 14 points.
Teams:
Benetton: 15 Matt Gallagher, 14 Paolo Odogwu, 13 Tommaso Menoncello, 12 Leonardo Marin, 11 Ignacio Mendy, 10 Jacob Umaga, 9 Alessandro Garbisi, 8 So’otala Fa’aso’o, 7 Michele Lamaro, 6 Manuel Zuliani, 5 Federico Ruzza, 4 Riccardo Favretto, 3 Simone Ferrari, 2 Bautista Bernasconi, 1 Thomas Gallo.
Replacements: 16 Nicholas Gasperini, Mirco Spagnolo, 18 Tiziano Pasquali, 19 Giulio Marini, 20 Lorenzo Cannone, 21 Louis Werchon, 22 Tomas Albornoz, 23 Malakai Fekitoa.
Zebre Parma: 15 Giovanni Montemauri, 14 Giulio Bertaccini, 13 Marco Zanon, 12 Damiano Mazza, 11 Simone Gesi, 10 Giacomo Da Re, 9 Alessandro Fusco, 8 David Odiase, 7 Samuele Locatelli, 6 Bautista Stavile, 5 Leonard Krumov (co-captain), 4 Giacomo Ferrari, 3 Juan Pitinari, 2 Tommaso Di Bartolomeo, 1 Muhamed Hasa.
Replacements: 16 Giampietro Ribaldi, 17 Paolo Buonfiglio, 18 Matteo Nocera, 19 Alessandro Ortombina, 20 Matteo Canali, 21 Thomas Dominguez, 22 Malik Faissal, 23 Giovanni Licata (co-captain).
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy)
Assistant referees: Filippo Russo (Italy), Luca Bisetto (Italy)
TMO: Stefano Penne (Italy)
Glasgow Warriors v Edinburgh
(Hampden Park, Glasgow – Kick-off: 15.00; 15.00 GMT)
Prediction
Rugby365: Glasgow Warriors by nine points.
Teams
Glasgow Warriors: 15 Ollie Smith, 14 Kyle Steyn (captain), 13 Stafford McDowall, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 11 Jamie Dobie, 10 Adam Hastings, 9 George Horne, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Rory Darge, 6 Matt Fagerson, 5 Scott Cummings, 4 Max Williamson, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 Gregor Hiddleston, 1 Nathan McBeth.
Replacements: 16 Seb Stephen, 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 Sam Talakai, 19 Alex Craig, 20 Gregor Brown, 21 Ally Miller, 22 Ben Afshar, 23 Dan Lancaster.
Edinburgh: 15 Wes Goosen, 14 Darcy Graham, 13 Matt Currie, 12 Piers O’Conor, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Cammy Scott, 9 Ben Vellacott, 8 Magnus Bradbury (captain), 7 Dylan Richardson, 6 Liam McConnell, 5 Grant Gilchrist, 4 Glen Young, 3 Ollie Blyth-Lafferty, 2 Ewan Ashman, 1 Pierre Schoeman.
Replacements: 16 Harri Morris, 17 Boan Venter, 18 Paul Hill, 19 Callun Hunter-Hill, 20 Freddy Douglas, 21 Conor McAlpine, 22 Ross Thompson, 23 Matt Davidson.
Referee: Eoghan Cross (Ireland)
Assistant referees: David Sutherland (Scotland), Finlay Brown (Scotland)
TMO: Mark Patton (Scotland)
Sharks v Bulls
(Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban – Kick-off: 18.00; 16.00 GMT)
Prediction
Rugby365: Sharks by three points.
Teams:
Sharks: 15 Hakeem Kunene, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Ethan Hooker, 12 Andre Esterhuizen (captain), 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Phepsi Buthelezi, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Hanro Jacobs, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Phatu Ganyane.
Replacements: 16 Eduan Swart, 17 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 18 Mawande Mdanda, 19 Marvin Orie, 20 Matt Romao, 21 Nick Hatton, 22 Jaden Hendrikse, 23 George Whitehead.
