Glasgow clash will be like Test match for Stormers, says Snyman

It will be a like a Test match for the Stormers when they face table-topping Glasgow Warriors in a crunch United Rugby Championship showdown on Saturday, says the Cape team’s assistant coach Dawie Snyman.

After losing against Connacht last weekend, the second-placed Stormers are desperate to get back on the winning track at the Cape Town Stadium (kickoff 1.45pm). This is the Stormers’ final home game before tough matches on the road against Ulster and Cardiff.

“Glasgow are doing really well this season,” Snyman said. “They’re top of the log and we’re second, so it’s a big clash which will probably decide who can push on and finish at the top.

Denying Glasgow Warriors opportunities to launch deadly attacks from lineouts helped the Lions thrash the table-topping Scottish outfit 54-12 at Ellis Park, coach Ivan van Rooyen said. An energised Lions side entrenched themselves in the United Rugby Championship top eight with a memorable display against the log leaders. The Johannesburg side ran in eight tries and avenged a chastening 42-0 away defeat against Glasgow in 2025. “I very clearly remember the 42-0 defeat last year,” Van Rooyen said. “Glasgow were just way too good for us on that occasion. They taught us a lesson in tempo, quick-ball and pressure. So, I’m really extremely proud of the hard work and the effort the guys put in.” “If you’re going to give them entries there, it’s impossible to defend all of their options. “My takeaway is just a really proud defensive effort. It helped us that we had an extra week of preparation [the Lions were not involved in the Champions and Challenge Cups],” Van Rooyen said. “We did not want to give Glasgow penalties, and we were determined not to give them attacking lineouts, because from that platform, they are deadly. “They are almost impossible to stop when they attack you in your 22. The moment you switch off, they will exploit you because they are so good at attacking space,” Van Rooyen said. “My main takeaway is that I am really proud that we executed our game plan and stopped them from playing their natural game. Glasgow are the quickest team in the tournament in scoring points in the opening 10 minutes. We stopped them from doing that. In fact, we turned it around,” he said. Van Rooyen says his team are facing huge challenges in their remaining United Rugby Championship clashes. “Connacht are a side who have just beaten the Stormers and are the in-form team with several straight wins. “It’s going to be tough. Connacht are a very physical team and they also like to play high-tempo rugby,” Van Rooyen said. “We have reviewed Connacht as coaches and again, it’s another tough challenge.” Lions captain Francke Horn said his team would be taking it game by game. “We know where we want to be, but we don’t want to look too far ahead because you can lose focus on the game at hand,” he said. “This last week it was only about Glasgow; this week will only be about Connacht.” Glasgow coach Franco Smith has praised the Lions for a standout performance against his side. “Well done to the Lions. They used their time away from rugby so well [while other teams were involved in the Champions and Challenge Cup competitions],” he said. “They looked so fresh and quick. They’re a well-coached side, well-drilled as well. They came with a good plan and they put us under pressure and asked questions. “What makes the Lions so good is the fact they’ve got Springbok-like players who aren’t Springboks. These types of players are the most valuable players. They’re the guys who are good enough to be Springboks but aren’t Springboks. They make the difference at club level. “The Lions are a good team at home at Ellis Park and they play so well there.” Weekend URC fixtures Friday: Edinburgh v Sharks. Saturday: Stormers v Glasgow Warriors; Lions v Connacht; Scarlets v Bulls. Follow The Herald WhatsApp channel today and stay connected to the stories shaping our world. The Herald

“The Stormers can’t look past this weekend. We need to get everything right now and make sure we deliver the performance we want.

“The tour will take care of itself, but if we want to give ourselves a proper chance of finishing in the top four, this game is vital.

“Glasgow have got a really strong set-piece and a good maul, and from that comes a lot of options. We need to be sharp and understand where opportunities are, but also identify where we can put them under pressure.”

Snyman said the Stormers would not be lulled into a false sense of security after Glasgow slumped to a 54-12 loss to the Lions at Ellis Park on Saturday.

“The Lions hit their straps and played a great game, and it’s never easy at Ellis Park,” he said. “Once they get on a roll on it, it’s hard to stop their momentum. They have a lot of confidence at the moment, and it was more about how well the Lions played than Glasgow getting things wrong.

“Glasgow are a good club with great players and a lot of internationals on their side. So it’s a great test for us. And it’s games; you actually want to play this part of the season where it’s going to prepare you for the play-off games.”

