The Stormers will not make big changes to their team for their opening Champions Cup match against Bristol Bears in Cape Town on Saturday, director of rugby John Dobson said.
Some new faces are expected, mainly in the front row. But Dobson wants to keep the team together after a 39-22 United Rugby Championship (URC) win over the Sharks last Saturday.
“In the Champions Cup, we have to get out of our pool and secure a home last-16 game,” Dobson said, according to IOL Sport.
The Cape side is in a hard pool. It includes Bristol, the French clubs Bordeaux-Bègles and Racing 92, and the English club Gloucester.
The Stormers will play away in Bordeaux and Gloucester. That makes the home game against Bristol at DHL Stadium very important.
Dobson pointed to what happened last season. He said the Stormers won three of their four pool games but still had to travel to Exeter for the next round.
“Other teams won one out of four and had a similar draw to us. So, we have to beat Bristol. I’ll choose the best team to do that. I don’t even want the Bordeaux game to be a weakened team,” he said.
“So, the home game against Bristol is an absolute must-win if we want to get out of the pool,” Dobson said.
The team has learnt from the past. In earlier seasons, too many changes to the line-up cost the Stormers, IOL reported.
Dobson hinted that tighthead props Sazi Sandi and Zachary Porthen will come in. They are set to replace Wilco Louw and Neethling Fouché.
Louw and Fouché, together with loosehead props Ntuthuko Mchunu and Vernon Matongo, crushed the Sharks scrum in the derby.
Bristol play a faster game, so Sandi and Porthen could suit the match. But the Stormers may lose some power in the scrums.
“We don’t want to go through a Harlequins experience where we go and concede 60 points again,” Dobson said.
“Sazi is a great tighthead. He’s fast in the hit and his general game is fantastic. So, you can’t tell me that Sazi and Zachary Porthen playing this weekend would weaken the team,” he said.
There could also be changes in the loose trio and at lock. Siya Kolisi has played two matches in a row and could get a rest.
The open No 7 jersey could go to Ben-Jason Dixon. That depends on whether he has recovered from concussion symptoms.
Utility back Wandisile Simelane brought fresh energy off the bench in the second half against the Sharks. He could be in line for a start against Bristol.
Dobson said some players would act as cover in case of injuries. He did not name them, saying that would be disrespectful.
“But the main group are all playing over these four weeks, and we know when they’re playing,” he said.
Source: this article is based on reporting by IOL Sport. Image: IOL Sport. Written with the help of AI and published by the Tzaneen Voice Sports desk. See our Editorial Standards.
Tiyani Mathebula writes about sport for Tzaneen Voice. Tiyani covers Bafana Bafana, the Springboks, the Proteas and the PSL, along with athletics, tennis and local club sport. Match reports and previews focus on results, team news, fixtures and what each game means for South African teams and fans.