It’s a big day for Connacht as they take on the defending URC champions Stormers in Cape Town.

With Munster and Leinster colliding in the other semi-final later today, a win for Connacht today would ensure we have all-Irish provinces final on 27 May.

We’ll have team line-ups for you shortly as we edge towards the 3pm kick-off, and if you would like to contribute to the coverage, feel free to post in the comment section below.

Connacht have gone with an unchanged matchday 23 for the clash following on from their incredible quarter-final win over Ulster.

Connacht: 

• 15. Tiernan O’Halloran
• 14. John Porch
• 13. Tom Farrell
• 12. Bundee Aki
• 11. Mack Hansen
• 10. Jack Carty (captain)
• 9. Caolin Blade
• 1. Denis Buckley
• 2. Dave Heffernan
• 3. Finlay Bealham
• 4. Josh Murphy
• 5. Niall Murray
• 6. Shamus Hurley-Langton
• 7. Conor Oliver
• 8. Cian Prendergast

Replacements:

• 16. Dylan Tierney-Martin
• 17.Jordan Duggan
• 18. Jack Aungier
• 19. Oisín Dowling
• 20. Jarrad Butler
• 21. Kieran Marmion
• 22. Tom Daly
• 23. Byron Ralston 

 DHL Stormers 

• 15. Damian Willemse
• 14. Angelo Davids
• 13. Ruhan Nel
• 12. Dan du Plessis
• 11. Leolin Zas
• 10. Manie Libbok
• 9. Herschel Jantjies
• 1. Steven Kitshoff (captain)
• 2. Joseph Dweba
• 3. Frans Malherbe,
• 4. Ben-Jason Dixon
• 5. Ruben van Heerden
• 6. Willie Engelbrecht
• 7. Hacjivah Dayimani
• 8. Evan Roos

Replacements: 

• 16. JJ Kotze
• 17. Ali Vermaak
• 18. Neethling Fouche
• 19. Connor Evans
• 20. Marcel Theunissen
• 21. Paul de Wet
• 22. Jean-Luc du Plessis
• 23. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu

Kick-off! Stormers 0-0 Connacht 

1 min: Stormers 0-0 Connacht 

And we are off in Cape Town Stadium as Connacht prepare to take a lineout in the early moments. 

It's 10,055 km from Galway to Cape Town.

These legends and many others made the trip with a week's notice.

Best fans in the world. https://t.co/BimaT4f9tX

— Connacht Rugby (@connachtrugby) May 13, 2023

2 mins: Stormers 0-0 Connacht 

Great start from the visitors as Caolin Blade puts in for a scrum and the referee awards a penalty to Connacht. It looks like Jack Carty is lining up the tee to take some easy points.

4 mins: Stormers 0-3 Connacht 

And it’s an easy tap-over for the Connacht out-half to get the scoreboard rolling.

7 mins: Stormers 0-3 Connacht 

Poor kick from Carty who was aiming to kick a penalty into the corner but his effort fell short. The ball is back in Connacht’s possession though as they kick for territory again.

Second rower Niall Murray makes a mighty attempt to chase after it but Stormers scrum-half Herschel Jantjies just about gets there before him.

11 mins: Stormers 0-3 Connacht 

The hosts win a penalty through Steven Kitshoff. But they lose possession form a lineout and Connacht quickly spray the ball out wide to Tiernan O’Halloran. Carty then releases a nice kick that finds touch in a dangerous position near the Stormers’ tryline.

And then, utter chaos in the Stormers camp. They fumble possession twice inside their own try-line, including a knock-on, which gifts a scrum to Connacht. They will try to heave from here.

11 mins: Stormers 0-3 Connacht 

Good scrum from Connacht as Cian Prendergast gets moving quickly. They’re inches away from breaking through for the opening try of the game.

TRY! Stormers 0-8 Connacht (Hansen ’13)

TRY! Stormers 7-8 Connacht (Davids ’15)

20 mins: Stormers 7-8 Connacht

What a frantic few minutes. Let’s recap. Connacht got the opening try through the always lively Mack Hansen in the corner. Jack Carty missed the conversion.

That score put Connacht into an 8-0 lead, but the Stormers scored almost immediately, with winger Angelo Davids leaping over at the other end. And the conversion from Manie Libbok was good.

That brings us back to a one-point game with 20 minutes to go until half-time.

21 mins: Stormers 7-8 Connacht

Here’s a look at that lovely Mack Hansen try

12 nóim #STOvCON@THESTORMERS - 0@connachtrugby - 8

Faigheann Mack Hansen an chéad úd don chluiche tar éis pas gleoite uaidh Carty

Mack Hansen dives through to get the try after a receiving a great pass from Carty@IrishRugby @URCOfficial #BKTURC #Rugby pic.twitter.com/97BPVGqw01

— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) May 13, 2023

25 mins: Stormers 10-8 Connacht

Carty knocks on after an attempted catch slips through his grasp and hits the deck. The Stormers opt to kick for the posts and it’s an easy score for Libbok as he puts the Stormers into the lead.

TRY! Stormers 17-8 Connacht (Libbok ’24)

31 mins: Stormers 17-8 Connacht

Disaster for Connacht!

A move that started with a nice grubber kick from Carty ended with Stormers punishing on the counter-attack. Libbok was alert to Carty’s kick and launched the ball down deep into Connacht territory. 

