Damian Willemse and Norman Laker have acknowledged the threat of one of their own, Dillyn Leyds, when the DHL Stormers and La Rochelle clash on Saturday.
Ronan O’Gara’s men are set to put the Stormers through the pressures of a Test match in a crunch Champions Cup playoff at Cape Town Stadium.
A supremely skilful outside back, Leyds – alongside Raymond Rhule – has been a mainstay for the French outfit in the Top 14 and was integral to the 2021-22 and 2022-23 Champions Cup-winning campaigns.
After making his debut for Western Province in 2013, the 31-year-old enjoyed a brief stint in Australia with the Western Force in 2014 before returning to the Republic and making his first appearance for the Stormers a year later.
Leyds scored 21 tries in 65 appearances with the Stormers, and speaking to the media this week, playmaker Willemse and assistant coach Laker recognised that the Springbok flyer has the inside scoop on his former teammates.
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“I’m very excited to welcome Dillyn back to Cape Town,” said Willemse told reporters. “It’s been a strange time for all of us playing against Steven [Kitshoff] and now against Dillyn on back-to-back weekends.
“He showcased what a great player he is [in the December match] and now it’s a knockout game so guys will be putting up their hands.
“He will always be a beloved player here in Cape Town. He will always be a part of us.
“We know what a world-class player he is, so we are looking forward to having him back.”
Laker added: “They are a well-coached side. Dillyn Leyds has told them a little bit about our DNA and what to expect from us.
“We didn’t know anything about them. All we knew was the guys that we played against in Super Rugby a few years ago and Dillyn.
“We learnt a lot about their individuals, but now we also know what they are like as a team.
“There are a few things that we learnt from them, but we will see on Saturday.”
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La Rochelle also boast plenty of international experience, with Australia’s World Cup captain and giant enforcer Will Skelton completing a towering second row with Ireland’s Ultan Dillan.
Fiji’s Levani Botia gave the Stormers a massive headache at the breakdown during the pool stage clash in Cape Town, and is equally capable of opening a game up with his spectacular ball skills and offloads.
“Will is a world-class player and I managed to train and play with him when I was at Saracens [in 2019],” Willemse said. “We stayed together in the same house.”
“He is a great rugby player and he’s as tough as they come. We are going to have to try and shut down his time and space on the ball.
“If you give a guy like him time, he is going to hurt you, so it is another battle for our forwards and for us as a team to look forward to.”
Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images