CAPE TOWN – The Stormers haven’t been able to impress away from Newlands this season, but as they prepare to face the Jaguares in Buenos Aires tomorrow (kick-off 7.40 pm), that’s exactly what Robbie Fleck wants - a win away from home.
While the Stormers managed to beat the Argentinians in their Super Rugby opener at Newlands, it could very well be a very different challenge this weekend. Scratch that, it will be a different challenge.
Ask any team that has played the Jaguares away and they’ll tell you just how tough it is. Add in there the fact that they have really come together as a unit this season and that challenge gets even greater.
Also, the Stormers had to fight hard to get the win in Round One, so they will need no briefing on how tough tomorrow can get.
And it’s a challenge Fleck and Co are looking forward to.
“We know that it will be a big challenge here in Argentina, but both the players and management are looking forward to it,” Fleck said.
“We want to show that we are capable of performing under pressure away from home and will be going all out to come away with a win.”
In terms of selections, captain Siya Kolisi - despite having played a taxing amount of rugby until now - will start at No 6 alongside fellow Springboks Pieter-Steph du Toit, who will start at blindside flank, and Sikhumbuzo Notshe at No 8.
Rassie Erasmus wants him rested, but captain Siya Kolisi will scrum down in the No6 jumper in Buenos Aires. Photo: Chris Ricco/BackpagePix
Du Toit - a standout performer at both Super Rugby and Test level this season - of course captained the Springboks in Washington in their 22-20 defeat against Wales early this month, and his workload and the management thereof, just like Kolisi’s, is something Bok coach Rassie Erasmus will surely want to keep an eye on.
On the bench, Nizaam Carr, who is set to join Wasps after the Super Rugby season, and Kobus van Dyk will provide cover.
Given the fact that there is still a lot of Test rugby to be played this year, in terms of workload it might have been good to give the likes of Kolisi and Du Toit a rest, especially seeing that the Stormers’ season is over.
Someone like Junior Boks captain Salmaan Moerat could have been given a starting chance at No 4 lock, while Notshe, Van Dyk and Carr could have done duty in the loose trio, which would have opened a spot on the bench for Wiese, who can cover loose forward and lock.
Even a stint off the bench for Du Toit would have alleviated some game-time pressure.
In the front row, hooker Bongi Mbonambi, having been sidelined with injury for the first 13 games of the season, will get his first Super Rugby start in 2018 after coming off the bench in their loss to the Lions before the international break.
On either side of Mbonambi, tighthead prop Wilco Louw and Steven Kitshoff will fill out the Stormers’all-Springbok front row.
In the backline, scrumhalf Dewaldt Duvenage will form the halfback pairing with Jean-Luc du Plessis, while Damian de Allende and JJ Engelbrecht take charge in midfield. And out wide, Dillyn Leyds, Craig Barry and Raymond Rhule will run on.
The Stormers team is:
15 Dillyn Leyds, 14 Craig Barry, 13 JJ Engelbrecht, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Jan de Klerk, 4 Cobus Wiese, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Steven Kitshoff. Replacements: 16 Ramone Samuels, 17 JC Janse van Rensburg, 18 Frans Malherbe, 19 Salmaan Moerat, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Kobus van Dyk, 22 Justin Phillips, 23 EW Viljoen