The Stormers are taking a calculated risk with a shuffled backline to accommodate Springboks Manie Libbok, Damian Willemse and Warrick Gelant in the starting lineup against Glasgow Warriors.
This strategic alteration, aimed at finding the right chemistry against the formidable Glasgow Warriors, comes ahead of a vital encounter in the United Rugby Championship (URC) at the Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch this afternoon (1.45 pm kickoff).
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Libbok, fresh off national duty and some well-deserved rest, returns at flyhalf, while the metronomic Willemse, who dazzled in last week’s triumph over Munster, shifts to inside centre. Captain Dan du Plessis will fill the outside centre role, with Ruhan Nel, who usually starts in that position, moving out to the right wing. The dynamic Gelant, known for his electric playmaking abilities, will commandeer the fullback position, resulting in a backline that promises to excite and entertain.
Despite the recent success of the backline that powered through Munster, the urgency to integrate Libbok into the starting XV is undeniable. Stormers’ Director of Rugby, John Dobson, emphasised that he would have retained last week’s combination had it not been for Libbok’s availability, underlining the importance of fielding their top talent against the reigning champions.
“Those three guys (Willemse, Libbok, and Gelant) are really special playmakers.”
“Those three guys (Willemse, Libbok, and Gelant) are really special playmakers,” Dobson remarked during the team announcement.
“At every breakdown on the attack, we will have two of them on one side. It will put any defence under pressure, whether through kick space or their vision and communication. Two will always be in the backfield when the opposition has the ball, which will aid our transition play.”
Dobson hailed Libbok as an essential element going into the match, citing his recent impressive performance against the Pumas.
“It would not have been the right message to have him on the bench.”
“It would not have been the right message to have him on the bench,” he added.
However, the Stormers will need a strong platform from their forwards to truly challenge Glasgow. The return of Springbok prop Frans Malherbe to the scrum marks a significant boost for their pack.
Malherbe’s experience will be complemented by hooker Andre-Hugo Venter, who will achieve his 50th Stormers cap, while Ruben van Heerden reclaims his spot at lock, having come off the bench last weekend. The 6-2 split on the replacement bench will also ensure fresh legs up front in the second half.
In stark contrast to their emphatic win against Munster, the Stormers face a Glasgow team looking to redeem themselves after a narrow defeat in Durban last week. The Scottish side displayed resilience with a late flurry of tries and will be eager to leave South Africa with at least one victory, a desire echoed by their captain Du Plessis, who reflected on the heartache of losing to Glasgow in last season’s URC quarter-finals.
“For once, we have the early kickoff.”
“For once, we have the early kickoff,” Du Plessis stated, preparing for the usually sunny conditions.
“It will be a nice dry ball with two teams who like to run it. Both of us have some of the quickest ruck speed in the competition, so it will be a good match-up. But it’s naive to think the heat and venue will win us the game. There is a lot more to it.”
Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Ruhan Nel, 13 Dan du Plessis (captain), 12 Damian Willemse, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Paul de Wet, 8 Keke Morabe, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Marcel Theunissen, 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 JD Schickerling, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Andre-Hugo Venter, 1 Brok Harris. Replacements: 16 Joseph Dweba, 17 Leon Lyons, 18 Neethling Fouché, 19 Adre Smith, 20 Willie Engelbrecht, 21 Louw Nel, 22 Herschel Jantjies, 23 Suleiman Hartzenberg.