Skipper Ruhan Nel feels the Stormers successfully blended elements of the Men in Black era with their current game to produce “something beautiful” for Capetonians.
John Dobson’s men beat the Sharks 39-22 on Saturday in round three of the URC, outscoring their coastal rivals six tries to three courtesy of a dominant set-piece display.
A 40,000-plus crowd at Cape Town Stadium saw the Stormers avenge last season’s back-to-back losses to JP Pietersen’s troops, and debut this season’s black away kit – a throwback to the iconic 1999 strip.
Seabelo Senatla even celebrated opening the scoring with a Breyton Paulse-esque try celebration.
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“This club is built on so many legends of the game,” Nel shared after the final whistle. “The style of rugby they played during that original Men in Black, it’s true to the region. It’s what the people of Cape Town want to see.
“If you can have that style of rugby and blend it with the modern game, with our set-pieces, mauls, scrums, defensive systems … you’re actually sitting with something really beautiful.
“I felt today there were elements of all of that. Strong defence, good running rugby, the maul was operating properly, we had scrum ascendancy as well.
“Mix that in with Seabelo’s flick-flack at the end of the first try he scored, it was a recipe for a special day.”
Corné Krige, captain of the ’99 Men in Black, on Friday presented the Stormers class of 2026 with their jerseys ahead of this week’s clash. Stormers Rugby also invited 50 ex-Stormers players and their families to attend the match.
“Corné is a hero for most of us sitting here,” Nel added. “It’s hard imagining him with a clean face, without some kind of blood coming out somewhere. A true hero of Stormers rugby.
“A very special moment. He was one of my heroes growing up. Having him handing out jerseys means a lot to the guys. Having a lot of them in the stands as well … To do them justice, the occasion and the jersey justice, is quite special for the team.”
RECAP: Six-try Stormers exact revenge
On whether Senatla’s acrobatics was pre-planned, Nel joked: “I don’t even think he plans his outfits! That was probably an in-the-spur-of-the-moment thing.
“I’m just happy because he had both knees strapped and he still didn’t fall backwards [laughs].”
Everybody loves a Seabelo Senatla celebration
Stream #VURC on DStv: https://t.co/0P0NNhnwKw https://t.co/TEWytu6eLU
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) October 10, 2026
Photo: Carl Fourie/Stormers
The post ‘Seabelo’s flick-flack made it a special day’ appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Skipper Ruhan Nel feels the Stormers successfully blended elements of the Men in Black era with their current game to produce “something beautiful” for Capetonians.
The post ‘Seabelo’s flick-flack made it a special day’ appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
