John Dobson says the DHL Stormers will be playing without fear against a La Rochelle side stacked with internationals in the Champions Cup playoff in Cape Town on Saturday. DYLAN JACK reports.

While the DHL Stormers welcomed back veteran flank Deon Fourie from injury, La Rochelle named a starting lineup with no fewer than 14 capped internationals for Saturday’s last-16 clash.

TEAM: Fourie boosts Stormers

KEO: SA fans should be queuing for Euro clashes

The Stormers won the pool stage match between the two sides back in December, but will be facing a much stronger juggernaut in the playoffs.

Gregory Aldritt, widely regarded as one of the best eighthmen in the world, will captain a star-studded La Rochelle team that also features illustrious names like Will Skelton, Jonathan Danty, Uini Atonio and a former Stormers back in Dillyn Leyds.

TEAM: Danty back to tackle Stormers

Speaking ahead of the match, Dobson admitted it would be a fairytale if the Stormers won, but that in itself allows the home team to take on the defending champions without fear of failure.

“I’m sure we aren’t favourites anywhere for tomorrow’s game,” Dobson said. “It might be something out of Harry Potter, a fantasy, but if you manage to beat La Rochelle twice in one season, you are one of the better teams around. That’s the upside for us.

“In a sense we have put ourselves on the back foot in the URC when we lost four games in a row on tour. We’ve been fighting ever since, we’ve fought well and moved up the table nicely.

“It’s not the same in Champions Cup. We’ve got nothing to fear. We can attack this competition. We’re hosting a last-16 game again and that’s a hell of an achievement.

“We’ve got nothing to lose. I don’t think many people expect us to beat this star-studded, massive team. If we do, it’s a massive upside. If things do go wrong, we will be better for the experience, playing against a freakishly-good team. There’s no fear of loss tomorrow.

“If we manage it, no matter what happens for the rest of the season, we can reflect on real progress. It would be huge if we get it right, as tough as it’s going to be.”

Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images

The post Dobson: Stormers have nothing to lose appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.

Src: sarugbymag.co.za