Cape Town - The Stormers will this week head to Pretoria as favourites for their United Rugby Championship (URC) clash with the Bulls but Jake White, back from illness and with a new outlook on rugby, might have a surprise or two up his sleeve for John Dobson’s defending champions.
White and Dobson are set to continue their rivalry at Loftus Versfeld and judging by how the last clash went, fireworks can be expected from both coaches in the build-up this week.
Dobson’s Stormers are heading to Pretoria in a comfortable position in the URC but a rejuvenated White, after his near-death experience, can be just the inspiration the Bulls need for Saturday.
The Bulls mentor made a miraculous recovery after emergency surgery due to illness and will be hoping the miracles continue this week as they hunt for a first win over the Stormers.
It’s been a couple of weeks of good news at Loftus with Springbok winger Sbu Nkosi, who struggled with mental health issues, also returning to the fold.
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Under White they’ve lost their last four clashes against Dobson’s side with the URC final in Cape Town 2022 probably the one that stings the most. Most recently it was a comfortable 37-27 victory two days before Christmas for the Stormers.
And the Bulls know they probably have the most to lose out of this match as well looking at the URC log.
Currently, both teams are safely in the top four but one slip-up for the Pretoria side and they are in danger of falling out of the home play-off zone.
White though is a seasoned coach and therefore they will definitely be up for the Stormers’ challenge bring.
The Stormers, though, haven’t lost a match against a local team since December 2021.
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The lure of resting a few seniors against the Bulls will be big for Dobson and his management team but local derbies and especially a clash with the Bulls demands the respect of a competitive side.
DHL Stormers' backline goes coast 2️⃣ coast 🏝️
— BKT United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) February 8, 2023
We are here for the link up between Seabelo Senatla & Suleiman Hartzenberg 😍#BKTURC #URC | @TheStormers pic.twitter.com/YDSockmQkv
The Cape side haven’t made a secret of the fact that they will look to rest some stars, especially flyhalf Manie Libbok, but going to Loftus with an understrength team will put their second place at risk.
Yes, they are seven points clear of Ulster in third but the Irish club have a game in hand. That could open the door for them to leapfrog the Stormers if they stumble in one of their last games, which includes a trip to powerhouse Leinster in Ireland and a visit from another Irish side Munster in April.
But before the teams face each other on Saturday, you can be sure that both coaches will be looking to find the edge over one another with some clever quips and mind games.
@LeightonK