URC: Team News for Semi-Finals - Glasgow vs Bulls and Leinster vs Stormers

Who will progress to the Grand Final, as Glasgow Warriors, Bulls, Leinster and the Stormers leave it all on the line.

Saturday's double header of high-stakes URC action begins in the Scottish capital, as Glasgow Warriors have taken over Murrayfield for a blockbuster clash in the fabled Edinburgh cauldron. The big fight feel deserves the back-drop of the home of Scottish rugby, with Franco Smith's men in search of their first league title since their epic triumph over the Bulls down in Pretoria in 2024.

The late afternoon fixture then sees Leo Cullen's Leinstermen host the Stormers, in a continued push to retain their URC league title. Leinster were left heart-broken by yet another Champions Cup final defeat a few weeks ago, and want to bounce back from the gut-punch from Bordeaux by handing the Stormers their elmination. The Cape Town side enter the fray without their talisman Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, in what is a cutting blow for John Dobson's side.

Glasgow Warriors have made just one change to the side that overcame Connacht in last weekend’s quarter-final, with Gregor Hiddleston promoted to the starting XV for Saturday’s URC semi-final showdown against the Vodacom Bulls at Murrayfield. The hooker replaces Johnny Matthews in the only alteration made by Franco Smith, who has otherwise retained the core of the side that secured a 33-21 victory at Scotstoun. British & Irish Lion Scott Cummings continues alongside Alex Samuel in the second row, while Scotland internationals Matt Fagerson, Rory Darge and Jack Dempsey form an experienced back row.

Co-captain Sione Tuipulotu and Stafford McDowall are again paired in midfield, with captain Kyle Steyn leading an unchanged back three. There is also a timely boost on the bench with scrum-half Jamie Dobie returning for his first appearance since January, while Adam Hastings and Seb Stephen come into the matchday 23.

The Bulls arrive in Edinburgh packed with Springbok experience as they chase a fourth URC final appearance. Captain Marcell Coetzee will make his 100th appearance for the Pretoria side, while hooker Johan Grobbelaar reaches the milestone of 150 games. Johan Ackermann has named a formidable starting XV featuring Handré Pollard, Willie le Roux, Kurt-Lee Arendse and Canan Moodie, with 11 Springboks in the run-on side. The South Africans also boast a powerful bench and will look to maintain their unbeaten record in URC semi-finals against the defending champions.

Glasgow Warriors Head Coach Franco Smith said: “We know how strong of a challenge the Vodacom Bulls will pose tomorrow afternoon - they are serial contenders at the business end of the season, have one of the deepest squads in the competition, and will bring a highly physical game plan that we will need to be at our best to meet.

“Both George and Jamie have worked hard with our medical and physio teams this week to put themselves in the best position possible ahead of tomorrow, with both men eager to give their all for this team.

“We look forward to representing not just Glasgow, but all of Scotland at Scottish Gas Murrayfield tomorrow, and we look forward to hearing the Warrior Nation behind us.”

Vodacom Bulls Head Coach Johan Ackermann said: “It’s a great privilege to be in the BKT URC Semi-Final. After a long season there are only four clubs left, and we are grateful to be one of those and to play the number one side. It shows the quality of their players, and we have a lot of respect for what they’ve achieved. Added to that is the opportunity to play at an iconic venue like Murrayfield. It will be an amazing day. It’s a good challenge and one we look forward to . . . a game of small margins, I suspect.”

Starting XV: 1. Patrick Schickerling, 2. Gregor Hiddleston, 3. Zander Fagerson, 4. Scott Cummings, 5. Alex Samuel, 6. Matt Fagerson, 7. Rory Darge, 8. Jack Dempsey, 9. George Horne, 10. Dan Lancaster, 11. Kyle Rowe, 12. Sione Tuipulotu, 13. Stafford McDowall, 14. Kyle Steyn (c), 15. Josh McKay

Replacements: 16. Seb Stephen, 17. Rory Sutherland, 18. Sam Talakai, 19. Jare Oguntibeju, 20. Euan Ferrie, 21. Sione Vailanu, 22. Jamie Dobie, 23. Adam Hastings

