With the backline they selected, the Stormers look set to go all out ont he attack and take the challenge to Edinburgh in their final United Rugby Championship (URC) tour match.
Springbok Damian Willemse will don the flyhalf jersey and fellow Bok Warrick Gelant the fullback jersey. With two playmakers in pivotal attacking positions for the Cape side, they have the attacking sparks in the backline to ignite their game tonight (6.15pm start).
To set the likes of the two World Cup winners at the back free, it will all depend on how the Stormers’ forwards fare against their Scottish counterparts. The scrum of the inaugural champions has been outstanding in the two games so far, but the breakdown play and lineout departments will be crucial. They will also have to be defensively sound to stop players like wingers Darcy Graham and Duhan van der Merwe.
The Edinburgh forwards were bullied the last time they faced a South African side away from home in the competition, but being back at the Hive Stadium, they will look to turn their fortunes around. They are winless after three games and that should be warning enough for the Stormers just how desperate their opponents will be for the win.
Our team to face Edinburgh in our final @Vodacom #URC tour game on Saturday night. ⛈️ v 🏰
— DHL Stormers (@THESTORMERS) October 11, 2024
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Six changes - including the positional change of Willemse - after the thumping 36-5 win over Zebre Parma last weekend might seem a bit overkill, especially with the momentum gained. Still, Dobson must also make sure to give players on tour a chance to get on the field ahead of the long season instead of just going along for the trip.
That is where the changes at hooker come in with Andre-Hugo Venter taking over from Bok Joseph Dweba and JJ Kotze on the bench as the backup hooker.
Dweba is known for his scrummaging prowess and the Stormers will know what they are losing with him not playing, but the dynamic work of Venter and Kotze will bring something different to the game. Dave Ewers coming into the six-jersey also brings more grunt to the side with Marcel Theunissen set to make an impact off the bench.
Willemse missed a couple of kicks at goal last weekend when he took over the kicking, and that is likely where the accuracy of Jurie Matthee, who drops out of the side, will be missed. But to get their slumbering attack going, the change at flyhalf was a necessary one. Gelant adds that unpredictability on the attack from fullback, and his reliable left and right boot will be able to relieve pressure when it’s needed.
“It's unfathomable to leave both Damian and Warrick out of the starting side.”
“It’s unfathomable to leave both Damian and Warrick out of the starting side,” Dobson said yesterday.
“We are compromising on the kicking, but we have a certain way we want to play this game and they are instrumental to it. We also couldn't leave out any of the centres.”
It's a must-win game for the side if they want to take any positive momentum into their next two home games against Munster (19 October) and defending champions Glasgow Warriors in Cape Town. Those two clashes could set the tone for their onslaught in the Champions Cup, starting in December against Toulon, and the local derbies in the URC against the Sharks, Lions and Bulls over the festive period.
“This is a hellavu important game for us. If we lose and end up one out of three, it would be disappointing. And we don’t want to end up like last season and look at the tour as the defining point where we end up chasing the rest of the season. It's going to be crucial.”
Stormers XV: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Angelo Davids, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Dan du Plessis (captain), 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Paul de Wet, 8 Keke Morabe, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Dave Ewers, 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 JD Schickerling, 3 Neethling Fouche, 2 Andre-Hugo Venter, 1 Brok Harris.
Replacements: 16 JJ Kotze, 17 Sti Sithole, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Adre Smith, 20 Marcel Theunissen, 21 Willie Engelbrecht, 22 Stefan Ungerer, 23 Wandisile Simelane.