Journeymen Fourie, Harris like 'red wine' as rejuvenated Stormers eye continued improvement

The Stormers are enjoying a resurgence under coach John Dobson, winning two and drawing one of their three United Rugby Championship (URC) matches in 2022.

Victories at Loftus against the Bulls and in Cape Town against the Sharks came either side of a draw in Durban, and suddenly, the Stormers are 10th on the tournament log as the top-placed South African franchise.

Much of the talk has centred around the form of flyhalf Manie Libbok, who has at long last given the Stormers some reason for encouragement in that all-important department, but the work done in the forwards has also gone a long way towards giving the Capetonians the injection of positivity they needed.

At the heart of that dominant display this past weekend, where the Stormers were full value for their 20-10 win over the Sharks, the two veterans in blue put in superb performances.

Brok Harris (36), playing his 100th match for the union, helped the hosts to scrum dominance, while 35-year-old Deon Fourie was named man-of-the-match for his exceptional outing in the No 6 jersey where hard hits, running and precision and efficacy on the ground were hallmarks of his game.

Harris, who left the Stormers in 2014 to join Gwent Dragons before returning last year, notched up his 100th cap for his home union on Saturday.

Fourie, meanwhile, also started his senior professional career at Western Province back in 2006 as a hooker, before a move overseas saw him spend seven years in France between Lyon and Grenoble.

During that period, he evolved into a loose forward, and upon his return to Cape Town and in the absence of the injured Evan Roos, he is emerging as a player key to the Stormers cause.

"It's almost a similar position, except for the scrumming and the lineout, but