The Stormers out-half then got on the end of the attack to breeze over for his side’s second try under the posts. The conversion was cake, and Andy Friend’s side are now on the back foot.

TRY! Stormers 24-8 Connacht (Libbok ’32)

36 mins: Stormers 24-8 Connacht

Another blow for the Western province!

Libbok gets in for his second try of the day to push the defending champions further ahead. Connacht look to be winded and they need to get some points on the board soon. Half-time is looming.

TRY! Stormers 24-13 Connacht (Oliver ’40)

Half-Time! Stormers 24-13 Connacht

HT: Stormers 24-13 Connacht

Another dramatic sequence to unpack there. Connacht clinched a much-needed try just before the break after a superb break from Tom Farrell which ended with Conor Oliver thundering over.

It should have been a routine conversion kick for Carty but when the out-half moved forward to adjust the ball on the tee, he was adjudged to have started his run and a Stormers opponent advanced to snatch possession. A cruel blow when Connacht already had a big mountain to climb.

They trail by 11 at half-time.

That Conor Oliver try

39 nóim #STOvCON@THESTORMERS - 24@connachtrugby - 13

Úd tabhachtach faighte ag na Connachtaighe le Conor Oliver ag brú thríd

Connacht get an important try just before half time as Conor Oliver pushes through@IrishRugby @URCOfficial #BKTURC #Rugby pic.twitter.com/sJBSTY25kA

— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) May 13, 2023

Second Half: Stormers 24-13 Connacht

We’re underway for the second half as a small scuffle breaks out between the sides after the restart. 

41 mins: Stormers 24-13 Connacht

Oliver knocks on possession, and a scrum is awarded to Stormers. But it should be noted that the pitch looks to be in very poor condition. The sod is being turned up very easily and it can’t be easy to play on.

45 mins: Stormers 24-13 Connacht

Blade tries to kick for touch, but he slips as he lets fly and it goes out on the full. They win possession back from the lineout but don’t keep it for long as they opt to kick long and the Stormers come at them again.

47 mins: Stormers 24-13 Connacht

Connacht make a change as Oisín Dowling comes in for Niall Murray.

49 mins: Stormers 24-13 Connacht

Great interception by Tom Farrell!

That was vital as the Stormers were really pressing forward there. It takes the sting out of their attack.

50 mins: Stormers 24-13 Connacht

Bundee Aki with some nimble footwork, but the ref calls play back for a knock-on against the Stormers. Connacht are setting up for a scrum.

52 mins: Stormers 24-13 Connacht

Connacht get a penalty for coming in at the side and Carty swings the ball into the corner. They’re going for a maul.

57 mins: Stormers 24-13 Connacht

That didn’t go the way they wanted, but they get a scrum after a messy phase. Cian Prendergast attempts to take off into the corner, but the referee calls play back to set up for another scrum.

57 mins: Stormers 24-13 Connacht

After all that, the referee is finally happy with the scrum and Connacht are heaving forward with all their might.

TRY! Stormers 24-20 Connacht (Hurley-Langton ’58)

62 mins: Stormers 24-20 Connacht

This is not over yet!

A brilliant effort from Shamus Hurley-Langton to lunge over at the vital moment brings Connacht right back into this tie. Carty converts to leave just four between them, and it feels like the momentum has swung back in Connacht’s favour.

64 mins: Stormers 24-20 Connacht

Here’s that Shamus Hurley-Langton try

58 nóim #STOvCON@THESTORMERS - 24@connachtrugby - 20

Níl mórán idir na foirne anois tar éis do Shamus Hurley-Langton úd mór a fháil do Chonnacht

Only 2 between the sides now as Shamus Hurley-Langton gives Connacht a boost@IrishRugby @URCOfficial #BKTURC #Rugby pic.twitter.com/5eAdqIPlX2

— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) May 13, 2023

TRY! Stormers 31-20 Connacht (de Wet ’65)

69 mins: Stormers 31-20 Connacht

Stormers have their fourth try of the day after Paul de Wet capitalised on a penalty advantage off a scrum to sprint through unopposed. Libbok converts in front of the posts to extend their lead again. Another kick in the gut for Connacht.

71 mins: Stormers 24-20 Connacht

John Porch with a delicious kick to find touch in the corner and that puts Connacht in a great lineout position. 

TRY! Stormers 31-25 Connacht (Ralston ’73)

TRY! Stormers 36-25 Connacht (Theunissen ’76)

TRY! Stormers 43-25 Connacht (Nel ’79)

Full-Time! Stormers 43-25 Connacht

FT: Stormers 43-25 Connacht

A cruel end for Connacht, and for the departing Andy Friend.

They fought to the end, but the reigning champions just managed to keep edging their noses further in front when the need was greatest. Poor playing conditions were a factor too, but Connacht were always chasing the game. 

They cut the deficit to four in the second half thanks to a Byron Ralston try, but two late tries from Marcel Theunissen and Ruhan Nel ensured that Stormers would not knocked off their perch.

They will meet either Leinster or Munster in the final. Their semi-final is starting shortly, and Emma Duffy of this parish will be taking you through all the live updates.

FT: Stormers 43-25 Connacht

Well, that’s all from me folks. Enjoy the other semi-final and we’ll talk soon.

All the best!