Stormers have no fear of Aviva assignment, warns Nienaber 

South Africa sides have provided five of the eight URC finalists in their four years involved in the competition but just the one winner to date.

The Stormers defeated Cardiff in their URC quarter-final to set up a semi-final against Leinster. Pic: ©INPHO/Steve Haag Sports/EJ Langner

If Leinster are playing catch-up on the Top 14’s finest then they remain the benchmark for the URC.

Their status as reigning champions earns them that but their dealings with South African sides this week and last reinforces that given the words of Jake White this time last year after the province had mauled his Bulls in a Croke Park final.

White, a World Cup-winning coach with the 2007 Springboks, had tried to kill Leinster with kindness pre-kickoff last June. He described them as a Test team in disguise and, afterwards, as a Formula 1 car leaving the rest of the grid for dust.

The sight of the home team calling RG Snyman off the bench when 19-0 up, and the sound of the crowd singing Jordie Barrett’s name, stuck with White as he spoke of the job the South African sides had in making up ground.

The Lions were unable to deal with Leo Cullen’s side in last week’s URC quarter-final in Dublin. Now it’s up to John Dobson’s Stormers to stand up to the Irish heavyweight at the Aviva Stadium this Saturday afternoon.

The South African sides have added hugely to the competition. They have provided five of the eight finalists in their four years involved but just the one winner to date. That was the Stormers and it came in year one.

Their knockout record is fantastic at home having won eight of the 10 games contested by their franchises. Away from home it’s a different story with just two successes from seven attempts. A mental barrier?

"I don't think they have a mental barrier,” said Leinster senior coach Jacques Nienaber. “I honestly don't because if you think of South Africa they don't have a mental barrier and the majority of their team is South Africans.

"So they won't have a fear of coming to the Aviva, or anything like that. So, no. Maybe the Lions, they don't have as many internationals, so for them it would have been something new, but definitely not the Stormers or the Bulls.” 

Leinster have question marks over seven players ahead of their semi-final. Joe McCarthy and Dan Sheehan both came off against the Lions. Leo Cullen played down both as concerns but their availability isn’t yet certain.

Tadhg Furlong, named to start that one, was pulled before kick-off with tightness in his calf while Tommy O’Brien, Garry Ringrose, Jordan Larmour and Ronan Kelleher all sat out the quarter-final with issues.