URC: Springboks sensation Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu returns to Stormers for Scarlets clash

Meanwhile in Llanelli, South Wales, the Scarlets have the uneviable task of hosting the DHL Stormers. The South African side have been bolstered by the return of their Rugby Championship winning Springboks, with fly half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu pulling the strings at 10.

Feinberg-Mngomezulu is in flying form, having recently etched himself into South African rugby folklore with a record-setting performance. The talisman set an new individual Springboks record of 37 points in a single Test match, as Rassie Erasmus' men hammered Argentina in Round 5.

Munster welcome Edinburgh to Cork on Friday evening for a Round 3 BKT United Rugby Championship clash, making 10 changes to the side that overcame Cardiff last week.

Captain Diarmuid Barron leads a new-look pack, with Michael Milne, Oli Jager, Jean Kleyn, and Fineen Wycherley forming a strong engine room. Jack O’Donoghue, Ruadhán Quinn, and Gavin Coombes complete the back-row, while Tom Farrell and Seán O’Brien partner in midfield. JJ Hanrahan and Paddy Patterson return at half-back, supported by a back three of Mike Haley, Calvin Nash, and Andrew Smith.

Munster director of rugby Graham Rowntree will be eager to see the impact of summer signing Michael Milne and academy graduate Andrew Smith, both making their first appearances of the season. Fresh additions on the replacements bench, including John Ryan and Edwin Edogbo, provide depth and options for the home side.

Edinburgh make just two changes to the team named for last week’s postponed fixture against Ulster, with Dylan Richardson making his debut at openside flanker and Sam Skinner returning at lock. The Scottish side rely on an experienced backline featuring Wes Goosen at full-back, British & Irish Lions wings Darcy Graham and Duhan van der Merwe, and centres James Lang and Piers O’Conor.

Ben Healy and Ben Vellacott pair at half-back, while Magnus Bradbury captains a pack bolstered by Pierre Schoeman, D’arcy Rae, and Ewan Ashman in the front row. Head Coach Sean Everitt is also able to call on fresh faces in the replacements. Springbok prop Boan Venter returns to the matchday squad straight from winning The Rugby Championship with South Africa, while back-row Ben Muncaster makes his return from injury for his first minutes of the season.

On the match, Everitt said: “We have put last week’s postponement behind us, and we’re focussed entirely on the task at hand. It’s a completely different challenge this week – a tough test against Munster at a difficult venue in Cork.

“There’s been a massive amount of growth already within this group. With so many new and fresh faces, particularly the exciting young players coming through. There’s a great energy throughout the squad.

“The preparation this week has been excellent, and we’re determined to put in a performance that makes the Edinburgh fans proud.”

MUNSTER RUGBY: 15. Mike Haley 14. Calvin Nash, 13. Tom Farrell, 12. Seán O’Brien, 11. Andrew Smith 10. JJ Hanrahan, 9. Paddy Patterson 1. Michael Milne, 2. Diarmuid Barron (C), 3. Oli Jager 4. Jean Kleyn 5. Fineen Wycherley 6. Jack O’Donoghue 7. Ruadhán Quinn 8. Gavin Coombes.

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 RUGBY: 15. Wes Goosen 14. Darcy Graham 13. Piers O’Conor 12. James Lang 11. Duhan van der Merwe 10. Ben Healy 9. Ben Vellacott 1. Pierre Schoeman 2. Ewan Ashman 3. D’arcy Rae 4. Marshall Sykes 5. Sam Skinner 6. Liam McConnell 7. Dylan Richardson 8. Magnus Bradbury

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

Scarlets welcome DHL Stormers to Parc y Scarlets on Friday for a Round 3 United Rugby Championship clash, with Springbok hooker Marnus van der Merwe returning to the starting XV. Scarlets make two personnel changes from the postponed Connacht fixture, with Tristan Davies starting in the second row alongside Max Douglas following Jake Ball’s head injury. Former Dragon Steve Cummins joins the replacements bench as cover.

The Scarlets backline remains unchanged, led by captain Johnny Williams for the first time. Blair Murray, Ellis Mee, and Tom Rogers form an experienced international back three, linking with Williams and Joe Roberts in midfield. Joe Hawkins and Gareth Davies continue as the half-back pairing, while Sam Costelow returns to the bench after passing fitness tests. The pack features Alec Hepburn, Henry Thomas, Davies, Douglas, Jarrod Taylor, Dan Davis, and Taine Plumtree, with Archer Holz and Ben Williams providing additional forward options.

Stormers, aiming for a third consecutive victory, make several changes for their first tour game of the season. Damian Willemse and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu return to the backline, while Ruben van Heerden, JJ Kotzé, Sazi Sandi, and Ali Vermaak earn their first starts of the season. Captain Ruhan Nel shifts to inside centre, with Wandisile Simelane outside, alongside fly-half Feinberg-Mngomezulu. The replacements include Deon Fourie and scrum-half Imad Khan, both making their first appearances of the campaign.

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

Director of Rugby John 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.

SCARLETS: 15 Blair Murray; 14 Tom Rogers, 13 Joe Roberts, 12 Johnny Williams (c), 11 Ellis Mee; 10 Joe Hawkins, 9 Gareth Davies; 1 Alec Hepburn, 2 Marnus van der Merwe, 3 Henry Thomas, 4 Tristan Davies, 5 Max Douglas, 6 Jarrod Taylor, 7 Dan Davis, 8 Taine Plumtree.

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.

DHL STORMERS: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Ruhan Nel (c), 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.