Stormers coach Robbie Fleck wants his manne to get out the blocks quickly when they run out at Loftus for Saturday's 5.15 pm Super Rugby opener.
He has sent a strong message to his team as to what he wants to see from them: Do what you’ve worked on in pre-season.
Boss Fleck says: “Our preparations have gone well, so we are really excited to see what this combination will be able to do.
“We would obviously like to make a strong start to the season and will look to deliver in some of the areas we have been focused on in pre-season in order to do that.”
And from the looks of it, that means running their opponents ragged.
The Stormers have been scoring tries for fun in their warm-up games - including four tries against the Bulls a fortnight ago in a 33-28 win.
With a back trio of Dillyn Leyds, JJ Engelbrecht, SP Marais, Damian de Allende and Ruhan Nel and Damian Willemse at flyhalf, the Stormers have the personnel to punch holes in the Bulls’ defence.
That manne made the most of the turnover ball the Bulls coughed up the last time out.
And with the pack, Fleck selected to battle the likes of Duane Vermuelen and Lood de Jager, who can expect some huge collisions to work from.
Bongi Mbonambi starts between props Ali Vermaak and Wilco Louw, with Salmaan Moerat and JD Schickerling in the engine room
Sikhumbuzo Notshe is at the back of the scrum, with 2018 SA Rugby Player of the Year Pieter-Steph du Toit and captain Siya Kolisi on the flanks.
matthew.marcus@inl.co.za