Starting XV: 1. Gerhard Steenekamp, 2. Johan Grobbelaar, 3. Francois Klopper, 4. Ruan Vermaak, 5. Ruan Nortje, 6. Marcell Coetzee (c), 7. Elrigh Louw, 8. Cameron Hanekom, 9. Embrose Papier, 10. Handré Pollard, 11. Stravino Jacobs, 12. Harold Vorster, 13. Canan Moodie, 14. Kurt-Lee Arendse, 15. Willie le Roux

Replacements: 16. Marco van Staden, 17. Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18. Wilco Louw, 19. Cobus Wiese, 20. Jeandre Rudolph, 21. Zak Burger, 22. Stedman Gans, 23. Nizaam Carr

Leinster have made three changes to the side that swept aside the Lions in last weekend’s quarter-final as Leo Cullen’s men prepare to host the DHL Stormers in Saturday’s URC semi-final at the Aviva Stadium.

The most notable alteration comes at scrum-half, where Jamison Gibson-Park returns to the starting XV after featuring from the bench in the 59-10 victory. The Ireland international partners Sam Prendergast in the halves, while Rónan Kelleher starts at hooker and Josh van der Flier comes into the back row. Captain Caelan Doris continues at number eight, with James Lowe set to make his 100th Leinster appearance after reaching the milestone during last weekend’s dominant display.

The Stormers, meanwhile, travel to Dublin with three enforced changes following their quarter-final victory over Cardiff. Injuries to Seabelo Senatla, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Ruben van Heerden have prompted a reshuffle, with Wandisile Simelane, Jurie Matthee and Connor Evans all promoted to the starting lineup.

John Dobson’s side remain packed with experience despite those setbacks, with captain Ruhan Nel and Dan du Plessis becoming the most-capped centre pairing in Stormers history as they make their 31st start together. Warrick Gelant also returns to the matchday squad on the bench as the South Africans bid to upset the defending champions and book their place in another URC final.

Leinster Rugby Senior Coach Jacques Nienaber said: "We know they're a quality side. They have lots of international experience and lots of international-quality players there, so we have to make sure that we get over our detail in our preparation for them."

DHL Stormers Director of Rugby John Dobson said: "This will be a big challenge for everyone involved against a team with a great pedigree and formidable home record, but these are the occasions we live for and I have no doubt that our team will put in a worthy performance.

"We lost a few players last week, but those coming in have all played important roles in this campaign and are ready to give their all on Saturday. We have earned the chance to play for a place in the Grand Final and it will come down to a big 80 minutes. This team will not leave anything out there as we aim to do our fans proud,"

Starting XV: 15. Hugo Keenan, 14. Jimmy O’Brien, 13. Rieko Ioane, 12. Jamie Osborne, 11. James Lowe, 10. Sam Prendergast, 9. Jamison Gibson-Park; 1. Andrew Porter, 2. Rónan Kelleher, 3. Thomas Clarkson, 4. Joe McCarthy, 5. James Ryan, 6. Max Deegan, 7. Josh van der Flier, 8. Caelan Doris (c)

Replacements: 16. Gus McCarthy, 17. Alex Usanov, 18. Rabah Slimani, 19. Diarmuid Mangan, 20. Jack Conan, 21. Luke McGrath, 22. Harry Byrne, 23. Garry Ringrose

Starting XV: 15. Damian Willemse, 14. Wandisile Simelane, 13. Ruhan Nel (c), 12. Dan du Plessis, 11. Leolin Zas, 10. Jurie Matthee, 9. Imad Khan; 1. Ntuthuko Mchunu, 2. André-Hugo Venter, 3. Neethling Fouché, 4. Adré Smith, 5. Connor Evans, 6. Paul de Villiers, 7. Ben-Jason Dixon, 8. Evan Roos

Replacements: 16. JJ Kotzé, 17. Vernon Matongo, 18. Zachary Porthen, 19. Salmaan Moerat, 20. Ruan Ackermann, 21. Marcel Theunissen, 22. Stefan Ungerer, 23. Warrick Gelant