All four SA franchises won last weekend. Now Boks are returning to matchday squads as the Stormers, Lions, Sharks and Bulls take on Edinburgh, Ospreys, Leinster and Munster.
South Africa’s URC sides are riding high after a perfect opening round, and the return of several Springboks from international duty could add more firepower this weekend.
Siya Kolisi pulls on a Stormers jersey for the first time in over five years, while Lions Boks Morne van den Berg and Quan Horn come back into the matchday 23. Andre Esterhuizen captains a strong Sharks side that also features Ethan Hooker and Thomas du Toit. At the Bulls, coach Johan Ackermann has held back his Springboks, largely because of the long trip to Ireland.
Fixtures and teams
Friday, 2 October: Edinburgh v Stormers
Hive Stadium, Edinburgh | 20:45 SA time | Referee: Eoghan Cross | SuperSport
Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Ruhan Nel (c), 12 Jonathan Roche, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Yaqeen Ahmed, 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Louw Nel, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Riley Norton, 3 Neethling Fouché, 2 André-Hugo Venter, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu
Subs: 16 Vernon Paulo, 17 Vernon Matongo, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Connor Evans, 20 Adré Smith, 21 Wandile Mlaba, 22 Andre Warner, 23 Wandisile Simelane
Saturday, 3 October: Lions v Ospreys
Ellis Park, Johannesburg | 13:45 SA time | Referee: Filippo Russo | SuperSport
Lions: 15 Boeta Chamberlain, 14 Kelly Mpeku, 13 Ethan Adams, 12 Richard Kriel, 11 Erich Cronje, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Nico Steyn, 8 Francke Horn (c), 7 Siba Qoma, 6 JC Pretorius, 5 Ruan Delport, 4 Etienne Oosthuizen, 3 Sebastian Lombard, 2 PJ Botha, 1 Boan Venter
Subs: 16 Morne Brandon, 17 SJ Kotze, 18 RF Schoeman, 19 Hyron Andrews, 20 Siba Mahashe, 21 Dylan Sjoblom, 22 Morne van den Berg, 23 Quan Horn
Saturday, 3 October: Sharks v Leinster
Kings Park, Durban | 18:30 SA time | Referee: Craig Evans | SuperSport
Sharks: 15 Luan Giliomee, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Jurenzo Julius, 12 Andre Esterhuizen (c), 11 Lili Bester, 10 Vusi Moyo, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Nick Hatton, 7 Manu Tshituka, 6 Phepsi Buthelezi, 5 Darrien Landsberg, 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Esethu Mnebelele, 1 Thomas du Toit
Subs: 16 Ethan Bester, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Hanro Jacobs, 19 Eben Etzebeth, 20 Matt Romao, 21 Ivan van Zyl, 22 Zekhethelo Siyaya, 23 Ethan Hooker
Saturday, 3 October: Munster v Bulls
Thomond Park, Limerick | 20:45 SA time | Referee: Federico Vedovelli | SuperSport
Bulls: 15 Hakeem Kunene, 14 Sebastian de Klerk, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 Stravino Jacobs, 11 Thaakir Abrahams, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Zak Burger, 8 Jeandre Rudolph, 7 Hanro Liebenberg, 6 Marcell Coetzee (c), 5 Reinhardt Ludwig, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Francois Klopper, 2 Juann Else, 1 Alu Tshakweni
Subs: 16 Janco Uys, 17 Sti Sithole, 18 Khutha Mchunu, 19 JF van Heerden, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 Cheswill Jooste, 23 Willie le Roux
What to look forward to
The Stormers open the weekend on Friday in Scotland, followed by a packed Saturday: the Lions host the Ospreys at Ellis Park, the Sharks face Leinster in Durban, and the Bulls close the round against Munster in Limerick. Can all four SA sides back up their opening wins?
