More than just pride left for Stormers

 

For Stormers coach Allister Coetzee it is about looking ahead with a new brand of WP rugby.

 

The Stormers complete the Super Rugby competition with no chance of play-off rugby, but they do have two tough derbies to negotiate against the Bulls and Sharks.

 

The Sharks have secured the South African conference and cannot finish lower than third, the Bulls still have a slim chance of cracking the top six – but do not look to the Stormers for any favours.

 

Coach Allister Coetzee is holding his final two matches in high regard, believing they will give him a shot at glory in another competition – the Currie Cup.

 

"It is massively important for us in terms of finishing our season on a high," Coetzee said after his team's four week absence from competitive rugby.

 

"Last year we were in a similar situation and we won five on the trot, from there it flowed over into Currie Cup and we went unbeaten in that tournament until the last game in the Final. [where they lost to the Sharks 19-33]

 

"That is why we view this game coming up [against the Bulls on Saturday] as massively important.

 

"We have also worked on things we want to change [in our game] and are still in that process of evolving it and taking it into the next competition, so it is important to finish well."

 

Additionally, the importance of any clash with the Bulls is not wasted on Coetzee. The north/south rivalry is as strong today as it has always been.

 

"It [Saturday's game] is against the Bulls and there is already a lot of interest in it," the coach continued.

 

"Especially after a test window, this is one of the games the whole country looks forward to.

 

"A north/south derby is a mammoth clash and there is a big crowd expected, it is quite exciting to be a part of this game."

 

The international break has been a talking point around the country with different teams adopting different approaches to their player management.

 

The Sharks have come forward with indications of resting their returning Springboks while they have kept the rest of their squad busy with club rugby over the break.

 

Allister Coetzee's approach however, is somewhat different.

 

"Our plan was definitly to give the players a mental break, to send them away then let them come back and get them into some sort of form and condition again, then to up the intensity of training.

 

"I don't think you can achieve that from any form of lower rugby. [referring to Jake White's strategy]

 

"It was important for us to push them hard here at training because it was not easy to get them to the same level that they were before the break.

 

"As a group we have been simulating what we want to do as well as what we have been doing before that.

 

"It has been the same kind of drills and training – it has basically been a small pre-season," Coetzee concluded.