Stormers XXIII coach Tom Dawson-Squibb is prepared to release up to three players for the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry opener at Cape Town Stadium on Friday night.
John Dobson’s Stormers will host the All Blacks in the first match of the blockbuster eight-game tour, which also includes clashes between New Zealand and the Sharks, Vodacom Bulls and Lions, and four Tests against the Springboks.
Speaking after Saturday’s 36-28 bonus-point victory over the Sharks XV in round three of the Currie Cup, Dawson-Squibb was asked how many from his ranks could potentially feature against the Kiwi tourists.
“I don’t know, is the honest truth, but I can’t see it being more than two, maximum three players,” he said.
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Five tries, including a debut score from Junior Springboks star Markus Muller, powered the Stormers to victory, and personnel changes could disrupt team chemistry as the competition progresses.
Dawson-Squibb, though, is unfazed, adding: “The idea is that we’ve got the core of our squad and there’s some guys waiting in the wings who can come in, whether it’s Luke Burger, JC Mars, Oli Reid, etc.”
“We knew that the Junior Boks were coming back, we knew some other guys were coming back. Louw Nel got through 80 minutes after four months out.
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“Suleiman Hartzenberg came back and played 60-odd minutes. Ezeke’s [Ezekiel Ngobeni] played 35 minutes.
“We will also re-evaluate depending on the opposition – and a phone call from Dobbo on Sunday!”
Saturday’s result for Dawson-Squibb’s men came less than a week on from a heavy defeat by the Boland Cavaliers, reigniting the Stormers’ campaign ahead of next Sunday’s encounter against the Cheetahs at Athlone Stadium.
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Hooker Vernon Paulo and No 8 Wandile Mlaba both crossed the whitewash, while 20-year-old Dylan Miller clocked his third successive 80-minute outing in the last line of defence.
“I thought Wandi was great, he’s an exceptional player,” Dawson-Squibb said. “I was lucky to coach him at UCT.
“Dylan Miller missed out on the Junior Boks, he’s played every game, and he looks so mature at the back.
“And then Vern … he terrorised me for a few years playing for Potch University [NWU Eagles] against UCT, so it’s nice to have him on my team. There were a lot of guys that deserve credit.”
Photo: @THESTORMERS/X
The post Next-gen Stormers in line to tackle All Blacks appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Stormers XXIII coach Tom Dawson-Squibb is prepared to release up to three players for the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry opener at Cape Town Stadium on Friday night.
The post Next-gen Stormers in line to tackle All Blacks appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
