The Stormers are in ‘hurt locker’ state, and they won’t hesitate to throw the kitchen sink at the Lions this afternoon in search of a much-needed win in the United Rugby Championship.
Five #Springboks will return to #URC duty for the Stormers. Manie Libbok at flyhalf, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu 12, flanker Deon Fourie captains the side although lock Salmaan Moerat will bring up his 50th vs the Lions on Saturday. Frans Malherbe at 3 and BJ Dixon at 7 #STOvLIO
— Leighton Koopman (@Leighton_K) December 20, 2024
Five Springboks will make their return to the starting side for this critical derby at the Cape Town Stadium (3.45pm kick-off).
The Stormers are on a winless run of four games in all competitions, but there will be desperation today to turn that around.
Boks Deon Fourie, who will captain the side, Frans Malherbe, Manie Libbok, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Ben-Jason Dixon will all make a welcome return to a side low on winning confidence.
Their experience will be a boost against the high-flying Lions, who are looking to break back into the top four spots on the URC log.
Fourie has been on the sidelines with a knee injury for over eight months, and says he feels like a kid making his debut again.
He’s had a couple of setbacks in his return, but is ready to bring his side.
“The road to recovery has been through lots of ups and downs. I’ve never been out of the game for this long,” Fourie said yesterday.
“The longest has been three months, and this is the first time it’s eight months.
“It was a roller-coaster of emotions, and rehab and pain.
“But the medical staff pushed me through, and I am happy to be back. It’s never easy watching the guys play and you’re on the sidelines. The knee feels great, and I hope it holds up.
“I am not usually a guy who stresses before a game... I chill. But as soon as I woke up on Monday, I started getting the jitters.
“It’s been so long that I haven’t played. Hopefully it is like riding a bike.”
Deon Fourie is back!!!!! 😎😎🔥🔥🔥 https://t.co/lqzYHQH4DX
— Irshaad Allie (@Irshaad_Allie) December 20, 2024
While they still have a couple of Springboks on the sidelines, the returnees will definitely add some valuable experience to the struggling Cape side.
Malherbe should further enhance the Stormers’ scrum, while the combination of flyhalf Libbok and inside centre Feinberg-Mngomezulu has proven dangerous against the Lions in the past.
Regular captain Moerat was set to play his 50th cap off the bench, but has been promoted to the starting line-up due to an injury to lineout-caller Ruben van Heerden.
Moerat will partner JD Schickerling behind the front row of Malherbe, hooker Joseph Dweba and loosehead prop Ali Vermaak.
“Having these Springboks back is a great step for us,” director of rugby John Dobson said yesterday.
“If we get the next two games, we will be in a much healthier position in the URC.
“We make a joke about it being our second-best start in the URC, but that is not a good statistic. It’s not something to be proud of.
“But our next three games (at home) are absolutely critical.”
Although the Lions will arrive in Cape Town without some of their star players who are out injured, Dobson feels they will still be a formidable side.
He especially warned against their Springboks, scrumhalf Morné van den Berg and wing Edwill van der Merwe.
Their scrum will also challenge the Cape side, but Dobson is confident with Malherbe back and chief destroyer Neethling Fouché on the bench, they will do well in that facet of the game.
The breakdown is another place the coach wants to see improvement.
They’ve been struggling in that part of the game, but with Fourie back, they should have someone playing towards the ball looking for turnovers.
“We missed Deon a lot, especially to steal balls under our own poles,” Dobson said.
“That is why we also brought in Paul de Villiers, because Deon might not be able to go the full 80.
“If we can have that traditional six back who steals balls and slows the possession down, we will be good for it.” | Independent Media Sport
Stormers Team
15 Warrick Gelant 14 Suleiman Hartzenberg 13 Ruhan Nel 12 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu 11 Leolin Zas 10 Manie Libbok 9 Herschel Jantjies 8 Marcel Theunissen 7 Ben-Jason Dixon 6 Deon Fourie (captain) 5 JD Schickerling 4 Salmaan Moerat 3 Frans Malherbe 2 Joseph Dweba 1 Ali Vermaak.
Bench: 16 JJ Kotze 17 Brok Harris 18 Neethling Fouché 19 Adré Smith 20 Willie Engelbrecht 21 Paul de Villiers 22 Paul de Wet 23 Jean-Luc du Plessis.