Stormers will work hard to unleash ‘special Senatla’
IT’S quite a different Stormers side we will see against the Sunwolves on Saturday. But the most exciting change to look out for is definitely Seabelo Senatla wearing the No 11 jersey at the National Stadium in Singapore.
Robbie Fleck’s matchday 23 doesn’t quite resemble the team that beat the Kings in Port Elizabeth two weeks ago as key players are unavailable due to injuries and the Springbok management plan.
But the current situation, similar to the one the Stormers experienced during their 2016 trip to Singapore has, of course, opened the game-time door to a few new faces to capitalise while the regulars are absent.
And Sevens superstar Senatla will be one of those “new faces” looking to have a good go on Saturday he runs out at No 11 in the place of Dillyn Leyds, who moves to his preferred No 15 position.
Fleck, a big fan of giving exciting young talent a run, is of course excited to see what the holder of the all-time Blitzbok try-scoring record can do, but he’s also said that Senatla can’t create “magic” if the rest of the team don’t get the ball to him.
That situation shouldn’t be as big a problem as it was in previous seasons, with the Stormers having shown in recent weeks that they can take the ball through the hands very effectively when they do get it right.
“I think the guys have to be patient if he doesn’t get any ball. You can’t expect miracles from the guy if he doesn’t. We all know what a quality rugby player he is, but in Fifteens there’s obviously not as much space as there is in Sevens,” Fleck said.
“But if he gets the ball and he has a bit of space, he’s going to be devastating. So that’s what we expect from him. It’s up to us to create that space. All 14 players have to do something for him to get that magic out. If we do our job correctly and create space for him and give him good opportunities with ball in hand or to chase kicks or whatever the case may be, then we’ll see the special Seabelo.”
The Stormers will also have a new vice-captain for the Round Five fixture in Leyds as Eben Etzebeth is being rested, and the utility back replaces SP Marais at fullback, who started at the back in all three the Stormers’ matches before their bye last week.
Leyds has also been instrumental for the Stormers so far with massive performances out wide, and he’s looked like a player full of confidence since returning from a lengthy injury that kept him out for the greater part of last year.
And it’s his versatility that makes him an even bigger asset to Fleck, who praised the 24-year-old’s performances.
“We had a trial run with him as captain against SWD and he was outstanding, both in terms of his play and his leadership. He’s playing a critical role in a very young backline at the moment. He’s been outstanding on the left wing, he’s come back from a big injury and he’s just got those silky skills,” he said.
In the last change to the backline Dan Kriel is back to full fitness and will partner EW Viljoen in midfield, while Dan du Plessis, who produced a hard-working performance last time out as he contributed on both attack and defence, should bring some impact off the bench.
Up front, skipper Siya Kolisi is back at No 7 after being rested against the Kings, and Chris van Zyl and JD Schickerling will stand in for the powerful duo of Etzebeth and Pieter-Steph du Toit in the second row.
Wilco Louw, another young player who has impressed so far with dominant scrummaging and hard work around the park, is back in the starting line-up along with JC Janse van Rensburg to pack down on either side of hooker Bongi Mbonambi.