Ruhan Nel's 'very demanding task' for Stormers
SPOTLIGHT: Ruhan Nel has opened up about the weight on his shoulders that comes with wearing the Stormers’ No.13 jersey.
The 31-year-old, who is the leader when it comes to organising the Stormers’ defensive systems, is widely regarded as one of the best centres in the country.
He is not only a good defender. He also has an eye for the gap and he is an excellent decision-maker on attack.
Following a short spell on the sidelines with injury, Nel made a successful return in Brentford against London Irish last weekend, where he resumed his centre partnership with Dan du Plessis and scored an intercept try in the 28-14 Champions Cup win.
“We have a good understanding of each other’s way of thinking,” Nel explained.
“We feed off each other’s mindsets whether we are on attack or defence.
“Playing No.12 or No.13 in the Stormers set-up is a very demanding task. It requires an extremely high work rate. So making each other feel safe on the field is very important and that’s what we try and do every opportunity we get to play together.”
On his No.13 role, Nel added: “From scrums and line-outs you are probably the most vulnerable and isolated player in the defence line. You often have guys running out the back with a short runner or a trick play that they try and catch you off guard and make you make the wrong decision.
“The way we as a system defend, it often requires decisions that need to be made sometimes in the moment.
“It’s tricky because if you get it wrong teams find a lot of space out wide, but if we get it right, it’s the most beautiful thing to see. So it’s high risk for high reward.
“I take a lot of pride in wearing the No.13 and the responsibility that comes with it. I want to make the guys in the system feel safe and hopefully give through accurate information to help them feel comfortable in where they find themselves on the field.”
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#ICYMI: John Dobson says rugby is facing problems with laws relating to safety and the number of red cards that are being dished out week in and week out. 👇#ChampionsCup #Stormers https://t.co/t0vFkwkNHK
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Meanwhile, the Stormers are preparing to face Clermont in their final Champions Cup pool match in Cape Town on Saturday.
The hosts need just one point from Saturday’s match to secure a place in the play-offs.
The opening-round clash between the two teams at the Stade Marcel-Michelin saw the Stormers take a 14-3 lead into the break, but Clermont fired back in the second half to win 24-14.
“The thing I remember most about the Clermont trip was experiencing the cold weather,” said Nel. “We woke up on game day and there was snow on the ground.
“We had a big discussion in the week after the Clermont defeat about our defence system. Everything starts at the point of contact.
“Once we no longer make dominant tackles, we become soft on the outside and we let ourselves down in both of those departments on that day. Soft moments in concentration brought them back into the contest.”
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