John Dobson believes Yaqeen Ahmed has earned his shot against the All Blacks, with the Stormers coach comparing the 20-year-old’s rise to that of Springbok flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
Ahmed has been handed the No 10 jersey for Friday night’s opening match of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour at Cape Town Stadium.
Dobson says the gifted youngster has developed even quicker than expected.
“I don’t like comparing players, but it reminds me of a few years ago when Sacha came through our system. Yaqeen is just as dedicated, composed and exciting.”
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The Stormers boss believes Ahmed has the temperament to thrive despite the enormity of the occasion.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for Yaqeen. He’s got a huge game ahead of him and hopefully he’ll be able to put in a big shift and go the full distance. That comes from the faith we have in him. He’s special.”
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Stormers captain Ruhan Nel insisted there will be no sense of awe when his side faces the All Blacks.
“You don’t contribute to the occasion by running out there and admiring them. You have to be competitive and do your best to live up to the magnitude of the occasion. Of course we’ll think about how big and special it is, but we’re competitors. We want to see how far we can push ourselves.”
Friday’s clash carries extra significance for the Stormers after the squad received their jerseys from Bossie Clarke and Peter Whipp, members of the Western Province side that famously beat the All Blacks 12-11 at Newlands in 1976.
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Nel says that famous triumph has provided extra motivation.
“Everyone is talking about Western Province’s victory 50 years ago. We want to be part of that history too. We want to write our own page in history.”
The Stormers captain also believes both teams have plenty to play for beyond the result.
“The guys in the All Blacks squad are probably playing for Test spots against the Springboks. We’re approaching the match with the same mindset. You want to be the best version of yourself.”
Photo: Cole Cruickshank/Gallo Images
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