Rebels prepared for angry Stormers

Melbourne are bracing for an angry Stormers outfit when they look to increase their Super Rugby Australian conference lead at AAMI Park on Friday night.

The Rebels are gunning for their third straight win and first South African scalp of the year against the Stormers, who have lost their past three games.

Stormers backrower Jaco Coetzee admitted this week that his Cape Town team were “angry” about their run of results.

Having lost two on tour in South Africa last month, English said the Rebels, who hold a seven-point lead over second-placed NSW, he knew how they felt.

“It’s tough travelling and we were on the receiving end of that when we were in South Africa,” English said.

“They’re a great team and they have some great players like Damian de Allende, who is their go-to man so if he’s firing I think they will look to play a lot of their attack around him.”

Weighing in at 105kg, the Springboks’ inside centre De Allende scored in the Stormers’ last match against the Reds, which they lost 24-12.

The visitors will be without their captain Siya Kolisi, who also skippers the Test side, with the openside flanker rested and his place taken by debutant Ernst van Rhyn.

Fellow Springboks, lock Eben Etzebeth (concussion) and flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit (paternity leave), have already returned home.

English has been in career-best form, scoring five tries this season, although the 28-year-old isn’t expecting a Wallabies call-up.

He says he’s relishing playing outside in-form halves duo Will Genia and Quade Cooper, as well as his hard-hitting centre partner Billy Meakes.

“I think I’ve matured as a player but I also think it helps when you’re in squad that’s doing well and with such quality players as it makes your job a lot easier.

“Playing outside those guys – who are at the top of their game – it really brings everyone else up around them so I have them to thank for my form.”