Stormers turn back the clock 50 years for inspiration
Nostalgia was front and centre of the Stormers’ pre-match media briefing, before they host New Zealand’s All Blacks in the opening match of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour in Cape Town on Friday.
To honour this legacy ahead of the August 2026 clash, Stormers Director of Rugby John Dobson invited two 1976 heroes, Peter Whipp and Bossie Clarke, to present jerseys to the modern team.
The Cape Town franchise has channelled the historic 1976 provincial win, when Western Province famously overturned an 0-11 deficit to beat the touring All Blacks 12-11 at Newlands.
Flyhalf Robbie Blair went from villain to hero 50 years ago, slotting the clutch, game-winning sideline conversion after missing eight previous kicks.
They are now called the Stormers, and the game is being played at the Cape Town Stadium.
However, it is still a Cape Town-based team in blue-and-white hoops.
The Stormers boss, Dobson, said the magnitude of the occasion got bigger and bigger ‘rather quickly’.
Dobson added that 1976 was such a powerful year in South Africa, and not only for rugby reasons.
“We spoke about that [1976] a lot,” he said, adding: “It is a big thing.”
Stormers captain Ruhan Nel admitted that this is a once-in-a-lifetime event, with 39-year-old utility forward Deon Fourie a rare breed in Friday’s Stormers collection to have faced the All Blacks’ famous haka.
“I am 35, and I am facing them for the first time,” Nel said.
SA Under-20 star Yaqeen Ahmed is 20, and he will face them for the first time.
(WATCH as Stormers Director of Rugby John Dobson speaks about turning back the clock 50 years to inspire his team to another famous win over New Zealand…..)
“It is an incredibly special occasion,” Nel said
However, the Stormers won’t just be ‘admiring’ the tourists.
They are determined to leave their mark on them, literally and figuratively.
“You honour the occasion by giving it your best crack.
“That is also what they want.”
The coach added that they have a responsibility to the occasion to make a good fist of the game.
“If the franchises are going to roll over and have their tummies tickled, this tour won’t have any value,” Dobson said.
The captain said they will not treat this as an ordinary match and will do justice to the occasion.
“Everybody has been talking about the Western Province team that won 50 years ago,” Nel said.
“We want to write our own chapter in the history of this chapter.
“We really want to do something special.”
The Stormers are determined to rise to the occasion in front of the Cape Faithful and protect the proud regional identity of the Western Cape against international royalty.
@JanDKrugby
@rugby365com
