URC – DHL Stormers Needs To Be Aware Of Glasgow Warriors’ Fighting Spirit

 

In Cape Town, the DHL Stormers will look to inflict further damage on the Glasgow Warriors on Saturday at 13:45 (SA Time) following the Scots’ 28-24 defeat against the Hollywoodbets Sharks in Durban, with an eye on possibly hopping into the top eight on the table. However, they will be well aware of the visitors’ fighting spirit, which saw them score two tries in as many minutes in the dying stages last week to snatch two bonus points from the game.

With the Capetonians starting the competition with a tough three-week tour, statistics could have little significance for the teams, especially with the home side showing great attacking flair against Munster last week to secure a bonus-point 34-19 victory – a result they will be keen to build on in front of another passionate crowd in Stellenbosch.

The DHL Stormers will draw inspiration from their defensive statistics, in particular, which show only two more points conceded in their four games to Glasgow’s five even though the visitors hold a nine-point lead on the log, which will be handy against the best attacking team in the competition.

History, however, favours the Glasgow Warriors, who have won three of the four previous outings between the sides, with the DHL Stormers’ only victory being 32-7 at DHL Stadium in April 2022.

DHL Stormers included Andre-Hugo Venter who will be joined in the starting line-up by World Cup winners Manie Libbok and Frans Malherbe, who are both making their first appearance of the season for the DHL Stormers.

With Libbok at flyhalf, Damian Willemse will line up at inside centre, with skipper Dan du Plessis outside him and Ruhan Nel on the wing.

Venter will have the two most-capped DHL Stormers of all time on either side of him in the front row, with Malherbe and Brok Harris as the starting props. The only other change to the forward pack sees Ruben van Heerden back in the starting XV, having featured from the bench last week.

Prop Leon Lyons and loose forwards Willie Engelbrecht and Louw Nel come onto a replacement bench which has Herschel Jantjies and Suleiman Hartzenberg as backline cover.

DHL Stormers Director Of Rugby John Dobson said: "We saw last week what a difference it makes playing in our conditions in front of our supporters, but we need to back that up on Saturday again. Glasgow is the defending champions, so we will have to raise our game further if we are to get the win we need.

We are thrilled for Andre-Hugo to reach this milestone at such a young age and we look forward to even bigger things from him in the years to come. It is fantastic to have the likes of Frans and Manie back in the mix and we expect them to make a real impact on Saturday."

Richie Gray will take to the field for the final time in a Glasgow Warriors jersey this weekend after the Scotland and British and Irish Lions second-rower was selected in the starting XV to take on the DHL Stormers tomorrow afternoon.

The 35-year-old is one of seven changes for the closing match of the club’s South African double-header, as Franco Smith’s men take on the two-time finalists at Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch in their final match before the international break.

An all-new front-row sees Johnny Matthews – whose dramatic score in the final play of the match secured a brace of bonus points for the Warriors in Durban last weekend – pack down between Jamie Bhatti and Sam Talakai, the former one of 19 Warriors selected in the Scotland squad earlier this week.

Gregor Brown is paired with Gray in the engine room for the latter’s 119th and final Glasgow Warriors outing, having made his debut for the club back in March 2009.

The back row is unchanged from last weekend’s showdown with the Hollywoodbets Sharks, meaning Matt Fagerson and Rory Darge once again line up either side of Jack Dempsey in the breakaway trio.

Adam Hastings comes into the starting lineup after making an impact off the bench last weekend, as he partners George Horne – scorer of two of Glasgow’s four tries last Saturday – in the half-backs.

Newly-named Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu leads the Warriors from the midfield once more, with Huw Jones drawing into the starting XV to replace Stafford McDowall at outside centre.

Kyle Rowe retains his place on the wing after being heavily involved in three of Glasgow’s four tries last weekend, as Sebastian Cancelliere and Josh McKay join him in the back-three to round out the starting lineup.

Gregor Hiddleston rotates to the replacements after an impressive outing from the start, with British and Irish Lions props Rory Sutherland and Zander Fagerson joining the hooker as the front-row cover.

The starting second-row pairing from Durban similarly move to the bench to accommodate Gray and Brown, as Scott Cummings and Max Williamson join Henco Venter in a six-two split of forwards and backs.

Jamie Dobie and Tom Jordan cover the backline to complete the matchday squad, the latter having been named in a Scotland squad for the first time earlier this week.

Speaking following selection, Head Coach Smith said: “The Stormers will provide another stern test for us in Stellenbosch tomorrow – they look to be hitting top form as they showed in their convincing win over Munster last weekend.

“They will also be able to call upon a wealth of international experience and quality, with Springboks and World Cup winners throughout their squad.

Glasgow Warriors Head Coach Franco Smith said: “The Stormers will provide another stern test for us in Stellenbosch tomorrow - they look to be hitting top form as they showed in their convincing win over Munster last weekend. They will also be able to call upon a wealth of international experience and quality, with Springboks and World Cup winners throughout their squad. It promises to be another electric atmosphere in front of a passionate crowd tomorrow, and we look forward to the challenge.”

Teams:

DHL Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Ruhan Nel, 13 Dan du Plessis (c), 12 Damian Willemse, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Paul de Wet, 8 Keke Morabe, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Marcel Theunissen, 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 JD Schickerling, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Andre-Hugo Venter, 1 Brok Harris. Replacements: 16 Joseph Dweba, 17 Leon Lyons, 18 Neethling Fouche, 19 Adre Smith, 20 Willie Engelbrecht, 21 Louw Nel, 22 Herschel Jantjies, 23 Suleiman Hartzenberg.

Glasgow Warriors: 15 Josh McKay, 14 Sebastian Cancelliere, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Sione Tuipulotu (c), 11 Kyle Rowe, 10 Adam Hastings, 9 George Horne, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Rory Darge, 6 Matt Fagerson, 5 Richie Gray, 4 Gregor Brown, 3 Sam Talakai, 2 Johnny Matthews, 1 Jamie Bhatti. Replacements: 16 Gregor Hiddleston, 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 Zander Fagerson, 19 Scott Cummings, 20 Max Williamson, 21 Henco Venter, 22 Jamie Dobie, 23 Tom Jordan.