Stormers not afraid to tour
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The Stormers are South African conference champions and will host a Super Rugby play-off match at Newlands this season – either on June 20 or June 27.
As things stand now, going into the final weekend of Super Rugby regular season action, the Stormers cannot finish lower than third position, which already assures them of a home quarterfinal at Newlands on Saturday June 20.
However, there is still a mathematical possibility of a home semifinal at Newlands on Saturday June 27, but that depends on two other results going their way during this coming weekend’s final league action.
The harsh reality is that the play-off quarterfinal on June 20 is the more likely event to take place, as opposed to a bye on that date and a home semifinal on June 27.
The likelihood of both the Brumbies and Waratahs losing to the Crusaders and Reds respectively are slim. Which means the Stormers then face the conundrum of having to travel overseas for an away semifinal.
For Stormers coach Allister Coetzee this is no problem for them.
"For us its always been nice to tour, we don't worry about where we play and who we play," Coetzee said at a Stormers press conference.
"We have been under the cosh in Wellington and this team stood-up and we almost pulled that off."
"After that we went to the Waratahs and pulled it off and turned everything around."
"If that is the route we have to go so be it"
The Stormers have been criticised in the past for their touring ability and the results they have achieved down-under. In 2014 the men from Cape Town lost four games out of four on tour against the Crusaders, Chiefs, Brumbies and Reds. Year 2103 was not much better with the Stormers notching up one win from the tour against the Hurricanes. But going down to the Blues, Waratahs and the Rebels.
For Coetzee though, he believes his troops understand just how hard it is to win on tour now and therefore prepare well for the challenge.
"Maybe in a way we understand how difficult it is playing overseas and away from Newlands."
"As a touring group we have enjoyed touring and it could be something that could work in our favour."
"It is all going to plan, we stuck to our guns."
Coetzee was content with the performance against the Lions and made it clear that fundamentals must be right come play-off time.
"At the breakdown we are fine, we just need to make sure the fundamentals stay in place. That's a big thing in play-offs," explained Coetzee.
"Fundamentals are key, if you have to kick the ball out then it must go out, if you have to make a proper clean then you must, you can't miss a one-on-one tackle."
"These are non-negotiable fundamentals"
"To make sure your breakdown, decision making and discipline are good," he added.
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