URC fixtures and results: Bulls, Stormers keep playoff hopes alive as Lions fall to Munster

Harris breaks new Stormers ground with 150 caps

Prop Brok Harris will become the first player to reach 150 appearances for the Stormers in the United Rugby Championship encounter with Leinster on Saturday in Cape Town.

Loose forwards Evan Roos and Marcel Theunissen will both bring up the milestone of 50 matches for the Stormers in the clash with the log-leaders.

There are just two changes to the backline, with Damian Willemse alongside Dan du Plessis in midfield and Herschel Jantjies in at scrumhalf.

"Hosting Leinster at DHL Stadium is a massive game no matter the circumstances, but with both teams looking to bounce back from defeat last week and the play-offs fast approaching we are expecting an epic duel," said Stormers coach John Dobson.

Kick-off on Saturday is at 19:05.

Stormers team:

15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 13 Dan du Plessis, 12 Damian Willemse, 11 Ben Loader, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Marcel Theunissen, 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 Salmaan Moerat (captain), 3 Neethling Fouche, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Brok Harris

Substitutes: 16 Andre-Hugo Venter, 17 Kwenzo Blose, 18 Frans Malherbe, 19 Connor Evans, 20 Willie Engelbrecht, 21 Hacjivah Dayimani, 22 Stefan Ungerer, 23 Wandisile Simelane

Smith to start for Bulls against Ospreys

Chris Smith will replace the suspended Johan Goosen as the Bulls have named their line-up for Saturday's United Rugby Championship encounter against the Ospreys.

Goosen was suspended for three league games after being shown a red-card in the Bulls' 27-22 loss to Munster last weekend.

The Bulls are currently fourth on the URC table with four league matches remaining before the knockouts.

Kick-off is at 15:00.

Bulls team:

15 Willie le Roux, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 David Kriel, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Elrigh Louw (c), 6 Nizaam Carr, 5 Reinhardt Ludwig, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp

Substitutes: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Janko Swanepoel, 20 Jannes Kirsten, 21 Zak Burger, 22 Jaco van der Walt, 23 Devon Williams

Lions pick Jordan's big boot at fullback

Jordan Hendrikse will play in the unaccustomed position of fullback for the Lions in their crucial URC meeting with Munster at Ellis Park on Saturday.

The departing pivot - he's joining brother Jaden at the Sharks next season - comes in for Quan Horn, who has been left out because of a shoulder niggle.

Meanwhile, the bench is bolstered by the return of the barnstorming Ruan Venter and Gianni Lombard though it's offset by the news that promising midfielder Henco van Wyk is out for the season with a knee injury.

Kick off on Saturday is at 17:00.

Lions

15 Jordan Hendrikse, 14 Richard Kriel, 13 Erich Cronje, 12 Marius Louw (captain), 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Sanele Nohamba, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Francke Horn, 7 Emmanuel Tshituka, 6 JC Pretorius, 5 Ruan Delport, 4 Willem Alberts, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Morgan Naude

Substitutes: 16 PJ Botha, 17 JP Smith, 18 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 19 Reinhard Nothnagel, 20 Ruan Venter, 21 Sbu Sangweni, 22 Nico Steyn, 23 Gianni Lombard

Munster

15 Simon Zebo, 14 Calvin Nash, 13 Antoine Frisch, 12 Seán O’Brien, 11 Shane Daly, 10 Jack Crowley, 9 Conor Murray, 8 Jack O'Donoghue, 7 Alex Kendellen, 6 Peter O'Mahoney, 5 Tadhg Beirne (captain), 4 RG Snyman, 3 Stephen Archer, 2 Niall Scannell, 1 Jeremy Loughman

Substitutes: 16 Eoghan Clarke, 17 Josh Wycherley, 18 Oli Jager, 19 Tom Ahern, 20 Gavin Coombes, 21 Craig Casey, 22 Joey Carbery, 23 Mike Haley.

Sharks' Bok big guns back for Scarlets clash

The Sharks have recalled their Springbok stars for Friday night's URC clash against the Scarlets in Llanelli, Wales.

Skipper Lukhanyo Am, winger Makazole Mapimpi, props Ox Nche and Vincent Koch, and lock Eben Etzebeth are all back in the starting XV after being rested for last weekend's 21-10 loss to Glasgow Warriors.

Bok scrumhalf Jaden Hendrikse also returns to feature on the bench in place of Cameron Wright.

Siya Masuku is back at flyhalf in place of Curwin Bosch.

Phepsi Buthelezi, selected at No 6 flank in place of Tino Mevesere, has warned of the threat posed by the Welsh outfit.

"They're a bit of a mixed bag, really good forwards, guys who have been around for a long time, they have a really good kicking game and they're a well-coached team."

The Scarlets are two log points behind the Sharks but will relish the opportunity to have a go at the Durban side.

"They've been unlucky a few times this season with the results and they'll want to get one over us, so it’s going to be a good challenge," Buthelezi added.

Sharks team:

15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Werner Kok, 13 Lukhanyo Am (captain), 12 Ethan Hooker, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Siya Masuku, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Vincent Tshituka, 7 Lappies Labuschagne, 6 Phepsi Buthelezi, 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Fez Mbatha, 1 Ox Nche  

Substitutes: 16 Kerron van Vuuren, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Hanro Jacobs, 19 Corne Rahl, 20 Gerbrandt Grobler, 21 Jaden Hendrikse, 22 Boeta Chamberlain, 23 Francois Venter