Good mates to go head-to-head
URC: ULSTER CLASH PITS MALHERBE AGAINST KITSHOFF
The Cape Town Stadium is set to witness an epic clash of the titans on Saturday when Springbok legends Frans Malherbe and Steven Kitshoff go head-to-head when the Stormers take on Ulster in their United Rugby Championship (URC) match-up.
It is the first time Kitshoff will be facing off against his old side since his move to Ulster in the pre-season, which will bring a lot of excitement for everyone involved.
Malherbe only made his return from an injury he suffered at the World Cup last year over the past weekend against Edinburgh with a 40-minute showing. He will hopefully get the chance to start again and take on his good friend and now rival Kitshoff.
Malherbe and Kitshoff spent over a decade together at the Stormers and won two World Cups together with the Springboks, so they have faced off in training many times over the years, but this will be their first time fronting up against each other on opposite sides.
“They’ve scrummed against each other twice a week for the last 14 years. I think it’s going to be interesting, because they know each other so well. They are big mates,” said Stormers assistant coach Labeeb Levy at a press conference.
“He’s (Kitshoff) a very good scrummager, but so is Frans. We are looking forward to it. It’s actually exciting for us to see Kitsie back at home. He has been here since his school days, skipping the age-group rugby to go straight to playing for the Stormers. He is a legend of Cape Town and a household name.
“We will welcome him, but when the referee blows the whistle, it will be a different story. But we are really happy to welcome him back and I’m sure there will be some tales to tell after the game.”
On Monday the Stormers also boosted their loosehead prop stocks when they recalled Leon Lyons from his loan to Griquas.
On Saturday against Edinburgh Lizo Gqoboka, making his return from injury, only lasted a few minutes after coming on in the second-half before rolling his ankle, which looks to have ruled him out of action for the next few weeks at the least.
This left them in a bit of a crisis with fellow looseheads Sti Sithole and Kwenzo Blose already out injured, while Ali Vermaak has been ruled out for the season.
This necessitated the return of Lyons, although Levy admitted that the Stormers were still analysing their options going forward.
“We are still toying with some options. Leon Lyons landed this [Monday] morning from Kimberley. He is one of the options we have. He is quite keen and fit and looks like the immediate go-to person.
“However, we are still speaking to various people and searching for who is available in the country and the world.”