Bok camp hits Stormers hard

 

The two sides square off in a top of the South African Conference clash at Newlands on Saturday and while the Stormers are desperately trying to secure a home semifinal, it is also do or die for the men from Johannesburg.

 

A whopping total of 19 players have been plucked from the Stormers camp to do duty for the Springboks as the national side begin planning for a Rugby Championship and World Cup. 

 

On the flip-side, a mere five players from the Lions are involved in the Springbok camps. 

 

The Cape Town leg of the camps started on Sunday and will conclude with an off-field session on Wednesday.

 

The involvement of players with the national side has disrupted the Lions' and Stormers' training leading up to one of their biggest games of the season yet.

 

The obvious conundrum the Stormers face is that 19 of their players will be unavailable to train until Thursday, restricting them to one field session and a captains run. 

 

Stormers coach Allister Coetzee is happy his players were selected but frustrated that his preparations have slowed down.

 

"Its great for them to be in the environment but we have to get the planning spot on," said Coetzee.

 

"I would have had a proper session if I could train with my reserve 15 players."

 

For the Lions, the struggle is that their players have to fly up and down from Johannesburg to Cape town and back while they try to prepare for their must-win game at Newlands.

 

Coetzee played down the impact of the camps on the Lions compared to his situation, stating that South Africa is one time zone, and the travelling would take place on an 'off day'.

 

"I don't know how it can affect them more if it is their off day and we are in the same time zone," explained Coetzee.

 

"What will affect is if you have 19 players versus five involved with the Springboks."

 

"If you have five players you can still have a full squad at training."

 

Coetzee has not been surprised by how well the Lions have done in 2015 giving testament to retaining a core group of players with a common goal in mind.

 

"Im not surprised at all that is what continuity does – if you keep a group of players together for some time they start believing in each other and what they need to achieve, you will see results," he explained.

 

It is the first time the two unions will meet at Newlands since the Currie Cup Final in 2014, and the Lions will be roaring with confidence after their victory against the defending champions. 

 

"We have got a different team to what we played in the final of the Currie Cup and Super Rugby is a different competition. 

 

"An 80 minute performances is crucial. "

 

@rugby365