The Stormers have left themselves a mountain to climb after they crashed to a 33-24 United Rugby Championship (URC) defeat against Connacht on Saturday, coach John Dobson said. Dobson lamented a loose display on home soil and said his team’s remaining games against Glasgow Warriors in Cape Town on Saturday and matches on the road against Ulster and Cardiff had become must-win affairs. The build-up to Saturday’s clash was emotional for the Stormers after the sudden death of long-serving team manager Chippie Solomon. “I think it was individual errors, and if we don’t make some of those mistakes, we don’t lose the game,” Dobson said. “There was the bounce of a kick, a dropped restart and an intercept. Those moments cost us. “I can’t really talk to the emotion, but I don’t think we can use Chippie and the tough week we had as an excuse for some of those mistakes. We were beaten.” Dobson expressed disappointment after his team entered the contest with high hopes of a victory. “To get nothing out of the Connacht game is very disappointing,” he said. “We now have to win all three remaining games to get where we want to be, but that’s much easier said than done. “First up is Glasgow and then two 4G pitch matches away against two teams competing for the top eight. “We’ve put ourselves in a bit of a position now. “The Stormers were loose throughout the game against Connacht. “There were a couple of patches in the first half that we spoke about where we shuffled it around. “We had their maul on the ropes, and at one instance we had a quick throw-in to Warrick Gelant, but then Damian Willemse threw a forward pass. “Connacht then got the scrum and ended up scoring. “I thought we were very loose. “We said at halftime, let’s be more direct and limit the passing. “But we kept shovelling the ball back repeatedly and conceded a penalty for sealing off. “It felt at times we needed to invent to beat them, when in reality the template was there to do it because we saw it with our mauling getting on top. “We had the last scrum; I know it’s their ball. “The Stormers had a great tight five, and we didn’t move them a centimetre in a scrum we needed to win to get two log points, and we didn’t do that, so Connacht did well.” Stormers captain Ruhan Nel said a lack of concentration had proved costly. “I felt we defended well at certain times, and then there was just a lack of concentration due to simple decisions, which gave them either a penalty that led to an entry or we scored points and conceded soon after,” he said. “That defeat is on us. I don’t think we can fault the plan or the understanding of it. That was 100% there. It was about execution. “In the second half we probably became a bit individualistic. I don’t know, but we became desperate.” Scorers: Stormers 24: Tries: Evan Roos, Ntuthuko Mchunu and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu. Conversions: Feinberg-Mngomezulu (3). Penalty: Feinberg-Mngomezulu. Connacht 33: Tries: Shamus Hurley-Langton, Paul Boyle, John Devine, Ben Murphy and Sean Naughton. Conversions: Sam Gilbert (3), Shaun Naughton. Other URC scores: Dragons 7 Bulls 47, Lions 54 Glasgow Warriors 12, Ospreys 21 Sharks 17. Follow The Herald WhatsApp channel today and stay connected to the stories shaping our world. The Herald

Stormers playmaker Sasha Feinberg-Mngomezulu said he was expecting to face an emotionally charged Warriors outfit.

“They didn’t start [against the Lions] with their full-strength team probably because they’re loaded for us,” he said. “I think that can also give you an emotionally charged-up team.

“I think, if anything, it actually makes it a level contest that’s going to be about who’s best on the day, because we’re both coming off the same emotional kind of roller-coaster and two losses with no points. So I don’t think it could be more even at this point.”

The Junior Springboks are primed to hit the ground running with a fast-paced game centred on physicality and ball‑in‑play time when they face Argentina in their opening encounter at the U20 Rugby Championship in Gqeberha on Monday, says coach Kevin Foote. The SA versus Argentina clash (kickoff 4.10pm) is the second game of a double header at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, which kicks off with a showdown between defending champions New Zealand and Australia (2pm). Foote said one of the team’s big objectives at training camps had been to step up fitness levels ahead of three tough matches in two weeks. “Playing southern hemisphere teams presents a different type of challenge,” he said. “They produce far more ball‑in‑play time compared to a team like Georgia, who are heavily set‑piece orientated.” Foote said SA’s focus on conditioning was shaped by lessons learned in last year’s tournament. “Our experience in Gqeberha was that the surface can be soft underfoot, which led to several players cramping,” he said. “So we want to ensure our fitness levels match how we intend to play, especially against teams who favour a fast‑paced game.” SA Rugby chief executive Rian Oberholzer said it was all systems go for Gqeberha to host the tournament for a second time, and a memorable experience was expected. “Last year’s event was a massive success, and we are thrilled that this tournament will be returning to Gqeberha,” he said. Sanzaar chief executive Brendan Morris said: “The third edition of this important championship will again be played at the wonderful Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha as Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa go head-to-head over three rounds. “As in previous years, the tournament will provide a vital pathway for up-and-coming rugby talent through exposure to essential international competition and provide development opportunities for the next generation of coaches, team management and match officials. The Argentina U20 team (Los Pumitas) has been putting in the hard yards ahead of their first big test of the 2026 season. Eusebio Guinazu, one of the Argentina coaches said: “We have very good expectations for this Rugby Championship, with two fundamental priorities. The first is the personal development of the players, players who are all part of a national high-performance plan. “For many of these boys it will be their first experience competing at this level, and we believe that this tournament has to be an experience that adds value in the development of the players and, that adds value not only to compete in this instance, but a value that can remain with them throughout their careers. “We believe that in this way we will really be making a contribution to the personal development of each of these players who are part of the national high-performance system. And the best way to develop players is the second priority we have, which is to compete. “It’s a great opportunity to play against South Africa, New Zealand and Australia, to really prepare ourselves and the team to be prepared for this level of competition, with the ultimate goal of getting very good results. “But that those results come from the awareness and naturalisation of many habits, and a certain work ethic that leads us to obtain those results. “We believe that if we continue to prepare in that way we can get those results, so our expectations are very good and are based on these two big priorities. “The group is really very good. All the players come from doing their respective pre-seasons. “We believe that we have a very good combination and a very good mix between many players who have done their pre-seasons with Super Rugby Americas franchises, and many of them have even had minutes of competition.” Fixtures Monday: 2pm: New Zealand v Australia; 4.10pm: Junior Boks v Argentina May 3: 2pm: New Zealand v Argentina; 4.10pm: Junior Boks v Australia May 9: 2pm: Argentina v Australia; 4.10pm: Junior Boks v New Zealand Follow The Herald WhatsApp channel today and stay connected to the stories shaping our world. The Herald

