The Stormers can end the year in a play-off position, if they can get a bonus point win over the Sharks on Saturday afternoon.
As they look to build more consistency after a rough start in the United Rugby Championship (URC), the coastal derby will be a pivotal clash for their campaign.
One more #VURC local derby to go in 2024 and it's a big one on Saturday ⛈️🦈 pic.twitter.com/BxbomTVIkH
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) December 26, 2024
After losing for the first time in the tournament against the Sharks last month, the Cape outfit will want to avoid back-to-back defeats and a first-ever loss in the DHL Stadium against the Durban side. On Friday, over 43 000 tickets have been sold.
Fullback Warrick Gelant, who’s been in sublime form of late, will play in his 50th match for the Stormers, joining a host of players who notched up the milestone in the last couple of seasons. He will be instrumental for his side, not just on the attack, but defensively as well, especially when the Sharks look for territory with kicks.
A DHL Stormers 5⃣0⃣ for the one and only @WarrickGelant. #iamastormer #dhldelivers #50up #boogie pic.twitter.com/pNd3UiENDy
— DHL Stormers (@THESTORMERS) December 27, 2024
Flyhalf Manie Libbok and inside centre Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu will be the other two main game drivers for the hosts. Feinberg-Mngomezulu recovered in time after picking up a match-ending injury against the Lions last weekend. The Stormers will look to provide their attacking trio with plenty of front foot possession.
“We tried to make minimal changes to the team owing to this short week, so continuity was important,” director of rugby John Dobson said.
“The team will put absolutely everything into the game.”
“The team will put absolutely everything into the game. We don’t want people coming out in their droves and not then we don’t show that fight. We will leave everything out on the field, no question about that.”
Dobson added that it’s good to have someone of Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s calibre back even though they’ll miss winger Leolin Zas. Fellow speedster Seabelo Senatla takes the place of Zas. The Stormers opted for a six-two split on the bench again.
Where does your team sit as we head into Round 9️⃣ tonight?@Vodacom #URC pic.twitter.com/2G1ITiPfzI
— Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial_RSA) December 27, 2024
Feinberg-Mngomezulu struggled with a hip injury, but trained this entire week with the side.
“If he had played last week, the game would’ve looked different against the Lions. So I am very pleased he is back. That hip-pointer injury can be one or three weeks (out), but he is good to go.
“After the Lions game, we said we are only half done. These two home games are absolutely fundamental to getting our URC back on track. Last week didn’t ease the pressure, it’s about (winning) both these games. We are still with our backs against the wall.
“The Sharks are the galacticos of SA rugby.”
“The Sharks are the galacticos of SA rugby. They had a disruptive week before playing the Bulls and getting that result shows their resolve and character. They’ve grinded out two good local derby wins, which shows says a lot about the as a team.
“We stuck with most of last week’s side, while the Sharks strengthened theirs, so I don’t know who has the upperhand.”
Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 11 Seabelo Senatla, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Marcel Theunissen, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Deon Fourie (capt), 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Salmaan Moerat, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Ali Vermaak; Replacements: 16 Andre-Hugo Venter, 17 Brok Harris, 18 Neethling Fouché, 19 Ruben van Heerden, 20 Willie Engelbrecht, 21 Paul de Villiers, 22 Paul de Wet, 23 Jean-Luc du Plessis.