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‘We’re not Franse’: Stormers wys of French ‘spy’ Leyds

Devin Hermanus|Published

Familiar enemy: Dillyn Leyds, right, is set to face the Stormers again with La Rochelle. Picture: Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix

The Stormers have called out ex-winger Dillyn Leyds as a “spy” among their La Rochelle rivals for Saturday’s Champions Cup blockbuster against the titleholders innie Kaap.

The back-to-back European champions are set to put John Dobson’s manne through their paces in a “Test match” in the weekend’s Round-of-16 playoff at Cape Town Stadium.

Leyds, with fellow ex-Kapenaar Raymond Rhule, has been a main man for Ronan O’Gara’s ouens since leaving the Cape in 2020, starring in both the 2021/22 and 2022/23 Champions Cup-winning finals.

Warning: Damian Willemse. Picture: Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix

And assistant coach Norman Laker reckons “Leggit” has shared their secrets with La Rochelle, saying: “Dillyn Leyds has told them a little bit about our DNA and what to expect from us.

“We didn’t know anything about them [before beating La Rochelle in the pool stage]. All we knew was the guys that we played against in Super Rugby a few years ago and Dillyn.

“We learnt a lot about their individuals, but now we also know what they are like as a team.

“There are a few things that we learnt from them, but we will see on Saturday.”

Hotstepper Damian Willemse, meanwhile, warns his forwards that they have to shut down moerse Aussie lock Will Skelton tomorrow or “he is going to hurt you”.

Gaza adds: “Will is a world-class player and I managed to train and play with him when I was at Saracens [in 2019].

“He is a great rugby player and he’s as tough as they come. We are going to have to try and shut down his time and space on the ball.

“If you give a guy like him time, he is going to hurt you, so it is another battle for our forwards.”

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