Assistant coach Dawie Snyman said the DHL Stormers will pay special attention to Vodacom Bulls duo Willie le Roux and Wilco Louw when the teams clash on Saturday.
The Stormers approach this weekend’s Vodacom URC encounter against the Bulls at Cape Town Stadium with caution, acknowledging the prowess of the seasoned Springbok campaigners.
Le Roux has divided opinion during his time in the green and gold, but the double World Cup winner has made a resounding impact for Jake White’s charges since his Bulls debut.
The 34-year-old fullback scored on debut against Connacht in Pretoria, and has linked up seamlessly in the back three with fellow Boks Kurt-Lee Arendse and Canan Moodie while mentoring youngsters like Sebastian de Klerk.
Speaking in a Stormers conference this week, Snyman told reporters: “We all know what Willie can do. He has the ability to make players around him look good because he understands the game so well.
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“He knows how to put players into space, his left foot gives them a kicking option to the other side.
“He brings another dynamic to their team. He’s a very experienced player so what he takes to the Bulls is very valuable for them. He’s a big factor in this game and we’ll have to take note.”
A product of the Stormers, tighthead prop Louw’s eight-year rugby journey has brought him to the Bulls via a stint in the Premiership and his return to South Africa has given horns to a raging Bulls set piece.
Snyman added: “It’s something that they have worked on for a few seasons now. It’s not just happened between the seasons. One or two players there are making a big difference.
“Wilco has been giving them stability in the scrums, and Willie’s ability to combine with other players, that’s what they are doing well at the moment.
“There is just that little bit more variation in their game, which is great. It’s a nice challenge for us. It suits their players as well. If you have Kurt-Lee Arendse and Canan Moodie on the wings, you want to get them the ball and they are doing that well.”
Photo: Lee Warren/Gallo Images
