- Stormers centre Dan du Plessis hopes to dazzle in front of the Newlands faithful just like his legendary father.
- Michael du Plessis was a Western Province star and part of the team that won the Currie Cup five times in a row between 1982 and 1986.
- Dan says he hasn't seen much of his father in action and quips that the latter has lost most of his footage and jerseys.
Stormers centre Dan du Plessis says he hopes to emulate his dad Michael by bringing an exciting brand of rugby to Newlands.
Michael du Plessis was a star player for Western Province in the 1980s and an integral part of the team that won the Currie Cup a record five times in a row.
Michael was equally competent at flyhalf and centre and diehard Western Province fans will remember him for his unpredictability and flair.
Dan has shown glimpses of the potential his father possessed but his career has thus far been blighted by injuries.
The 25-year-old is hoping that is now a thing of the past as the Stormers prepare for their Super Rugby Unlocked opener against the Lions at Newlands on Saturday.
While addressing reporters via a virtual briefing on Monday, Dan was probed on whether he gets advice from his 61-year-old father, who also played eight Tests for the Springboks between 1984 and 1989.
Dan said his father had taken a back seat in recent years when discussing his game.
"In the early stages of my career he had more of an influence of giving critical feedback. Not as much now, it's more just like 'well done, well played'. I think sometimes I can get a bit stubborn as well with his feedback.
"He'll give some pointers sometimes but during the early stages of my career he used to be more critical about a lot of things."
Michael was a player who enjoyed taking the ball early and on the front foot and often had the Newlands crowd in raptures with his exciting style of play.
Dan quipped that he hasn't seen much of his father in action.
"I think I've seen like four clips of him playing, he lost all his old footage and all his jerseys and stuff.
"So, it's only the odd video that I'd see on YouTube or clip on Facebook of him... so not too much that I can go on but from what I've heard from people that supported him is that they enjoyed the way he played and the style of rugby he played."
But there's one thing Dan is adamant about - he'd like to emulate his father's exploits on the park.
"He also brought an exciting brand of rugby to Newlands and that's also obviously what I want to try and do here… to bring exciting running rugby and entertain the Newlands faithful."