The Stormers, albeit a very “Dirt Tracker” rendition of them, takes on Boland at the new Cape Town Stadium today and a crowd in excess of 40000 is expected. Our man on the spot, Isigidi will be in the Press Box giving us the low down as things unfold. Not only is this a warm-up match for the Sormers in preparation for the Super 14 but this is also a test in terms of the new stadium’s readyness for rugby. This is the match thread for discussion of the game.  This match is also broadcast on Tv on SuperSport 1.

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And so it was all about the stadium and nothing about rugby. Well almost.

Impressive she is, that nobody can deny, but are we ready like Helen Zille so loudly proclaimed? Well not just yet.

Morne Du Plessis from Sail Stade France afterwards admitted that they had a list of areas where there can be approved on. Entry by vehicle is a huge headache and myself, that was suppose to be treated as VIP, had to park far from the stadium, only to find out, that my parking was actually right next to the stadium.

Small things like seat numbering, which is done European style, also seems to be something the SA sports fan should be learning. In Europe apparently seating numbering works from outside inwards, where in SA from inside out.

Morne however said that they were happy with the stadium and that it would be filled to capacity when a religious meeting will be held in March, and then a soccer match in the evening to be the final test.

My impressions? Well, its huge, it’s magnificent and it’s gonna be a damn shame WP rugby will not be played in the stadium. The round type pavilion makes for excellent viewing, no matter where you sit. I think what one should also maybe realize is that at Newlands, if you are new, there are 40 000 people showing the 50 newcomers where to go. Today, 50 people had to show 40 000 people where to go. Therefore, the teething hiccups can certainly be overlooked.

Allister Coetzee afterwards said that it felt as if the game was played in a European stadium. I am sure on TV the true atmosphere in the stadium could not be seen or heard. Although there were 40 000 people, nobody was cramped up into seats.

If  Newlands had feelings, it would be a worried stadium.

Allister and Morne however admitted in a question whether WP rugby would move to the new stadium, that WP Rugby is the only body to answer that question.

On a sad note, Cape Town Stadium had its first fatality when a man in his 60’s went into cardio arrest, and could not be resuscitated by the medical staff.

Ok, back to the rugga.

Schalk will definitely play next weekend against the Lions, and his injury is not serious at all. Bosch however is not so lucky and the dislocated shoulder looks like a long term injury.

Allister afterwards said that he was impressed with Lionel Cronje, Frikkie Welch, the Fijian and hooker Fourie. He however hinted that he will start fly half with Grant, De Jongh and Fourie together. It can be expected that the 15 who started against the Sharks in the warm-up game, will most probably be named again next week.

As for the Boland, Loffie said that he was very happy with the Boland preparation. The Boland fly half Dean Grant impressed and a sure prospect for the future.

Mark Lawrence afterward said that he refereed at a lot of big European stadiums, but that this one was the one with the best facilities he has ever refereed before.

Thank goodness we are finished with all the pre-season show pony rugby.

Bring on the real McCoy. Let the S14 begin!

Scores:

Stormers: 1 Try Deon Fourie, 2 Tries Dillan Des Fountain, 1 Try Frikkie Welsch, 1 Try Naquelevuki, 1 Try Ricky Januarie, 1 Try Bolla Conradie, 2 Penalties & 1 Conversion Willem de Waal, 2 Conversions Lionel Cronje

Boland: 2 Penalties& 1 Conversion Dean Grant, 1 Try Johann Peacock

Teams:

Stormers: 15 Fabian Juries, 14 Sireli Naqelevuki, 13 Frikkie Welsh, 12 Paul Bosch, 11 Dylan Des Fountain, 10 Willem De Waal, 9 Ricky Januarie, 8 Pieter Louw, 7 Yaya Hartzenberg, 6 Schalk Burger (C), 5 Anton Van Zyl, 4 Rynhardt Elstadt, 3 JC Kritzinger, 2 Deon Fourie, 1 JD Moller
Replacements: 16 Callie Visagie, 17 Eusebio Guinazu, 18 Martin Muller, 19 Pieter Myburgh, 20 Conraad Britz, 21 Bolla Conradie, 22 Lionel Cronje, 23 Tim Whitehead, 24 Duane Vermeulen, 25 Bryan Habana, 26 Juan De Jongh, 27 Gio Aplon

Boland: 15 Jacquin Jansen, 14 Whalied Heyns, 13 PJ Vermeulen, 12 Lionel Cornelius, 11 Cornal Hendricks, 10 Dean Grant, 9 Neil Papier, 8 Zandré Jordaan, 7 Hilton Lobberts, 6 Franzel September, 5 Grant le Roux, 4 Johann Peacock, 3 Rossouw Kruger, 2 Ashton Constand, 1 Janro van Niekerk (captain).
Replacements: Raoul Larson, Clemen Lewis, Sphelelo Mayabe, André du Toit, Wesley Kotzé, Angelo Brinkhuys, David Hendricks, Manie Adams, Llewellyn Adonis, Danré Gerber, Jeremy Plaatjies, Hyron Thysse, Willie le Roux.

Referee: Mark Lawrence
Assistant referees: Matt Kemp, Marc van Zyl