Newlands will get a taste of international rugby this season after all.
With Ellis Park and Loftus Versfeld being the only two venues for Springbok home games before the World Cup, Stormers midfielder Damian de Allende believes Cape fans will get their international treat on Friday night when they tackle the Jaguares at Newlands.
De Allende says: “We’re preparing for it like it is a Test match because it is the Argentina side
“It is Test match rugby this weekend, it’s going to be tough, but we’re fortunate enough to have quite a few Springboks in our team.
“There are a lot of guys in our team with international experience and hopefully we can put that together nicely and match their physicality - that’s what they will bring.”
TAKING IT WIDE: Jaguares will be an attacking threat. Photo: Photo: Gavin Barker/BACKPAGEPIX
The Jaguares made a number of changes for last weekend’s clash against the Lions at Ellis Park and lost that encounter 47-39.
But De Allende knows they will be a much-changed outfit on Friday.
He adds: “They did make 11 changes [against the Lions] and it looked like they were struggling in the scrum a bit, but the guys that are going to play this week are really going to bring it.”
“Bringing it” not only means coach Gonzalo Quesada’s team will be physical, but they can score tries as well - as proven in their defeat to the Lions in which they scored six tries.
The Stormers, on the other hand, have struggled to cross the whitewash this season with only two touchdowns in three outings - one of them an intercept try.
KEEP AHEAD: Gonzalo Quesada, coach of the Jaguares. Photo: Gavin Barker/BACKPAGEPIX
Of their attack, De Allende says: “Obviously every team wants to be expansive, but we have to find the balance.
“We are winning games, it’s pointless scoring 10 tries and you’re not getting the victory.
“We are still trying to get our attack right.
“[But] if we win a scrappy victory, we’ll take it and take a lot of learnings from that.
“The main thing for us is just to win the game.”