CAPE TOWN – Lock Salmaan Moerat says just being part of the Stormers’ 28-man squad for their Super Rugby pre-season warm-up game against the Bulls today (4pm kickoff) is a “dream come true”.
The former SA Schools captain was on Thursday named in the group to take on the Bulls at Boland Stadium, after starting at No 4 alongside Chris van Zyl in their first friendly against SWD Eagles.
So, although Saturday won’t be his first touch of the ball in a “Stormers” jersey, the Paarl Boys High product is excited to go up against the Stormers’ rivals in Wellington.
“I’m looking forward to it very much. It’s a dream come true,” Moerat said.
“There’s always a rivalry between the Stormers and the Bulls. It’s a massive occasion for the locals and for us as a union, and it’s a good platform to see where we’re at.”
Moerat and flyhalf Joshua Stander were set to receive game time with both the Stormers and the Invitational side that will take on the Boland Elite in a curtain-raiser (1.50pm) in Wellington, and in a position where the Stormers and Western Province have no shortage of talent, Moerat says he just wants to continue learning.
“The competition is really healthy, especially at lock in the Western Cape. I can certainly learn. The types of players at this union are world-class.
“If I can just go there every day and learn that’d be great. I can still improve on my conditioning, which is a very important part of rugby.”
Stormers Squad
Forwards: Jaco Coetzee, Jan de Klerk, Stephan de Wit, Johan du Toit, JC Janse van Rensberg, Steven Kitshoff, Wilco Louw, Bongi Mbonambi, Salmaan Moerat, Carlu Sadie, Ramone Samuels, JD Schickerling, Chris van Zyl, Kobus van Dyk, Cobus Wiese.
Backs: Craig Barry, Damian de Allende, Dewaldt Duvenage, Dan Kriel, Eduan Keyter, Dillyn Leyds, Justin Phillips, Sergeal Petersen, Raymond Rhule, Joshua Stander, EW Viljoen, George Whitehead, Damian Willemse.
Bulls Team
Divan Rossouw, Andell Loubser, Johnny Kotze, Burger Odendaal (captain), Duncan Matthews, Marnitz Boshoff, Andre Warner, Jano Venter, Hanro Liebenberg, Roelof Smit, RG Snyman, Ruben van Heerden, Conraad van Vuuren, Jaco Visagie, Pierre Schoeman.
Bench: Adriaan Strauss, Lizo Gqoboka, Frans van Wyk, Lood de Jager, Marco van Staden, Thembelani Bholi, Embrose Papier, Manie Libbok, JT Jackson, Dries Swanepoel, Jade Stighling, Franco Naudé.
@WynonaLouw