VIDEO: Crusaders have a plan for 'desperate' Stormers
WATCH as Crusaders vice-captain Ryan Crotty fronts up to the media ahead of their Super Rugby Round 14 encounter with the Stormers at Newlands.
It has been six years since the Crusaders played at their second ‘home’, Newlands.
And it has been even longer, nine years, since the Stormers have beaten the New Zealand franchise.
Crotty said it was great to be back in the Mother City, adding that Cape Town is a ‘beautiful’ place to tour.
However, they are here to do a job and their visit is more focussed on what will happen at Newlands on Saturday, rather than the many other distractions Cape Town offers.
And it is likely they will use similar tactics to that employed against the Bulls last week – when the Crusaders played ‘high-tempo rugby’ and ‘ran the big boys around’ for a 45-13 win at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.
“It is a bit different against the Stormers,” Crotty said in the build-up to this week’s Newlands outing.
However, he added that playing ‘tempo ball-in-play’ suits the Crusaders and suits their skill-sets.
“It suits the quality men we have out wide.
“Every team you play is different, so you have to be able to adapt and adjust your game.”
Crotty said the Crusaders expect plenty of ‘physicality’ from the Stormers.
“They have a lot of Springboks scattered throughout the side and they are a quality team,” he added.
“They are very dangerous on the counter-attack and they have a good back three.”
Crotty dismissed the suggestion that it will be ‘one-way traffic’ at Newlands, much like it was against the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld last week.
“We know they are quality,” he said, adding: “If you don’t prepare well, that is when you put yourself at risk and get into trouble.
“The South African conference is so tight that we expect a very desperate and committed Stormers side”.
He also added that set pieces are important against the Stormers.
“They have always been a good set-piece side.
“They always had big forwards that can scrum well. They have always had some of the tallest locks in the competition for some reasons.”
By Jan de Koning
@king365ed
@rugby365com
* Also read our team announcements: STORMERS and CRUSADERS
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