Brannas’ successor to pick his battles

Paul de Villiers can’t wait to pounce on Connacht, as Stormers boss John Dobson says the 22-year-old flanker gets his first start on Saturday with one eye on the future.

“I’m very excited about the opportunity. It’s just focusing a lot on not doing something different than I wouldn’t normally do,” De Villiers said during a team announcement conference for the Vodacom URC clash at Cape Town Stadium.

“For me, it’s not chasing stuff that I wouldn’t chase in a normal game coming off the bench.”

The former Junior Springboks skipper has made seven appearances off the Stormers bench this season. Now, he replaces veteran Deon Fourie in the starting lineup in the first of four home matches leading up to the playoffs.

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“We’ve got an opportunity in these last four games before the playoffs start to build some momentum at home,” De Villiers said. “We’re focusing on the first game, but we know there’s three still to come.”

“[Connacht] is a running team, it’s a team that likes to keep the ball, they play multi-phases and they’ll send us around the park. We’re desperate for the win and are ready to pitch up and give it our all.

“I’ve looked at it [the breakdown], especially in the wider channels. Choosing my battles is very important for me and making sure if I go in there I will get out with the ball as well.  But ja, I would choose wisely there.”

On the jackalling challenge against the Irish tourists, De Villiers added: “It won’t be my main focus; I know the opportunity will pop up somewhere. 

“It’s also getting around the park, making my tackles and then, if the opportunity presents itself, to go for that and try to get the ball back.”

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Dobson, meanwhile, believes this is the right game for the rookie ballhawk as part of a re-jigged Stormers lineup.

“With Paul, we thought that his general movement and work rate, everything around the field, and also Brannas coming on for leadership [in the second half]…

“It wasn’t all done [with a view to building depth for the future], we haven’t actually got the luxury; it’s literally done for what we think is best for this opposition.

“The fact that guys like Vernon [Matongo], Paul and JJ [Kotze] are getting an opportunity is because it suits us this week. It’s great for the next season, but it wasn’t the primary factor.

“We think Paul, with his conditioning and his general game, can move very quickly and get off the line,” he added.

“I can’t guarantee next week Paul will get more starts, but it’s fantastic for the Stormers to have a real like-for-like [for Fourie].

“As much as they’re good stealers, can carry and are leaders with high work rates and are competitive, there are a couple of things that a 38-year-old can’t do that a 22-year-old can do, so it’s a good project for us.”

Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images