Deon Fourie anticipates a spirited Champions Cup response from defending champions La Rochelle when they clash with the Stormers at Cape Town Stadium.
Fourie is among the Stormers stalwarts who were kept in reserve last week when the team travelled to England, in a bid to prepare for the showdown against La Rochelle on Saturday.
MORE: SA kings braced for Euro Champs
The 37-year-old World Cup winner, who made his return to Stormers duty from a Springbok-enforced break in the Vodacom URC match against Zebre in Stellenbosch, is delighted to be back in action.
Fourie hailed the decision to spare most of the senior players the long trip to Leicester for the opening round clash and said he was impressed with how the youngsters handled themselves against a tough Tigers side.
“It wasn’t just the Springboks, it was almost a whole team that stayed behind. The travelling and playing on a Sunday, some of the guys haven’t arrived in Cape Town yet. So imagine only arriving on Tuesday night and you have to play on a Saturday,” Fourie explained.
“It’s a clever move from Dobbo and the management. You can see the depth that we have as well, I think we ticked those boxes against Leicester last weekend.
“In terms of the Boks, we had four weeks off [after the World Cup] where we could get away from the game. It’s nice to be back at the Stormers. There are lots of fresh faces and voices so that helps a lot.”
The Stormers, as back-to-back SA Shield winners in the URC, are up against the two-time European champions La Rochelle, who boast a wealth of talent, including former Stormers wing Dillyn Leyds.
Fourie says the battle of the packs will be vital and that the Stormers will have to be on guard against the breakdown threat offered by French internationals Gregory Aldritt and Jonathan Danty and flying Fijian flank Levani Botia.
“They are the reigning champions. They have a massive forward pack and some exciting backs as well. But I think the biggest key will be in the forwards,” Fourie said.
“If they get momentum and get on top of you, then it’s going to be a long day.
“Like us, some of their French internationals are just back from a sabbatical or resting period. They have guys like Aldritt and Danty, who can break your momentum with big moments. They have Botia as well, who is a menace at the breakdown.”
Menacing aptly describes what Fourie expects from La Rochelle after the French contenders suffered a rare home loss against Leinster last week.
“They are not the reigning champions, two in a row, for nothing. I know how big that loss against Leinster was. They were almost 16 games unbeaten in La Rochelle. For them to lose at home is a big thing. They will be coming down here to rectify that.”
Saturday’s match will be the Stormers’ first on a refurbished Cape Town Stadium pitch, which held up excellently in the first pressure test during the Cape Town Sevens.
“Playing on a new surface, we can pack away the long studs a bit,” Fourie said. “Last year, we were slipping around a bit. It’s great. I think it suits us, especially with a world-class game coming on Saturday.
“Hopefully, everyone can come out and support us and we can put on a great spectacle.”
Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images