Stormers’ second-string players face crucial test in two away derbies

The Stormers are well ahead of their player resting protocols in the United Rugby Championship (URC), so they will go fully loaded with the players they have available to Ellis Park with the hopes of bagging another win over the Lions.

While they will travel to Johannesburg with a depleted squad due to long-term injuries, the fight shown by the backup players against the Bulls this past weekend will have given them some momentum ahead of another vital local derby on Saturday.

We're in Jozi this weekend for another big @Vodacom #URC SA derby against @LionsRugbyCo

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The Stormers missed at least one of their playmakers in the 33-32 North-South loss this past weekend with Manie Libbok, Damian Willemse and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu on the sidelines. The defensive organisation of outside centre Ruhan Nel also left a gap against a rampant Bulls.

Then there was the scrummaging prowess of Neethling Fouche, he missed the duel due to a concussion. Fouche should be back for the Johannesburg trip if he passes the return-to-play protocols.

But, despite having plenty of starters missing, director of rugby John Dobson vowed they would go with their strongest available line-up to Ellis Park where they haven't lost to the Lions in this competition. The same will be for the return North-South derby at Loftus Versfeld on March 1.

According to Dobson, they are ahead of their player resting periods which makes everyone available for selection.

“Not any of the big name backs are returning, but we will go there full-strength with what is available.”

“Not any of the big-name backs are returning, but we will go there full-strength with what is available,” he said.

“We are ahead of our resting protocols. This team is going to have to do the job and we saw against the Bulls they are good enough. This is the side that will go (to Gauteng) for both of the local derbies. Paul de Villiers and maybe Willie Engelbrecht are guys we will maybe look at, they might come into the frame.”

How the leaderboard is shaping up after Round 1️⃣'s reschedule clash 👀

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The Lions come off an extended resting period, and while they were boosted by some key long-term signings, they will eagerly await the contest against the wounded Cape side.

After coming within a conversion of winning another North-South derby the Stormers will have to find a way to pick themselves up very quickly. While there is the motivation of staying ahead of the Jozi team on the URC points log, they will also know that their season could spiral if they don’t win at least one of the next two away games.

Their record of four wins and six losses sees them in 10th place, and the Lions, currently 13th, holds a two-game advantage over their visitors. So, there is still every chance that the inaugural URC winners could find themselves the worst-placed local side at the end of the season.