The DHL Stormers have been boosted at the start of their Vodacom United Rugby Championship tour of the United Kingdom and Italy by the news that they will shortly be joined by their new Springbok back row forward BJ Dixon.
Bok coach Rassie Erasmus announced on Wednesday at the completion of the training block for Saturday’s final Castle Lager Rugby Championship clash with Argentina in Nelspruit that he was releasing three players for URC duty - apart from Dixon, Canan Moodie and Johan Grobbelaar will be joining up with their team, the Vodacom Bulls, ahead of their opening fixture against Edinburgh.
The Stormers start their campaign against the Ospreys in Swansea on Saturday night and as assistant coach Dawie Snyman acknowledged, it will be a tough start to the competition for the Cape team.
“We drew with them the year before last and they came to Cape Town last year and shocked us on our home turf. There is a healthy rivalry developing but that is the thing about the URC and what makes the competition great - you can’t relax against anyone and every team is dangerous,” he said.
So head coach John Dobson, who already has to start the season without one Bok looseforward in the form of the injured Evan Roos, should be delighted that he will have his team’s newest Bok in their ranks. Dixon may be arriving in Wales a bit late to slot into training in time to be part of the starting side against Swansea, but he’s sure to come into the picture for the next game against Zebre in Parma.
“We understand that BJ is flying out tonight and will join us here in Wales tomorrow (Thursday),” said Snyman.
Meanwhile, Snyman confirmed that in the absence of the injured Steven Kitshoff and Salmaan Moerat, who is still on Bok duty, experienced centre Dan du Plessis will be leading the side on the three-match tour.
That should be enough confirmation too that Du Plessis will start at inside centre, meaning that Damian Willemse, who is set to make his return from injury, will play elsewhere, most probably flyhalf where the Stormers are missing Manie Libbok and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
The Stormers team for the Swansea game will be announced on Friday.