Bulls: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Sebastian de Klerk, 13 David Kriel, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 JJ Theron, 7 Elrigh Louw (captain), 6 Jeandre Rudolph, 5 JF van Heerden, 4 Cobus Wiese, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Replacements: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18 Khuta Mchunu, 19 Reinhardt Ludwig, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 Stedman Gans, 23 Devon Williams.
Referee: Griffin Colby (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa), AJ Jacobs (South Africa)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
Ospreys v Munster
(Dunraven Brewery Field, Bridgend – Kick-off: 17.30; 17.30 GMT)
Prediction
Rugby365: Munster by 11 points.
Teams:
Ospreys: 15 Max Nagy, 14 Dan Kasende, 13 Evardi Boshoff, 12 Owen Watkin, 11 Keelan Giles, 10 Dan Edwards, 9 Reuben Morgan-Williams, 8 Morgan Morris, 7 Harri Deaves, 6 James Ratti, 5 Ryan Smith, 4 Rhys Davies, 3 Rhys Henry, 2 Dewi Lake (captain), 1 Steffan Thomas.
Replacements: 16 Sam Parry, 17 Cam Jones, 18 Tom Botha, 19 Huw Sutton, 20 Morgan Morse, 21 Kieran Hardy, 22 Keiran Williams, 23 Jack Walsh.
Munster: 15 Mike Haley, 14 Calvin Nash, 13 Tom Farrell, 12 Alex Nankivell, 11 Shane Daly, 10 Jack Crowley, 9 Paddy Patterson, 8 Gavin Coombes, 7 Alex Kendellen, 6 Jack O’Donoghue (captain), 5 Fineen Wycherley, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Michael Ala’alatoa, 2 Niall Scannell, 1 Jeremy Loughman.
Replacements: 16 Lee Barron, 17 Michael Milne, 18 Conor Bartley, 19 Edwin Edogbo, 20 Tom Ahern, 21 Ethan Coughlan, 22 JJ Hanrahan, 23 John Hodnett.
Referee: Sam Grove-White (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Craig Evans (Wales), Andrew Moule (Wales)
TMO: Andrew McMenemy (Scotland)
Dragons v Connacht
(Rodney Parade, Newport – Kick-off: 19.45; 19.45 GMT)
Prediction
Rugby365: Connacht by five points.
Teams:
Dragons: 15 Angus O’Brien (co-captain), 14 Jared Rosser, 13 Fine Inisi, 12 Aneurin Owen, 11 Rio Dyer, 10 Tinus de Beer, 9 Che Hope, 8 Harri Keddie, 7 Harry Beddall, 6 Ryan Woodman, 5 Ben Carter (co-captain), 4 Levi Douglas, 3 Robert Hunt, 2 Oli Burrows, 1 Rodrigo Martinez.
Replacements: 16 George Roberts, 17 Jordan Morris, 18 Cebo Dlamini, 19 Shane Lewis-Hughes, 20 Thomas Young, 21 Rhodri Williams, 22 Joe Westwood, 23 Huw Anderson.
Connacht: 15 Sam Gilbert, 14 Chay Mullins, 13 Cathal Forde, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Shayne Bolton, 10 Josh Ioane, 9 Caolin Blade, 8 Paul Boyle, 7 Seán O’Brien, 6 Cian Prendergast (captain), 5 Niall Murray, 4 Darragh Murray, 3 Sam Illo, 2 Dave Heffernan, 1 Jordan Duggan.
Replacements: 16 Dylan Tierney-Martin, 17 Denis Buckley, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Josh Murphy, 20 Sean Jansen, 21 Ben Murphy, 22 Jack Carty, 23 Hugh Gavin.
Referee: Ru Campbell (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Rob McDowell (Wales), Jonny Mackenzie (Wales)
TMO: Mike Adamson (Scotland)
Photo Credit: Inpho Photography
