Riding high after their well-earned victory over the Lions last Saturday, the Plus500 Brumbies are in South Africa, readying themselves to take on the Stormers.
It's the first of two potentially season-defining games for the Brumbies, with a trip to Argentina and the Jaguares waiting beyond the horizon.
The Brumbies have travelled well in the past, particularly to Cape Town, so they will fancy their chances of leaving with a win. Then if fortunes favours Dan McKellar's side in Buenos Aires, the Brumbies will have put themselves right back into playoff contention.
But all focus will be on tonight's meeting against the Stormers. Results have taken a dip in the Western Cape over the past few seasons, but the Stormers are a much improved side this season, and are buoyed by the return of dynamite backrows, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Siya Kolisi, though the Springbok captain will start on the bench.
Team News
Here is your DHL Stormers team that will take on the Brumbies at DHL Newlands on Saturday. Kick-off at 15h05 and tickets from Computicket. #iamastormer pic.twitter.com/h91Nin3WGH
— DHL STORMERS (@THESTORMERS) April 18, 2019
Spotlight - Jahrome Brown
What a rise it has been for Jahrome Brown. The former Junior All-Black signed for the Brumbies as injury cover having come over from Waikato in the offseason, with no promises of making the step up to Super Rugby.
Well, if his debut was anything to go by, Brown belongs at the Brumbies, scoring a try just 6 seconds after coming on away to the Reds. That anomaly aside, Brown has impressed in his brief cameos as a finisher in the past couple of weeks. One thing that stands out his is sheer desire for work.
Once he's on, Brown never stops, but he's not just a pack horse without skill either. Brown has shown in training and for the Gungahlin Eagles that he has a bit of everything in his locker. It will be fascinating to see how Brown goes from the start, against a powerful Stormers backrow.
Dan's Thoughts
Head to Head
HEAD TO HEAD | 2️⃣ v 2️⃣, 🌩 v 🐴 who you got ? #STOvBRU #BrumbiesFamily #Plus500 pic.twitter.com/01ZCxDikAY
— Plus500 Brumbies (@BrumbiesRugby) April 19, 2019
Keep your eyes out for this battle. Bongi Mbonami and Folau Fainga'a play the game right at the redline, and are not afraid to cross it if it means winning a game for their side.
Match Details
Stormers v Plus500 Brumbies
Newlands, Cape Town
11.05pm AEST
