The 'low point' that forced Stormers to go 'full metal jacket'
SPOTLIGHT: The Sharks enjoy a commanding position at the summit of the United Rugby Championship table, yet they should brace themselves for a fierce contest against the Stormers in Cape Town on Saturday.
The Stormers have warned the visitors they will not be as ‘flat’ as they were in last season’s encounters.
Determined to erase the bitter taste of consecutive defeats at the hands of their ‘coastal cousins’, the Stormers are set to clash with the league leaders in a match-up reminiscent of a high-stakes ‘Test match’.
Under the guidance of John Dobson, the Stormers faced the Sharks twice within a span of just seven days last January, suffering a 19-30 defeat at home followed by a 24-36 setback in Durban.
While Dobson carefully avoided labelling the encounter as a matter of ‘revenge’, he acknowledged the lingering ‘hurt’ that still resides within the squad.
In stark contrast, the Sharks arrive in Cape Town riding high atop the league.
They are the sole team to have secured maximum points from their opening two URC matches, triumphing over the Ospreys (41-24) and reigning champions Leinster (26-20) at the Shark Tank in Durban.
The rivalry between the Stormers and Sharks has seen them face off 10 times since URC’s inception, with the Stormers claiming victory six times compared to three wins for the Sharks, and one match concluding in a draw.
In their initial six meetings, the Stormers celebrated five victories along with one tie, while the Sharks have taken the last four clashes, winning three – including a double last season.
“It was our low point of last season, losing to the Sharks on consecutive weekends,” Dobson reflected, recalling the turmoil of their January encounters.
This context elevates the significance of the seven Springboks who will step onto the field for their first match of the season with the Stormers, a critical boost for the home side.
In a strategic reshuffle, the Stormers introduce three changes to their backline: Damian Willemse assumes the fullback position, while Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu collaborates with Cobus Reinach at halfback.
In the front row, Wilco Louw is poised to earn his first Stormers cap since 2020, with Deon Fourie providing hooker cover and joining props Neethling Fouché and Vernon Matongo on the bench.
Boks Evan Roos and Riley Norton will also be available on the replacements bench, poised for action.
Dobson said the selection of these Boks is out of respect for the derby, the Sharks, and what happened last season.
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“It is the strongest team we can select,” he said, adding that the only missing piece of the puzzle is Cheslin Kolbe, sidelined with a fractured jaw.
Last year’s back-to-back losses still rankle Dobson, who admitted they may have placed too much emphasis on beating the Bulls.
He said there is a ‘different feeling’ in the Stormers squad this season.
“I do have a feeling this is going to be like a Bulls game,” the Director of Rugby said.
“It’s a confident Sharks team.
“It’s Bok against Bok.
“It’s going to be one of those derbies.
“Last year, maybe we saw the Bulls as the big thing and were a bit soft on the Sharks.
“They [the Sharks] weren’t flagged [as a threat].
“I think this game is going to have the feel of a classic derby.
“I am not worried about raising the players.
“I am not worried about us being flat at all.
“We had the ignominy of losing to them at home.
“We didn’t even get a losing bonus point at home against a team that would have been lying 10th on the log or something.”
He said the Stormers certainly won’t be ‘flat’ this time round.
“It feels to me like a different group – highly motivated, focused, well led.”
@JanDKrugby
