Siya Kolisi and Paul De Villiers to Lead Stormers in Blockbuster URC Derby Against Sharks

• Springbok captain Siya Kolisi will wear the No. 7 jersey as the Stormers host the Sharks at DHL Stadium on Saturday
• Stormers director of rugby John Dobson explained why Kolisi's skillset makes him suited to operating at openside flank
• Young loose forward Paul de Villiers has returned from Springbok duty a more confident and vocal presence, according to Dobson

Springbok captain Siya Kolisi and emerging loose forward Paul de Villiers will form the cornerstone of the Stormers' challenge when they face the Sharks in a highly anticipated United Rugby Championship derby at DHL Stadium on Saturday, with more than 30,000 supporters expected to pack the Cape Town venue.

Kolisi has been named at No 7 rather than his customary No 6 position, a selection Stormers director of rugby John Dobson described as straightforward given the specialist qualities De Villiers brings as a fetcher at the breakdown.

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**Dobson Backs Kolisi to Excel at No 7**

Dobson argued that Kolisi's game translates well to the openside role, highlighting his ball-carrying ability, tackle dominance and capacity to win turnovers as attributes that align with the demands of the position.

"Siya plays amazingly in his own role as a six for the national team, in the way he counter-attacks and wins turnovers through tackles. He's not a classic stealer, is he? But his carrying is really good, and other parts of his game have improved significantly since he was here six years ago," Dobson said.

"In some ways, he plays a bit like a seven, with his carrying and stopping power. We really felt we wanted an out-and-out fetcher, and we couldn't leave Paul out, so the decision was pretty comfortable for us."

**De Villiers Returns From Springboks With New Confidence**

Dobson reserved particular praise for De Villiers, noting that the 23-year-old has returned from his debut international campaign a visibly different player, both in approach and attitude within the squad environment.

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"He's come back from the national team with confidence. He came to me and sat down and said, 'I want to see these breakdowns. Show me these carries. What are we trying to do?' So he's definitely come out of his shell. He's got a lot more swagger about him, in a good way, and that's super exciting," the coach said.

Dobson also noted that De Villiers gained significant confidence as a carrier during his first three Tests, even though his steal count was limited. "I have no doubt he's come back a better player. It's logical, and he's certainly more confident and more willing to contribute his own thoughts in our environment because he's now got a proper body of work behind him," he added.

Experienced utility forward Deon Fourie is available off the bench as a replacement, while Hacjivah Dayimani starts at No 8. The Sharks, meanwhile, will rely on No. 8 Phepsi Buthelezi and flankers Manu Tshituka and Matt Romao to fill the void left by Kolisi's departure from KwaZulu-Natal.

Source: Briefly News