Jean de Villiers expects the Stormers to give Chippie Solomon a fitting send-off at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday.
The 64-year-old passed away last Saturday having served as Stormers team manager since 2004.
De Villiers, Hanyani Shimange and Schalk Burger – all former Western Province and Stormers players – paid tribute to Solomon on their Boks Unpacked podcast.
“He was so much more than just a team manager,” De Villiers said. “He was a father figure, a mentor, a massive part of Western Province and Stormers rugby.”
Burger added: “He was one of the great men in rugby. The memories you have with him, the way he looked after players. It’s an incredible loss.”
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The second-placed Stormers will be playing for Chippy when they take on Connacht, sitting ninth, on Saturday.
“It’s going to be an emotional week and an emotional game,” Shimange said. “Let’s hope they give him the send-off he deserves.”
De Villiers added: “With all the emotion around Chippy, I’d definitely go for a Stormers win, and a convincing one.”
WATCH: Connacht pay tribute to Chippie
The ex-Boks also looked ahead to the other Vodacom URC matches involving South African sides.
The eighth-placed Vodacom Bulls are first in action when they take on the Dragons in Newport on Friday night.
The Welsh club is languishing at 15th on the log but will take confidence from their progression to the EPCR Challenge Cup semi-finals.
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“The Bulls are on tour but they have a super run-in. It’s starts with the Dragons who have been super competitive,” said Burger.
“If there’s a weakness for me about the Bulls, it is the way they defend, almost a lack of detail in their defence.
“But they are a good side and in a good space at the moment.
“I just don’t know if they are good enough to get a bonus point. Also, with the Wales weather, it can be a slugfest out there.”
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The fifth-placed Lions face a daunting home clash against log leaders Glasgow Warriors, who suffered a gutting home defeat to Toulon in last weekend’s Investec Champions Cup quarter-final.
“I think that’s going to be a very entertaining game,” said De Villiers. “I’m backing the Lions, they are on a nice trajectory at the moment.”
Burger, though, warned that Glasgow have a good record in South Africa and under coach Franco Smith know how to beat local teams.
He also said that the Lions have a “brutal end” to their season, with a home clash against Connacht next weekend followed by tour matches against Irish giants Leinster and Munster.
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Meanwhile, the 10th-placed Sharks take on the Ospreys, who sit one place behind them, in a must-win away fixture.
Burger said the Sharks would look to “suffocate” their opponents and grind out a win that would keep their playoff hopes alive.
De Villiers added: “Being on tour together can bring a squad closer. Hopefully that helps them find momentum.”
Photo: Stormers
The post Jean: Emotional Stormers to win for Chippie appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Jean de Villiers, Schalk Burger and Hanyani Shimange expect the Stormers to give Chippie Solomon a fitting send-off at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday.
The post Jean: Emotional Stormers to win for Chippie appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
