High-flying Stormers set for triple Springbok boost for Champions Cup clash with La Rochelle

Life keeps getting better for the unbeaten Stormers, who return to South Africa from their heroics in Bayonne to a massive boost in the form of three influential Springboks. Damian Willemse, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Cobus Reinach are fit, fresh and eager to slot into the team for this weekend’s crunch Champions Cup clash with La Rochelle in Gqeberha.

For the match against Bayonne, Stormers coach John Dobson used two Boks who were on the November tour — Ben-Jason Dixon and Ntuthuko Mchunu — while Zachary Porthen was with the team in France but not selected.

Dobson was thrilled with his relatively inexperienced team’s gutsy 26-17 comeback win over Bayonne, who had not lost a home game in two years.

“The first half was great – tactically really good,” he said. “They started really fast and put us under pressure, but we defended very well.

“For a lot of these guys, this was massive. Tuks (Ntuthuko Mchunu), Neethling Fouche, Boepa (Lukhanyo Vokozela), Connor Evans, Salmaan Moerat, who is still coming back from injury, Ruan Ackermann, Imad Khan, Johnny Roche, Clinton Swart — they haven’t had much rugby. For them to play like that in a venue like this is amazing.”

Dobson is pleased that the win has emphasised the squad’s growing quality depth.

“We’ve been building this group the whole time. You could name a Stormers XV that didn’t play tonight — Damian Willemse, Suleiman Hartzenberg, Seabelo Senatla, Ruhan Nel, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Jurie Matthee, Cobus Reinach, Stefan Ungerer, Oli Kebble, Vernon Matongo, Frans Malherbe, Zach Porthen, who is a Springbok, Ruben van Heerden, Deon Fourie, Louw Nel, Keke Morabe, the list goes on. It’s a really strong group, and this victory underlines it.”

But Dobson said the performance was not perfect, with poor discipline letting the team down at times, including Adré Smith’s red card for stamping.

“We got ourselves into trouble,” Dobson said.

“That red card cost us, and our discipline was poor for the second week in a row. Sometimes, with ball in hand, we do things that put us under pressure. But the way we came off the canvas and won — that was special.”

The Stormers were behind late in the game before their forwards got on top to spark a comeback.

“These have been tough places we’ve played — Benetton hadn’t lost at home for a year, Bayonne had lost one home game in three years, Munster hardly ever lose at Thomond Park,” Dobson said of his team’s winning run in the United Rugby Championship.

“All good experiences. But we can’t wait to play some Stormers rugby in front of our people next week.”