Ben-Jason Dixon has recovered and will join the Stormers before the URC match against Connacht

Several young players from the Stormers team made a strong impression on rugby director John Dobson during the pre-season friendly match for the United Rugby Championship (URC). The game took place in Paarl against the Bulls on Friday.

Although the Stormers team lost to their opponents with a score of 38:26 at the Faure Street Stadium in Winelands, the final result should not cause serious problems for the Cape Town side.

Both teams had outstanding scrums in attack, and the Stormers frequently forced the Bulls backward, earning several penalties during this phase of the game. This advantage continued into the second half, as the Pretoria squad could not counter the powerful scrums.

Both teams successfully utilized rolling mauls, but the visitors dominated in this aspect, scoring several points thanks to their strong forwards. The Stormers were also able to earn a penalty try through a strong effort in the second half.

However, errors after the break, such as a charged kick from substitute flyhalf Yaqeen Ahmed and some confusion in the midfield that left a huge gap in defense, led to two tries that changed the course of the game in favor of the Bulls.

Experience exchange and player performances

A good early burst from experienced players, including captain Marcell Coetzee, number eight Jandré Rudolph, teammate Hanro Liebenberg, and fullback Willie le Roux, helped the visitors gain a 17:12 lead at halftime. Other notable performers for the Bulls included winger Sébastien de Clercq, who looked sharp in attack after a long injury layoff, scrumhalf Paul de Wet, and inside centre Stravino Jacobs.

Bulls coach Johan Ackermann stated after the match: "I just told Dobson that it was perfect in terms of what we wanted to see from the players." He added: "There were mistakes that we know we need to fix, but a big plus is the lack of injuries. Willie had a slight hamstring tightness, but otherwise, we went through the game unscathed. There were good moments, and we are pleased with that."

For the Stormers, speedy runner Roland Leighton Davids scored almost on the first touch, outpacing Bulls winger Taakir Abraham with his explosive speed to run down the sideline and score. Although Abraham is not weak himself, the manner in which Davids overtook him showed that he has something special.

Young fullback Dylan Miller scored two tries and looked reliable after active participation in the Stormers XXIII Currie Cup campaign. Newcomers to the squad, forwards Ollie Reid (prop), and loose forwards Louw Nel and Xola Nyali, also played well alongside number eight Hajiva Daimani.

Dobson noted after the game: "Listen, I am honestly very happy." He continued: "I thought, considering the number of guys we selectively brought into this game, 17 out of 31 players had never played in the URC before, so playing against this Bulls team was good. I am very excited about Leighton's performance. He was better than I expected. I think there is something truly special in him."

This match served as good preparation for both teams before the start of the URC at the end of September. Both coaches were able to conduct experiments and assess the players' readiness for the upcoming challenges. A positive aspect of the day in Paarl was the absence of injuries before the new season.

Match results

Final score: Stormers 26 (12) : Bulls 38 (17). Tries scored by halves: Dylan Miller (2), Leighton Davids, penalty try. Conversions: Yuri Matty (2). Bulls scored: Jandré Rudolph, Hanro Liebenberg, Taakir Abraham, Vian Mentour, J.J. Teron, Sébastien de Clercq. Conversions: Ruben Groenewald, Mentour (3).

Springboks' central player, Damian de Allende, shared his impressions of the confrontation with his opponent from the All Blacks, Jordie Barrett, ahead of their final match in the greatest rugby rivalry.

The Greatest Rugby Rivalry

De Allende, who plays in the center field for the Springboks, noted that he enjoyed the battle against Jordie Barrett, an All Blacks player. This match will be the last in the series of the Greatest Rugby Rivalry, which will take place in the fourth test match in Baltimore.

These two players have become some of the outstanding participants in the series and will meet again in a tense clash at the M&T Bank Stadium in the USA. For De Allende, the main goal is to gain an advantage to help the Boks win the trophy. Barrett, on the other hand, must find a way to surpass his direct opponent to assert his dominance and ensure New Zealand's ball possession.

According to De Allende, it was incredible to play against Barrett over the last three games. He mentioned that at the beginning of his career, he had the opportunity to play against players such as Ma'a Nonu, Conrad Smith, Sunny Bill Williams, as well as South African athletes, including Frans Steyn, Andre Esterhuizen, and Jean Serfontein.

However, he emphasized that currently, the most outstanding player for him is Jordie Barrett. De Allende believes that Barrett's skill set is simply incredible, as he is capable of performing all tasks on the field. He noted that playing against him over the last three weeks brought great pleasure, and he learned a lot from Jordie Barrett.

De Allende added that every test match is difficult because one has to play against world-class players regardless of country. He called this confrontation with the All Blacks a 'pleasant challenge' and expressed regret over Quinn Tupuaia's injury, wishing him a speedy recovery. Nevertheless, he concluded that it was an incredible experience.

De Allende explained his tactics by saying that he focuses exclusively on defending the person directly in front of him, following the Springboks' coaching instructions. This may mean responsibility for a forward running in his zone, or more often—defending against a back-fielder, but he has no preference for choosing a tackle target.

For him, flawless execution is crucial. Although the Boks conceded 13 tries to the All Blacks, De Allende stated that the team is proud of its defense and the work of the coaches preparing it.

Furthermore, De Allende spoke about his friendship with Jesse Kriel, with whom he will start his 48th joint test match for the Springboks. He noted that preparation plays a key role in defense, specifically the coaches' analytical work. He also stressed that Jesse is a defensive leader who helps all players believe in the correctness of the work being done.