Stormers getting the balance right

 

Classically always praised for their defense, the Stormers have added a second string to their bow in the latter stages of the competition – most apparent in their one point victory over the Highlanders.

 

The balance between attack and defense seems to have finally settled for the men from Cape Town, this being proven in their four-try bonus point 33-0 drubbing of the Cheetahs on Saturday.

 

Captain on the day, Schalk Burger, praised his team's faultless tactical gameplan which allowed them to get a buffer on the scoreboard early.

 

"Territory was paramount in first half, but we said before hand: if the opportunity arises we have got to take it," the Springbok flank said in a post-match interview.

 

"We played the conditions a little bit better than they did.

 

"They attacked from deep and the switch for them to get into a kicking game was a bit tough.

 

"We just got a headstart and in conditions like this if you try and chase the game, you are going to get pinned back; luckily for us we got off to a good start, got the buffer and forced them into making errors."

 

The Stormers have started to string one or two good performances together and it is Burger's hope that people are noticing this momentum. 

 

"I think at this stage now people are seeing, in certain situations, that we are getting momentum and making the right decisions," he added.

 

"It is really pleasing, even though there is not much left for us to play for in the season, there is a lot of pride, and everyone of us has a reputation to uphold and I think tonight was a good performance."

 

Coach Allister Coetzee quickly interjected on Burgers statement that there was 'nothing left to play for'.

 

"The pressure is still on, you don't want to end last, that is massive pressure," Coetzee said in regards to being free to play under no pressure.

 

"The balance is there, the guys are making good decisions and this is never an easy thing when you start coming off a certain way of playing and you want to evolve as a team.

 

"The injuries, they definitly make it more difficult.

 

"It has now settled nicely now though, I mean you can see it in the players, they are calm and confident – it is the right decisions at the right time."

 

The Stormers have managed to win two games on the trot for the first time in the competition but Burger is not jumping to conclusions that the Stormers are now on a roll.

 

"We have not won away from home yet so the momentum from winning two in a row is probably two weekends at Newlands for the first time this season!" the stand-in captain added.

 

Having not won a single game away from home and traveling to Durban to face the table-topping Sharks on the weekend – the Stormers will need more than momentum is they are to come away victorious.

 

"Playing the top of the log side is a very different challenge in itself, they are on a roll coming back from a very successful tour," Burger said of the Sharks.

 

"They are setting the pace in the competition.

 

"We will have to go up there, and we don't want to be spoilt-sports but we are still playing for pride and reputation, we want to give them a decent match up, so we will prepare as well as possible.

 

"The margins in this competition are so small, this weekend there were a couple blow-outs, if you are off pace you are going to get beaten comfortably.

 

"The Brumbies found that out against the Bulls and even the Chiefs against the Hurricanes, it is a super tough competition and you need everything to fall in place.

 

"You need to be up for it every single weekend. 

 

"Our curve is going upwards so we will try and continue that. 

 

"But in saying that, the Sharks are the pace setters and we are languishing at the bottom of the log, so we will go up there as the underdogs and see what we can do."