Senatla’s chance to shine

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 a number of key players are unavailable due to the Springbok management plan and injury.

But the current situation, one 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 at the National Stadium on Saturday when the World Sevens Player of the Year 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, was of course excited to see what the holder of the all-time Blitzboks try-scoring record can do, but he also said that Senatla

TEAMS

can’t create “magic” if the rest of the team don’t get the ball to him.

That situation right there shouldn’t be as big of 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 if we 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 on the sidelines for the greater part of last year.

And it’s his versatility that makes him an even bigger asset to Fleck both in terms of play and leadership.