With Deon Fourie and Hacjivah Dayimani returning to the pack, the Stormers are loading up for a massive Highveld double-header. First stop: Ellis Park this Saturday. Photo: Backpagepix
Image: Backpagepix
While the Stormers have a stack of backline players returning to the fold from injury, assistant coach Dawie Snyman says the sudden availability of two loose forwards is vital for a visit to the Highveld to play the Lions.
The following week, the Bulls make the short trip to Pretoria to play the Bulls, and Snyman says the return of Hacjivah Dayimani and Deon Fourie is a significant boost.
The Stormers have had a three-week break from their losing sequence against the Sharks and have been plotting to tame a Lions side that outplayed the Sharks last week.
Dayimani has returned to the Stormers after two years with Racing 92 in the French Top 14, while Fourie is training once more after five months on the sidelines with a torn bicep.
“It’s like Hacjivah never left,” Snyman said. “He’s a special player with amazing speed and a great skill set. He links well with the backs and can add real variation. When the game gets fast and loose, he’s a guy who can open it up.
“You’ve got guys who are really putting in the hard work, and then later in the game when it opens up, we can maybe use that space and those opportunities.”
Snyman said that the fleet-footed Dayimani is “ideal” for the fast-paced pitches of the Highveld. Snyman added that the 39-year-old Fourie would make a gradual comeback.
“We will see exactly where he is and how we can use him,” Snyman said. “Obviously, the first two, three games, he’s not really match fit, but hopefully we can select a team where we can bring him up to speed.
“He’s tough mentally and can really push himself. He obviously has a lot of experience and brings strong leadership. It’s not just about relieving workload, it’s about standards in the group.”
Snyman said the Stormers had also welcomed back to training backs Ruhan Nel, Seabelo Senatla, Dan du Plessis, and Jean-Luc du Plessis.
While the Stormers are third on the URC log, despite the losses to the Sharks, Snyman said the two-match tour to the Highveld had to be a return to winning ways.
“These games are massive,” he said. “The SA Shield is still up for grabs, but more importantly, we want to be at the top end of the log when the tournament gets to the business end.
“The one we dropped at home against the Sharks hurt, so these away games are important for us.”
Last week, the Lions answered their critics with a statement defeat of the Sharks to erase the bad memories of a 50-point pasting from the Bulls.
“The Lions have a good running game but also a strong kicking game. They put a lot of kicks in behind the Sharks and turned them.
“They have players in good form — Ruan Venter is playing good rugby. If you allow him and their other ball carriers to give them momentum and space, they punish you. We have to be sharp and not allow that.”
* Mike Greenaway is a senior rugby reporter at Independent Media and contributor on our Last World on Rugby podcast on our YouTube channel, The Clutch