The Stormers have never lost to Leinster in the United Rugby Championship (URC) and they want to keep it that way when they face the Irish powerhouse.

In their bid to keep their record intact against the URC log leaders, the Cape side has gone 'full metal jacket' - injuries aside - for the important duel in the Aviva Stadium in Dublin (7pm start).

Our team to take on Leinster in the @Vodacom #URC at the Aviva on Saturday night ⛈️

📢 Team announcement https://t.co/43txTUBMsw #LEIvSTO #iamastormer pic.twitter.com/WCtGJKwPWs
— DHL Stormers (@THESTORMERS) January 24, 2025

They recalled all the players who rested against Racing 29 in the Champions Cup which include fullback Warrick Gelant, flyhalf Manie Libbok, and captain for this match Deon Fourie.

Evan Roos recovered from a knock to his cheekbone and fellow loose forward Ben-Jason Dixon has completed his resting protocol. Speedster Leolin Zas also returns after an injury to strengthen the backline.

“Helluva important.”

“Helluva important,” is how Stormers Director of Rugby John Dobson described the clash with Leinster.

Even after losing to Racing, the visitors fancy their chances, especially with the boost of the returning players.

“We wanted to choose the best possible team we could. I suppose the 23, not only the 15 who start, are the strongest and fittest players available for us.

“This is not Leinster at their full strength, but it's still a strong team.”

“This is not Leinster at their full strength, but it's still a strong team. It is a team that will win a lot of URC and European games. But if we want to be at the sharp end of the season, and that is our plan, we must be able to put up a proper winning performance tomorrow (tonight).”

Dobson added that their hosts will be determined to change their winless status against them. In all their meetings, the Irish powerhouse has never beaten the inaugural URC champions with the sides drawing 22-all the last time in Dublin.

Irishmen James Lowe, and Dan Sheehan will face the Capetonians to regain some form, while Bok viking RG Snyman could be a handful in the lineouts and on the attack. In the backline, All Black Beauden Barrett will look to impose himself on the Stormers’ defence.

The Stormers have scored some stunners against Leinster in the #VURC ⚡️

They meet again on Saturday night at the Aviva Stadium 🍿 pic.twitter.com/8CPwY1POfU
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) January 22, 2025

The Stormers will revert to their all-Bok back row of Fourie, Dixon, and eighth man Roos, while the front row of loosehead Ali Vermaak, hooker Joseph Dweba and tighthead Neethling Fouche are reunited. They will be keen to continue their scrum dominance.

Ruben van Heerden and JD Schickerling will partner in the second row with club captain Salmaan Moerat a part of a six-two replacement bench. They must find a way to stabilise their lineouts after losing a handful in the narrow defeat to Racing.

“We are backing the guys to get it right in the lineouts.”

“We are backing the guys to get it right in the lineouts. The changes we made at lock were purely rotational and Salmaan will be back in the mix for the Bulls.

“Paris also didn't dent our confidence, in fact, it increased it,” Dobson added, saying they won't be impacted by their recent loss.

“While we've never played their full Irish Leinster side, they haven't beaten us and they want to beat us.”

“But, Leinster has an incredible record at the Aviva Stadium. I am not trying to talk them up. They have no intention of losing a game there. While we've never played their full Leinster Irish side, they haven't beaten us and they want to beat us.

“Our job now is the URC and we have the team to put together a proper run. This is about as confident as I've felt about the URC. The next four games will be critical and it starts against Leinster. This will be very important if we want to put this run of wins together.”

Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Ben Loader, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Jonathan Roche, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Paul de Wet, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Deon Fourie (captain), 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 JD Schickerling, 3 Neethling Fouché, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Ali Vermaak. Bench: 16 André-Hugo Venter, 17 Brok Harris, 18 Frans Malherbe, 19 Salmaan Moerat, 20 Marcel Theunissen, 21 Paul de Villiers, 22 Herschel Jantjies, 23 Wandisile Simelane.