Derby fightback steels Stormers for Warriors clash
Leighton Koopman
The Stormers got their wish and will travel to Scotstoun Stadium to take on the Glasgow Warriors in the quarter-final of the United Rugby Championship (URC) this weekend.
“We will be up for it,” was the promise Stormers head coach John Dobson made after his side claimed another home derby win, beating the Lions 29-24 in Cape Town to seal fifth place in the competition.
Although it will be the first time they will have to travel for a knockout match in the URC, the former champions have welcomed a change in their route to the final from the previous two seasons.
Glasgow and Munster or the Ospreys (in the semifinal) will stand in the Stormers' way of reaching the final for a third consecutive season.
But the Stormers will have to make do without their two injured World Cup winners in utility back Damian Willemse and loose forward Deon Fourie. At the same time, the looming suspension of winger Angelo Davids for a high tackle on Lions pivot Sanele Nohamba will likely take another starter out.
The Stormers showed enough fight at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday afternoon to give them confidence that they can upset the Warriors at Scotstoun Stadium on Saturday evening (kick-off 8.35pm).
“We are not quite on the money yet, but we needed a good win in a tough South African derby to get everyone thoroughly engaged for next week. We have a clean bill of health (from the match),” Dobson said.
https://x.com/THESTORMERS/status/1796986442205249698The Lions threw everything at the Stormers and after leading 21-12 at half-time, the Cape side had to find a way to get back into the match. They did so with their brilliant defence and a 30 000-strong crowd behind them to claw their way back even after Davids’s red card.
They sealed the win In the dying minutes with a converted try off a strong rolling maul, which was preceded by a brilliant defensive effort with 14 men to keep the Lions from crossing the tryline in the second half.
Fullback Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and replacement prop Brok Harris epitomised the defensive heart of the Stormers when they combined to stop speedy Lions winger Edwill van der Merwe and powerful No 8 Francke Horne from reaching the line off a fine attack in the left-hand corner of the stadium.
“The character at the end shows this team has buckets of it. I would’ve loved us to do some things better but Brokkie making a cover tackle in the left-hand corner is extraordinary. My overall sentiment is very proud.
“I don’t have many concerns ahead of the quarter-final, but there are a few technical points (to look at).
The Stormers will welcome Springbok fullback Warrick Gelant back this week. He was nursing an injury and was left out of the Lions game as a precautionary measure. Englishman Ben Loader should step into Davids’s position if he is suspended, as expected.
So, minus Willemse and Fourie, the Stormers should be taking a full-strength squad to Glasgow looking to create more history in their third consecutive play-off.
Cape Town could still see a home semifinal if the Ospreys topple defending champions Munster in the first quarter-final on Friday at Thomond Park (kick-off 8.35pm), and the Stormers beat Glasgow the following evening.