Assistant coach Rito Hlungwani is expecting a physical battle when the Stormers face a SA-powered Sale Sharks outfit in a blockbuster Investec Champions Cup tie on Saturday.
The teams clash at Cape Town Stadium in the penultimate pool round of the 2024-25 competition, with the Stormers desperate to pick up their first win to remain in the race for a playoff spot after two defeats.
Sale boss Alex Sanderson has also picked the Du Preez brothers, who are all Springboks, in the same starting XV for the first time this term. Flyhalf Rob du Preez will lead the team while twins Jean-Luc and Dan start at No 6 and 8, respectively.“I had a sneak preview on their team that’s come out and it is going to be a physical confrontation type of game,” said Hlungwani during a Stormers team announcement conference on Friday.
Asked whether this week’s game has the potential to be a statement victory for the Stormers following back-to-back derby wins in the Vodacom URC at the close of 2024, Hlungwani said: “We’re just pushing ourselves to be better than what we were last week. “Whatever happens on whether we make a statement or not we take what we get, and what we really want to control is how we improve as a team.”
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