‘Almost like Springbok trials,’ says Stormers coach ahead of Sharks battle

In this weekend's United Rugby Championship (URC) local derby in Cape Town, the Stormers face the Sharks, which could turn into an incredible spectacle. Both teams are set to load their rosters with Springbok stars, making it a fierce battle for local bragging rights. The Sharks, who played at home last weekend, returned some Bok stars including captain André Esterhuizen, Edwill van der Merwe, and Thomas du Toit, who played well in their win over Leinster. Eben Etzebeth, Ox Nche, and Ethan Hooker also returned from the bench.

On the other side, the Stormers, who were playing away in Scotland, had limited Springbok representation with only captain Siya Kolisi returning to the fold after a challenging journey to join his teammates on tour. However, many more Bok stars will be available for the Stormers when they return to Cape Town after their disappointing defeat against Edinburgh last weekend.

Stormers defence coach Norman Laker likened this match to Springbok trials, as every player yearns to prove their worth in representing the nation. With the return of numerous Boks, Laker expects a massive game this weekend, especially since the Stormers are set to play on grass after two 4G matches. Some notable players like Deon Fourie, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Damian Willemse, Cobus Reinach, Wilco Louw, Zach Porthen, and Paul de Villiers are all available for the Stormers, with the exception of injured Captain Cheslin Kolbe.

Edinburgh's loss to Stormers was largely attributed to their struggling lineout, with inexperienced hooker Vernon Paulo causing difficulties. Laker hopes that Paulo will soon be ready to play, and JJ Kotze, who missed the URC tour to the UK due to family reasons, will also be back for the upcoming match.