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Deon Fourie expects a spirited Champions Cup response from defending champions La Rochelle when they face the Stormers at Cape Town Stadium.

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Fourie is one of the Stormers veterans who was kept in reserve last week when the team travelled to England to prepare for Saturday’s match against La Rochelle.

According to SARugby Mag, the 37-year-old World Cup winner is overjoyed to be back in action after a Springbok-enforced break in the Vodacom URC match against Zebre in Stellenbosch.

Fourie praised the decision to save most of the senior players for the long trip to Leicester for the first round match, and he was impressed with how the youngsters performed against a tough Tigers side.

‘It wasn’t just the Springboks, it was almost a whole team that stayed behind. The travelling and playing on a Sunday, some of the guys haven’t arrived in Cape Town yet. So imagine only arriving on Tuesday night and you have to play on a Saturday,’ Fourie explained.

‘It’s a clever move from Dobbo and the management. You can see the depth that we have as well, I think we ticked those boxes against Leicester last weekend.’

‘In terms of the Boks, we had four weeks off [after the World Cup] where we could get away from the game. It’s nice to be back at the Stormers. There are lots of fresh faces and voices so that helps a lot.’

Back-to-back SA Shield winners in the URC, the Stormers face two-time European champions La Rochelle, who have a plethora of talent, including former Stormers wing Dillyn Leyds.

Fourie believes the battle of the packs will be crucial and that the Stormers must be wary of the breakdown threat posed by French internationals Gregory Aldritt and Jonathan Danty, as well as flying Fijian flank Levani Botia.

‘They are the reigning champions. They have a massive forward pack and some exciting backs as well. But I think the biggest key will be in the forwards,’ Fourie said.

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‘If they get momentum and get on top of you, then it’s going to be a long day.’

‘Like us, some of their French internationals are just back from a sabbatical or resting period. They have guys like Aldritt and Danty, who can break your momentum with big moments. They have Botia as well, who is a menace at the breakdown.’

Fourie expects La Rochelle to be menacing after the French contenders suffered a rare home loss to Leinster last week. 

‘They are not the reigning champions, two in a row, for nothing. I know how big that loss against Leinster was. They were almost 16 games unbeaten in La Rochelle. For them to lose at home is a big thing. They will be coming down here to rectify that.’

The Stormers will play their first game on a refurbished Cape Town Stadium pitch, which performed admirably in the first pressure test during the Cape Town Sevens.

‘Playing on a new surface, we can pack away the long studs a bit,’ Fourie said. ‘Last year, we were slipping around a bit. It’s great. I think it suits us, especially with a world-class game coming on Saturday.’

‘Hopefully, everyone can come out and support us and we can put on a great spectacle.’

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Also read:

Saturday showdown: DHL Stormers welcome La Rochelle to Cape Town

Picture: Ashley Vlotman / Gallo Images

 

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