RETURNING FOURIE IS NOT YET READY TO RUN OUT FOR THE STORMERS

WHILE the Stormers have a vrag backline players returning to the fold from injury, assistant coach Dawie Snyman says the sudden availability of two loose forwards is vital for a visit to the highveld to play the Lions.

The following week, the Stormers make the short trip to Pretoria to play the Bulls, and Snyman says the return of Hacjivah Dayimani and Deon Fourie is a moerse boost.

The Stormers have had a three-week break from their losing sequence against the Sharks and have been plotting to tame a Lions span that outplayed the Sharks last week.

Dayimani has returned to the Stormers after two years with Racing 92 in the French Top 14, while Fourie is training once more after five months on the sidelines with a torn bicep.

Snyman wysed: “It’s like Hacjivah never left. He’s a special player with amazing speed and a great skill set. He links well with the backs and can add real variation. When the game gets fast and loose, he’s a guy who can open it up.

“You’ve got guys who are really putting in the hard work, and then later in the game when it opens up, we can maybe use that space and those opportunities.”

Snyman said that the fleet-footed Dayimani is “ideal” for the fast-paced pitches of the Highveld. Snyman added that the 39-year-old Fourie would make a gradual comeback.

He added: “We will see exactly where he [Fourie] is and how we can use him. Obviously, the first two, three games, he’s not really match fit, but hopefully we can select a team where we can bring him up to speed.

“He’s tough mentally and can really push himself. He obviously has a lot of experience and brings strong leadership.”