The Stormers are confident they can upset Racing 92 in their pivotal Champions Cup match tonight, but they realise it will be a massive challenge against an almost full-strength side.
While they have wrapped some Springboks in cotton wool for the deciding group match at the La Defence Arena (10 pm kickoff) in the City of Lights, their hosts will see this as an opportunity for five points and to leapfrog the Stormers on the points table.
Still some class in the Stormers side to pull them through against Racing 92 tomorrow evening in Paris. John Dobson says they didn't want to 'over-train' on the 4G pitches, but they have to adapt as soon as possible #ChampionsCup #R92vSTO via @IOLsport - https://t.co/Ch3Q50wdTX
— Leighton Koopman (@Leighton_K) January 17, 2025
The Cape outfit currently holds the fourth and qualifying spot in Pool 4, but if they fail to win, Racing will go above them and knock them out of contention for the Round of 16 playoffs. Five points for the visitors should seal their place in Europe's elite club competition.
Flyhalf Manie Libbok, fullback Warrick Gelant, and flanker Deon Fourie all sit out alongside scrumhalf Paul de Wet with an eye on next week's duel with Leinster in the United Rugby Championship (URC).
After winning their last three matches in all competitions, the Stormers enter the match with some confidence, but Director of Rugby John Dobson has warned against the danger of their opponents.
“People must not be under any illusion of this game, we are playing against one of the biggest spending clubs in the world and they are at home, desperate to progress.”
“People must not be under any illusion of this game, we are playing against one of the biggest spending clubs in the world and they are at home, desperate to progress,” Dobson said.
“We are without a couple of guys who aren't playing. But, we are confident, not looking past the fact that it will be a massive task. Next week we go to Leinster, our day job is the URC. This will be a tough trip.
“The team is in as good a space as we could be in.”
“The team is in as good a space as we could be in, but we are under no illusions how difficult this game will be.”
The return to the starting lineup of Bok loose forward Evan Roos, tighthead Neethling Fouche and hooker Joseph Dweba, though, should add some grunt to the pack in this pivotal match.
🌩️ a 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗺 is coming
— Racing 92 (@racing92) January 17, 2025
Découvrez les 23 Racingmen qui affronteront @THESTORMERS demain à @ParisLaDefArena avec @Staffmatch ! ⬇️
#R92vSTO pic.twitter.com/Bxl3IWAl7E
Roos' duel with former teammate Hacjivah Dayimani on the quick 4G pitch will be an interesting one, but how young flyhalf Jurie Matthee copes against England pivot Owen Farrell could be telling in the clash.
Matthee will have the experience of Dewaldt Duvenage inside of him and that should balance the scales for the Stormers.
Alongside Roos, Bok hooker Joseph Dweba and tighthead Neethling Fouche will start and they are surely going to add some grunt to the pack, not just in the scrums but on defence too.
Dobson says there are no special plans for Farrell.
“We've had a good look how they've played in their last five games.”
“We've had a good look how they've played in their last five games. He (Farrell) hasn't played here for so long. But, we know how we want to play against them on that surface.
“We also have to be realistic, missing a couple of our playmakers, so we are going to have to fight and we have to fight properly. If we can get a result, it would be massive confidence for us."
Stormers: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Jonathan Roche, 11 Ben Loader, 10 Jurie Matthee, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Marcel Theunissen, 6 Willie Engelbrecht, 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 Salmaan Moerat (captain), 3 Neethling Fouche, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Sti Sithole.
Bench: 16 Andre-Hugo Venter, 17 Ali Vermaak, 18 Frans Malherbe, 19 JD Schickerling, 20 Dave Ewers, 21 Paul de Villiers, 22 Herschel Jantjies, 23 Jean-Luc du Plessis.