The Stormers are abandoning all forms of "basketball" rugby for Friday night’s historic clash against the All Blacks in Cape Town. Head coach John Dobson has declared his side has "one job", to physically suffocate the tourists and safeguard the future of traditional rugby tours.
“The anthem is going to be something. There’s going to be a haka. We’ve got one job there, to get into that fight and win it.”
Dobson acknowledges a massive tactical shift in New Zealand rugby since South African franchises departed Super Rugby. Rather than trying to match the visitors out wide, the Stormers will rely on traditional South African strengths.
“We looked at the stats this week of how much the All Blacks are passing and moving the ball. The graph is just going through the roof... We can’t suddenly go out there and try to join what Stephen Jones calls Super Rugby’s ‘basketball’. That’s not going to be our plan at all.”
“It may not be nominated for the Emmys for the most entertaining rugby, but it’s Friday night, and this is going to be a Test match in our view.”
With reciprocal tours locked in for 2030 and 2034, Dobson warned that the local clubs carry a massive responsibility to keep the concept alive by avoiding the heavy 60-point defeats suffered during the 2021 British & Irish Lions tour.
“If traditional tours are to have value, we, meaning the South African clubs the All Blacks will face on this trip, need to win a game. We can’t just roll over and have our tummies tickled... If that happens again, this is not going to work.”
Despite being between seasons, short on match fitness, and missing key Springboks like Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, the Stormers are unleashing 20-year-old flyhalf Yaqeen Ahmed on debut, drawing direct comparisons to their missing playmaker.
“I don’t like comparing players, but it reminds me of a few years ago when Sacha came through our system. Yaqeen is just as dedicated, composed and exciting... He’s special.”
Driven by a jersey presentation from Bossie Clarke and Peter Whipp, heroes of Western Province's famous 12-11 win over the 1976 All Blacks, captain Ruhan Nel insists his side will not be starstruck.
Captain Ruhan Nel said, “You don’t contribute to the occasion by running out there and admiring them... Everyone is talking about Western Province’s victory 50 years ago. We want to be part of that history too. We want to write our own page in history.”