Stormers look to Kolisi and rising Springbok De Villiers to upstage Sharks in URC coastal derby

Stormers director of rugby John Dobson believes Kolisi will be comfortable operating at No 7, despite the Springbok captain traditionally making his mark in the No 6 jersey at international level. The Stormers have instead opted for an out-and-out poacher at openside flank, allowing De Villiers to continue in the role after impressing for the Cape side over the last couple of seasons.

Dobson explained that Kolisi’s strengths extend beyond the traditional responsibilities of a blindside flanker, pointing to his ability to carry strongly, make dominant tackles and win turnovers through his defensive work.

“Siya plays amazingly in his own role as a six for the national team, in the way he counter-attacks and wins turnovers through tackles. He’s not a classic stealer, is he? But his carrying is really good, and other parts of his game have improved significantly since he was here six years ago,” Dobson said.

“In some ways, he plays a bit like a seven, with his carrying and stopping power. We really felt we wanted an out-and-out fetcher, and we couldn’t leave Paul out, so the decision was pretty comfortable for us.”

The selection reflects the different qualities Kolisi and De Villiers bring to the Stormers’ loose trio, with the former offering physicality and experience while the latter provides the specialist breakdown work that could be crucial against the Sharks, particularly in a free-flowing game.

De Villiers has continued to grow in stature, and Dobson has been particularly encouraged by the young loose forward’s increasing confidence and willingness to contribute off the field as well.

The Stormers coach revealed that De Villiers has become more involved in tactical discussions, asking questions about the team’s breakdown strategies and carrying patterns as he develops his understanding of the game. Dobson believes the 23-year-old has made significant strides since making his Springbok debut.

“He’s come back from the national team with confidence. He came to me and sat down and said, ‘I want to see these breakdowns. Show me these carries. What are we trying to do?’ So he’s definitely come out of his shell. He’s got a lot more swagger about him, in a good way, and that’s super exciting.

“I think he told me that in the first three Tests, and I stand under correction here, he only got one steal. But some of those carries, especially around the gainline, gave him a lot of confidence as a carrier. We only saw glimpses of that with the Stormers.

“I have no doubt he’s come back a better player. It’s logical, and he’s certainly more confident and more willing to contribute his own thoughts in our environment because he’s now got a proper body of work behind him. So, there’s certainly been a positive change in Paul,” Dobson added.

The Stormers could still adjust their loose-forward combinations in the coming weeks, with experienced utility forward Deon Fourie providing another option across the back row. Fourie is on the bench as a replacement hooker, while Hacjivah Dayimani wears the No 8 jersey this weekend.

Although the Sharks have lost some senior experience in their loose trio after Kolisi’s departure, they still boast quality players in No 8 Phepsi Buthelezi and flankers Manu Tshituka and Matt Romao. Despite having less experience than the Stormers’ back row, they will be eager to rise to the occasion, especially facing their former teammate.

Against a Sharks side featuring several Springboks of their own, the Stormers will need Kolisi’s physical presence and De Villiers’ breakdown expertise to shine. If they can win the battle up front, alongside the front row, they will provide the platform for their backline to unleash some running rugby.

That could ultimately pave the way for a statement victory in front of their home supporters as the Stormers look to get their URC campaign back on track.

Stormers XV

15 Damian Willemse, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Ruhan Nel (captain), 12 Jonathan Roche, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Siya Kolisi, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Adré Smith, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 André-Hugo Venter, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu.

Replacements: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Vernon Matongo, 18 Neethling Fouché, 19 Riley Norton, 20 Connor Evans, 21 Evan Roos, 22 Haashim Pead, 23 Wandisile Simelane.

Sharks XV

15 Zekhethelo Siyaya, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Jurenzo Julius, 12 André Esterhuizen (captain), 11 Ethan Hooker, 10 Vusi Moyo, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Phepsi Buthelezi, 7 Manu Tshituka, 6 Matt Romao, 5 Darrien Landsberg, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Eduan Swart,1 Ox Nché.

Replacements: 16 Esethu Mnebelele, 17 Cameron Dawson, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Jason Jenkins, 20 Stephan Lewies, 21 Nick Hatton, 22 Ivan van Zyl, 23 Gianni Lombard

Referee: Morné Ferreira (South Africa). AR 1: Griffin Colby (SA), AR 2: Stephan Geldenhuys (SA). TMO: Quinton Immelman (SA).