URC, Round Three - Teams and Predictions

FRIDAY PREVIEW: The Stormers will be out to show their championship credentials on the road after a strong start at home in this season’s tournament.

The Cape outfit will go into their match against the Scarlets in Llanelli on Friday with confidence following a comprehensive 35-0 victory against Leinster and a 26-10 win against the Ospreys at Cape Town Stadium.

With the Scarlets at the foot of the standings with one defeat to date and the postponement of their match against Connacht last week, the Stormers will back themselves to try to repeat their success so far overseas.

They will also draw inspiration from their impressive attack and defence so far in the tournament, with the team having scored 61 points – the second-highest among all teams- and conceded only 10, which is the best in the tournament.

Boosting their confidence, they have Springboks Sacha-Feinberg Mngomezulu (No.10) and Damian Willemse (No.15) back in their ranks.

Willemse’s inclusion at fullback means Wandisile Simelane moves to the outside centre role after doing an excellent job at the back in the first two rounds.

“The backfield is still a developing thing for him [Simelane] at fullback,” said Stormers Director of Rugby John Dobson.

“Against Leinster, we disrupted their scrum and their line-out, and they couldn’t get into their kicking cycles where we could’ve been under pressure in the backfield.

“Damian is absolutely superb, and he brings massive leadership.

“I think our team is used to Warrick [Gelant] and Damian being really loud from the back and seeing the space, and we don’t get that with Wandi yet.

“But I think the progress he has made is staggering.”

The story continues below…

Last time @Scarlets_Rugby hosted the @TheStormers, we got the URC Try of the Season 👀😎

Back again tomorrow, will we get another Try of the Season? 🔥#BKTURC #URC | #SCAvSTO pic.twitter.com/yGg5hGOirl

— BKT United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) October 9, 2025

Dobson said that after two good wins at home, the focus is on getting the tour off to a positive start.

“It has been an encouraging start to the season, and we are determined to build on that in this first tour game. There are a few areas that we want to improve on, and our preparations have obviously been limited by the travel this week.

“We have got some good players coming in from the national team and some who have been in our squad and are making their first starts. We know that everyone will have to be on their game for this one for us to continue the winning momentum on the road,” he said.

Meanwhile, Springbok Marnus van der Merwe returns from international duty to bolster the Scarlets’ forward pack.

It’s a big boost for the Welsh side after they were hit with several injuries.

“The Stormers have been very good so far,” said Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel.

“We all know how dangerous they are in terms of broken field and transition play, but they also have real strength up front, and that is the challenge.

“It is about putting in a performance and competing, being brave with and without the ball. Injuries haven’t helped our preparation. We have a smaller squad this season, and it does test your depth, but it also provides opportunities for younger players, who have shown that they are ready and hungry for their chance.”

Friday’s other match will see Munster at home against Edinburgh.

There are 10 changes to the Munster side that beat Cardiff at Thomond Park last week, while Dylan Richardson makes his Edinburgh debut after making the move from the Sharks.

See below for Friday’s teams and Predictions!

Friday, October 10:

Scarlets v Stormers
(Parc Y Scarlets, Llanelli – Kick-off: 19.45; 20.45 SA Time; 18.45 GMT)

Prediction

Rugby365: Stormers by five points.

Teams:

Scarlets: 15 Blair Murray, 14 Tom Rogers, 13 Joe Roberts, 12 Johnny Williams (captain), 11 Ellis Mee, 10 Joe Hawkins, 9 Gareth Davies, 8 Taine Plumtree, 7 Dan Davis, 6 Jarrod Taylor, 5 Max Douglas, 4 Tristan Davies, 3 Henry Thomas, 2 Marnus van der Merwe, 1 Alec Hepburn.
Replacements: 16 Kirby Myhill, 17 Sam O’Connor, 18 Archer Holz, 19 Steve Cummins, 20 Ben Williams, 21 Dane Blacker, 22 Sam Costelow, 23 Macs Page.

Stormers: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Ruhan Nel (captain), 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 JD Schickerling, 3 Sazi Sandi, 2 JJ Kotzé, 1 Ali Vermaak.
Replacements: 16 André-Hugo Venter, 17 Vernon Matongo, 18 Zachary Porthen, 19 Connor Evans, 20 Marcel Theunissen, 21 Deon Fourie, 22 Imad Khan, 23 Jurie Matthee.

Referee: Federico Vedovelli (Italy)
Assistant referees: Ben Connor (Wales) & Carwyn Sion (Wales)
TMO: Stefano Penne (Italy)

Munster v Edinburgh
(Virgin Media Park, Cork – Kick-off: 19.45; 18.45 GMT)

Prediction

Rugby365: Munster by eight points.

Teams:

Munster: 15 Mike Haley, 14 Calvin Nash, 13 Tom Farrell, 12 Seán O’Brien, 11 Andrew Smith, 10 JJ Hanrahan, 9 Paddy Patterson, 8 Gavin Coombes, 7 Ruadhán Quinn, 6 Jack O’Donoghue, 5 Fineen Wycherley, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Oli Jager, 2 Diarmuid Barron (captain), 1 Michael Milne.
Replacements: 16 Lee Barron, 17 Josh Wycherley, 18 John Ryan, 19 Edwin Edogbo, 20 Brian Gleeson, 21 Ethan Coughlan, 22 Tony Butler, 23 Dan Kelly.

Edinburgh: 15 Wes Goosen, 14 Darcy Graham, 13 Piers O’Conor, 12 James Lang, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Ben Healy, 9 Ben Vellacott, 8 Magnus Bradbury (captain), 7 Dylan Richardson, 6 Liam McConnell, 5 Sam Skinner, 4 Marshall Sykes, 3 D’arcy Rae, 2 Ewan Ashman, 1 Pierre Schoeman.
Replacements: 16 Paddy Harrison, 17 Boan Venter, 18 Paul Hill, 19 Glen Young, 20 Freddy Douglas, 21 Ben Muncaster, 22 Charlie Shiel, 23 Harry Paterson.

Referee: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)
Assistant referees: Robbie Jenkinson (Ireland) & Jack MacNeice (Ireland)
TMO: Keith David (Wales)