Coach John Dobson is buzzing with excitement about the Stormers’ bulging squad depth as they gear up for their Investec Champions Cup showdown with Bayonne on Friday night. With new blood set to debut and a six-game winning streak in their back pocket, the Stormers are not just dipping a toe in European waters—they're diving in headfirst.
Dobson is shaking things up by rolling out the welcome mat for loosehead prop Ntuthuko “Tuks” Mchunu and hooker Lukhanyo “Boepa” Vokozela. It’s clear he’s not just tossing caps around; these guys have earned their stripes. “We are very pleased with the roster. We’ve been so impressed with Tuks through the whole pre-season. He was meant to play last week before the Bok call-up, and he absolutely deserves this opportunity,” Dobson praised.
“And with Boepa … you can’t knock on a player’s door six months in if he hasn’t played. He’s trained brilliantly and we want to integrate him properly.”
The Stormers aren't just about throwing in a couple of new faces and hoping for the best. With players like Oli Kebble, Ali Vermaak, and Vernon Matongo backing up the newbies, Dobson’s crew is stacked. “If we only had 12 forwards who could compete at this level, then no – we couldn’t really target both competitions. But I think we’ve got 20 who can do it. That gives us the confidence to genuinely have a go in Europe,” he asserted.
With a flawless start in the URC, the pressure's off, and the squad is champing at the bit for a crack at the Champions Cup. Stormers captain Salmaan Moerat, hitting a milestone with his 50th appearance, shares Dobson’s optimism. “We’re a young group but the guys are hungry,” Moerat said. “Last week was great, but this is a completely different challenge. The boys are really excited – we want to prove a point here.”
Arriving in France after a nail-biting win against Munster, the team didn’t dwell on their victory for long. “We moved on incredibly fast,” Dobson noted. “We arrived in Bayonne on Sunday night and because of the very tight turnaround, we went straight into Bayonne prep. The players didn’t want this to be a ‘spin and win’ – they wanted to go for it properly.”
Dobson also highlighted the invaluable learning curve the French stint will provide, especially for the greenhorns in the pack. “Even if something goes wrong tomorrow night, we’ll come back a better group. But honestly, I’m expecting something special. This team never fails to deliver,” he enthused.
As the Stormers set their sights on conquering new frontiers, it’s clear they’re not just hoping to make up the numbers. They’re in it to win it, with a squad that’s deep in talent and unity. Watch out, Europe, the storm is coming!
TEAM: Mchunu set for Stormers debut. Bayonne back Bok for Stormers clash.
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Coach John Dobson is buzzing with excitement about the Stormers’ bulging squad depth as they gear up for their Investec Champions Cup showdown with Bayonne on Friday night. With new blood set to debut and a six-game winning streak in their back pocket, the Stormers are not just dipping a toe in European waters—they're diving in headfirst.
Dobson is shaking things up by rolling out the welcome mat for loosehead prop Ntuthuko “Tuks” Mchunu and hooker Lukhanyo “Boepa” Vokozela. It’s clear he’s not just tossing caps around; these guys have earned their stripes. “We are very pleased with the roster. We’ve been so impressed with Tuks through the whole pre-season. He was meant to play last week before the Bok call-up, and he absolutely deserves this opportunity,” Dobson praised.
“And with Boepa … you can’t knock on a player’s door six months in if he hasn’t played. He’s trained brilliantly and we want to integrate him properly.”
The Stormers aren't just about throwing in a couple of new faces and hoping for the best. With players like Oli Kebble, Ali Vermaak, and Vernon Matongo backing up the newbies, Dobson’s crew is stacked. “If we only had 12 forwards who could compete at this level, then no – we couldn’t really target both competitions. But I think we’ve got 20 who can do it. That gives us the confidence to genuinely have a go in Europe,” he asserted.
With a flawless start in the URC, the pressure's off, and the squad is champing at the bit for a crack at the Champions Cup. Stormers captain Salmaan Moerat, hitting a milestone with his 50th appearance, shares Dobson’s optimism. “We’re a young group but the guys are hungry,” Moerat said. “Last week was great, but this is a completely different challenge. The boys are really excited – we want to prove a point here.”
Arriving in France after a nail-biting win against Munster, the team didn’t dwell on their victory for long. “We moved on incredibly fast,” Dobson noted. “We arrived in Bayonne on Sunday night and because of the very tight turnaround, we went straight into Bayonne prep. The players didn’t want this to be a ‘spin and win’ – they wanted to go for it properly.”
Dobson also highlighted the invaluable learning curve the French stint will provide, especially for the greenhorns in the pack. “Even if something goes wrong tomorrow night, we’ll come back a better group. But honestly, I’m expecting something special. This team never fails to deliver,” he enthused.
As the Stormers set their sights on conquering new frontiers, it’s clear they’re not just hoping to make up the numbers. They’re in it to win it, with a squad that’s deep in talent and unity. Watch out, Europe, the storm is coming!
TEAM: Mchunu set for Stormers debut. Bayonne back Bok for Stormers clash.