Connacht vs Stormers Predictions - Stormers to upset the odds away at Connacht in an opening URC encounter

Nigel Williams

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Last updated: 2 hours ago

Nigel Williams 2 hours ago

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Connacht hold slight home advantage but finished 8th last season.
Stormers boast a 4/5 H2H record, finished 3rd, and have new star signings.
Best bet: Stormers to cover the +4.5 handicap away.

Stormers to upset the odds away at Connacht (Getty Images)

Connacht vs Stormers Predictions

Connacht hold home-ground advantage at Dexcom Stadium for this opening round, making Connacht slight favourites, though the visiting Stormers boast an impressive head-to-head record and the star power to snatch an away result if their pack fires early My best bet is the Stormers to cover the +4.5 handicap away.

Connacht vs Stormers Predictions
Head to Head
Connacht Form
Connacht Injuries & Team News
Stormers Form
Stormers Injuries & Team News

Connacht finished 8th in the 2025/26 United Rugby Championship.
Connacht won 10 of their 18 matches in the 2025/26 season.
Stormers won 4 of the last 5 meetings against Connacht.
Stormers finished 3rd in the 2025/26 United Rugby Championship.
Stormers won 12 and drew 1 of their 18 matches in the 2025/26 season.

Head to Head

Stormers have won four of the last five meetings against Connacht.

Connacht Form

Connacht lost 33-21 to Glasgow Warriors in a United Rugby Championship 2025/26 quarter-final at Scotstoun Stadium on May 29, 2026, after heading into the break at 7-7.

Glasgow pulled away after the interval, as the hosts stretched their lead. Though Connacht fought back through Dave Heffernan and Finlay Bealham tries, two further tries from Olujare Oguntibeju and Kyle Steyn put the game out of reach, condemning Connacht to a 33-21 loss.

Connacht finished eighth in the 2025/26 United Rugby Championship, with 54 points from 18 matches, winning 10 of their matches.

Connacht Injuries & Team News

Connacht enter their second year under Stuart Lancaster, and seeking redemption after tight finishes last season.

Stormers Form

Stormers lost 20-11 to Leinster in a hard-fought United Rugby Championship 2025/26 semi-final at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on June 6, 2026.

Despite missing several key players, the Stormers fought back before half-time with a try by Adre' Smith and a penalty by Jurie Matthee, keeping the scoreline tight at 13–8. The Stormers narrowed the gap in the second half to 13–11 after another penalty from Matthee.

The match turned in the final quarter when Ruan Ackermann received a yellow card, which was upgraded to a 20-minute red. for a reckless shoulder-to-head contact. Salmaan Moerat was yellow-carded, leaving the Stormers down to 13 men late in the match.

Capitalising on the numerical advantage, Leinster's Jamison Gibson-Park crossed over for a crucial try in the 70th minute, sealed with a conversion, to put the game out of reach.

Stormers finished third in the 2025/26 United Rugby Championship, with 60 points from 18 matches, winning 12 and drawing one of their matches.

Stormers Injuries & Team News

The Stormers enter the 2026–27 URC season with a bolstered roster, including high-profile players like Siya Kolisi, Cheslin Kolbe, and Wilco Louw, making them strong championship contenders. They start the campaign with a slightly depleted lock department following the departures of Salmaan Moerat and Ruben van Heerden, leaving questions around their lineout and maul potency.

The Stormers received a positive boost with Springbok loose forward Ben-Jason Dixon cleared and travelling with the squad to Ireland for the opening round.

Verdict

Connacht v Stormers

Stormers to upset the odds away at Connacht with an impressive head-to-head record.

Stormers +4.5

Handicap

@1,83 - 1 Unit

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