Stormers-Bulls player ratings: Springbok coaches will be happy!

The Stormers made a massive statement on Saturday as they held on for an invaluable win over the Bulls, which proved that the Cape side will take some stopping in their quest to defend the URC title.

This was a stunning result for the Capetonians in front of 43,000 fans at Loftus, but also in a national context, there were some individual performances that would have had the likes of Rassie Erasmus and Jacques Nienaber sitting up and taking notice.

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Below we dish out some key player ratings from the Bulls-Stormers clash:

Deon Fourie 8/10

Increasingly it appears that nothing can stop the veteran utility forward from earning his ticket to the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

The 36-year-old is ageing like a fine red wine, and on Saturday he was once again one of the most influential players on the pitch for the Stormers as he made a massive impact at the breakdown and through his tireless work rate. All in all, there could be no doubt he was the unequivocal Man of the Match.

The Springbok coaches will be thrilled with what they’ve been seeing from Fourie, who can play at openside flank or hooker, and seems to have all the experience and leadership qualities that would see him add great value in the World Cup squad.

Manie Libbok 7/10

More than anything else, Libbok deserves plenty of plaudits for his composure and class when kicking at goal. At times in his career, this has been an area of his game that came into question, but he slotted some superb kicks on Saturday – including a high-class drop goal late in the match.

Libbok plays a style of game at the Stormers that can lead to errors, but he is so often the spark at the heart of their attacking rhythm and ambition.

With Johan Goosen currently injured, and Elton Jantjies having fallen down the pecking order, it does seem that Libbok should deservedly be viewed as the Springboks’ third-choice flyhalf behind Handre Pollard and Damian Willemse.

Sbu Nkosi 7/10

What a great sight it was to see Sbu Nkosi back in full flight as he made his return to action after a lengthy mental health break.

With his first touch, Nkosi barged over a would-be defender and powered over the advantage line in what was a clear indication that he was ready to make up for lost time.

In the final quarter, he also displayed his trademark side-step to dart over for a superb try that really rounded off a highly impressive comeback performance.

The Springbok coaches will be thrilled to see the 27-year-old back in action, and there is no doubt he still has more than enough time to fight for World Cup selection consideration once again.

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