Stormers coach John Dobson said he must be spot on with his selections for the top-of-the-table clash. “The Glasgow game is massive,” he said. “To get nothing out of the Connacht game was very disappointing.

“Now we have to win all three of our last games to get where we want to be. That is easier said than done. First up is Glasgow and then two 4G pitch matches away against two teams competing for the top eight.

“The Stormers were loose throughout the game against Connacht. There were a couple of patches in the first half that we spoke about where we shuffled it around.”

There could not be a better place than rugby-mad Gqeberha to stage the Springboks’ opening match of the season against the Barbarians on June 20, SA coach Rassie Erasmus says. Despatch-born Erasmus says he is itching for the season to start and is expecting a capacity 46,000 crowd to watch the opener at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. Rugby fever is rising in Gqeberha with just 60 days until the Springboks come flying out of the starting blocks against former All Blacks’ coach Scott Robertson’s composite Barbarians team. An SA “A” team will take on the Zimbabwe Sables in a curtain-raiser to the Barbarians clash. Erasmus will use the “A” match as an opportunity to build squad depth and the encounter will provide Zimbabwe with a chance to test themselves against some of South Africa’s up-and-coming talent. Interest is also building ahead of the Sanzaar U20 Rugby Championship, kicking off at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Monday with the Junior Boks facing Argentina (kickoff 4.10pm). I can’t wait for the season to start and what better place than Gqeberha, where we’ve always enjoyed enormous support “I can’t wait for the season to start and what better place than Gqeberha, where we’ve always enjoyed enormous support,” Erasmus said. “We’ve been told that the average attendance at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium is over 95% of stadium capacity and we hope to see the stands packed out again this year when we welcome the BaaBaas to the game. “They are coming to South Africa with an experienced and esteemed coaching team, and we know they will provide us with a proper challenge. “At the same time, we’re very excited to see the rest of our wider squad in action in a proper match when the SA ‘A’ team take on the Sables from Zimbabwe. “They have qualified for the 2027 Rugby World Cup and I’m sure it will be a great match.” The Springboks have never lost in the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, winning eight of their nine Tests at the venue, while one clash ended in a draw. Last year, a crowd of 44,282 packed the stands to see a clinical Springbok performance when they beat Italy 45-0. Barbarians president John Spencer said: “Barbarian FC prides itself on its values and ethos and it is important our partners embody the same. We are delighted to be working and partnering with YesPlay when we take on the Springboks this June. “YesPlay are a proud South African company and, in addition to the title sponsorship of the match, we are proud to have them on the front of our jersey for this exciting international clash.” Fixtures involving the Barbarians are rare and highly anticipated worldwide, bringing together some of the most exciting names in global rugby for a once-off showcase. Their matches are known for capturing the imagination of fans across generations, combining elite skill with an unstructured, expressive style of play that is seldom seen in the modern game. What makes the Barbarians particularly compelling is the way their squad is assembled. Players are invited from across the rugby world based on form, reputation, and flair, often representing a mix of countries, cultures, and playing styles. Selection is typically finalised close to matchday, adding an extra layer of intrigue and anticipation as fans eagerly await the final line-up and the magic it might produce on the field. After the BaaBaas clash, the Boks will host England, Scotland, and Wales in three Tests in the new Nations Championship in July, before they welcome the All Blacks for three Tests in Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry, a new series that will play out every four years. Tickets for the clash against the Barbarians — starting from R250 a person — can be obtained exclusively on springboks.tmtickets.co.za - Additional reporting SA Rugby Follow The Herald WhatsApp channel today and stay connected to the stories shaping our world. The Herald

Weekend URC fixtures

Friday:

• Edinburgh v Sharks

Saturday:

• Stormers v Glasgow Warriors,
• Lions v Connacht,
• Scarlets v Bulls.

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