SCARLETS: ‘One of the toughest challenges in the URC’: Davies wary of a Stormers side who have never lost to the Scarlets

The Scarlets take on the DHL Stormers in Cape Town on Saturday (3pm UK time), against a side who have never lost to them.

It will be the sixth meeting between the clubs, and the Stormers have won all five so far.

“The Stormers are an outstanding side packed with international quality and playing them in Cape Town is one of the toughest challenges in the URC,” director of rugby Nigel Davies said.

“We have enormous respect for them, but we’re here to compete, to challenge ourselves against the best.”

Seven tries against Bristol for the Stormers last weekend

The Stormers beat Bristol Bears 49-12 in their Champions Cup opener at the DHL Stadium last weekend, scoring seven tries. Leolin Zas and Jonny Roche both scored twice.

Springbok flanker Paul de Villiers captains them again, with regular skipper Ruhan Nel rested as a precaution.

Springbok fly-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu starts, Hacjivah Dayimani is back at number eight after missing the Bristol game with concussion, and Haashim Pead makes his first start at scrum-half.

“There are some really dynamic combinations both in the starting line-up and the replacements bench,” Stormers head coach John Dobson said.

‘Defensively we took a significant step forward against Newcastle’

The Scarlets go into the game on the back of wins over Benetton and Newcastle.

“We’ve taken confidence from our last two performances. We’ve shown what we can do with the ball, and defensively we took a significant step forward against Newcastle,” Davies said.

“The challenge now is to bring those elements together and deliver them consistently for 80 minutes at the intensity this fixture will command.”

Why Hawkins and Plumtree are in Cape Town

Joe Hawkins and Taine Plumtree both start. Five other Scarlets in Steve Tandy’s Wales squad stayed at home for what the club calls a planned period of recovery.

“Those two boys haven’t played the amount of minutes that the other guys have. So, we’re in dialogue with the Welsh Rugby Union for the players’ welfare as much as anything else, and we’ve got to manage their game time,” Davies said.

“It was great that Joe was able to come, because he needs game time, and obviously Taine hasn’t played hardly any rugby, so he needs match time as well.”

18-year-old Leggatt-Jones at ten, and Groves against his old club

Lock Alex Groves comes up against his former Stormers team-mates, and 18-year-old Carwyn Leggatt-Jones starts at fly-half.

“These are exactly the sort of experiences that accelerate the development of young players,” Davies said.

“We want to give them opportunities, but we’re not selecting them simply for experience. They’re here because we believe they can contribute to our team winning rugby matches.”

‘Bold enough to impose ourselves on the game’

“Ultimately, we want to be a team that plays with courage, that works relentlessly for each other and that is prepared to take the game to the opposition.”

“We will have to fight for every moment and be bold enough to impose ourselves on the game. That’s the challenge, and it’s one we’re looking forward to.”

The game is live on Premier Sports. The Scarlets face the Bulls in Pretoria a week later, on Saturday, 31 October.

Stormers team v Scarlets

Stormers: Warrick Gelant; Seabelo Senatla, Wandisile Simelane, Markus Muller, Leolin Zas; Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Haashim Pead; Ntuthuko Mchunu, André-Hugo Venter, Zachary Porthen, Riley Norton, Connor Evans, Paul de Villiers (capt), Evan Roos, Hacjivah Dayimani.

Replacements: Lukhanyo Vokozela, Olly Reid, Neethling Fouché, Adré Smith, JD Schickerling, Deon Fourie, Cobus Reinach, Yaqeen Ahmed.