Overview

• The unbeaten Stormers travel to Zebre Parma after three wins in three, with coaches expecting greater backline fluency as Sacha Feinberg‑Mngomezulu and Damian Willemse bed in.
• Sazi Sandi’s foot scan showed no serious damage, with the tighthead monitored this week ahead of the Parma fixture.
• After a 28-7 loss to Ulster, the Bulls make 11 starting changes for Connacht, start Willie le Roux and Jan Serfontein, shift Canan Moodie to wing, and appoint Reinhardt Ludwig captain with David Kriel as vice-captain.
• Handré Pollard flies home for the birth of his second child, Keagan Johannes starts at fly-half, and Marco van Staden sits out with a minor knee hematoma.
• The Sharks chase a first win at Kings Park against unbeaten Ulster as Ethan Hooker targets a sharper, Bok-influenced edge, while the Lions seek relief at Ellis Park against the winless Scarlets after adding short-term front-row cover.