Connacht unchanged for Stormers clash

Connacht have named an unchanged team for tomorrow's BKT United Rugby Championship semi-final against the DHL Stormers (3pm, Irish time).

Director of rugby Andy Friend has kept faith with the same 23 that beat Ulster in last weekend's quarter-final in Belfast.

Jack Carty captains the team from out-half, while Caolin Blade is named at scrum-half.

Tom Farrell, winning his 99th cap, and Bundee Aki start in the centre, with a back-three of Tiernan O'Halloran, Mack Hansen and John Porch.

Denis Buckley, Dave Heffernan and Finlay Bealham start in the front row, backed up by Niall Murray and Josh Murphy.

Man of the match in Belfast Shamus Hurley-Langton, Conor Oliver and Cian Prendergast complete the forward pack.

Friend said: "Last Friday night, to anyone outside the squad, we were the clear underdogs, and tomorrow will be no different.

"Yet for us on the inside, there is enormous belief in our ability, and that is all that matters.

"We enter the semi-final with the same 23 who started last week, which is great testament to our players' toughness and resilience, and also to the work of our Athletic Performance & Medical Teams.

"All bodies are fit & healthy and have fully recovered from the travel down here to Cape Town.

"Tomorrow will be a huge game as we take on the defending champions in their own backyard, but these are the days you want to be involved in.

"Pete Wilkins and the other coaches have presented a very clever game plan, and with the confidence that's in the squad at present, there's genuine excitement about the challenge and opportunity that tomorrow brings."

Meanwhile, the defending champions Stormers are without Springboks forwards Deon Fourie (above) and Marvin Orie, who are both injured.

Head coach John Dobson said: "We